I have mostly made films that would fall into the "Experimental" category. I remember wondering what genre I was creating during my first film and not being able to come up with the answer. I understand genres make it easier to categorize the millions of films out there into what the watcher would l...
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It's really about what your career goals are. If it's to make poetry and art, then do whatever you'd like. If it's to have a career in the film industry and make a LIVING as a filmmaker/screenwriter a...
Expand commentIt's really about what your career goals are. If it's to make poetry and art, then do whatever you'd like. If it's to have a career in the film industry and make a LIVING as a filmmaker/screenwriter and do so in a mainstream way, then you need to know who your demographic and genre is and what you're writing. Because it's up to a marketing team to sell you. I understand wanting to do your art and break down barriers, but unfortunately, that's not realistic in the mainstream anymore. You can have an original idea or an original vision, but still know in what context that vision sells. And if you want representation, they need to know how to sell you. And if you can't tell them, then they can't tell anyone else. And you are therefore useless to them. I've never ever ever heard an agent say "He's great at Dyonisian Illusion." Those words have never come out of anyone's mouth. So, again, it really goes back to the question of - what kind of career do you want? Like I often say, this isn't called the artist colony - it's called the film business.
don't bother with genres, that's everyone else's problem )
It is absolutely not everyone else's problem. It is very much a writer's issue.
Agree from your perspective, but I just feel when you don't make it an issue, by not restricting yourself to genres, then once you have the finished product, the genre should pretty much define itself...
Expand commentAgree from your perspective, but I just feel when you don't make it an issue, by not restricting yourself to genres, then once you have the finished product, the genre should pretty much define itself....and should your thus, chosen genre not 'fit-in' with what the industry standards, do you then re-categorise it, or leave it? It is why I feel you shouldn't make it your major concern.
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I understand that way of doing it, but the issue is, different genres have different key elements or tropes or requirements that connect with readers, execs, and audiences. I'm not saying you can't ha...
Expand commentI understand that way of doing it, but the issue is, different genres have different key elements or tropes or requirements that connect with readers, execs, and audiences. I'm not saying you can't have a mix-genre film - those often work well. But you have to know what genres you're writing so that you can properly set them up and set the tone and context for the reader in the first 10 pages. If you don't know what kind of movie you're writing, how would anyone else? And yes, if your chosen genre isn't sellable, then either you put it on a shelf until it is sellable, or you tweak it. Dramas are hard sells right now, but if you just increased the suspense and put in 3 more scenes where some action happens, suddenly it's a thriller and everyone wants it. Knowing your genre and demographic IS a writer's concern. It is a MAJOR concern. Writers who write blind of genre will always have major "HUH?" moments in their script.