genre - a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in tone, form, style, or subject matter

This class is for anyone who wants to make movies. We'll go over various genres and what the audience expects of that genre when they go to the movies. Knowing the rules of each genre helps you to understand your audience expectations.  You need to know the rules before you make the conscious decision to break them if you are looking to subvert audience expectations. 

Each week we will cover what the genre is, what the audience expects from the genre, examples of movies that either represent the genre or subvert the genre, the characters that populate a genre, how to study a genre you want to write in, exploring genres you might not be comfortable in, and mashing genres together. 

The student will come up with a script idea for each genre and turn in to the instructor. The idea can be a simple paragraph. The instructor/class will give feedback on their idea. It is recommended for the student to watch a genre film each week and post their thoughts on it. These two items are not required to participate in the class unless the learner needs a grade issued--though I recommend watching a genre film after a lesson to practice identifying genre elements. 

There are NO live meetings for this course. There will be a weekly post in the classroom each week which will include: video lessons for that week's genres and prompts for their own movie ideas and their thoughts on the movie that they decided to watch that week. Learners may log in and watch the lessons at their own convenience during the week. 

If you are using this class to help fulfill a US Film Studies Middle School/Junior High/Middle Years Elective, the following hour chart can be applied. 
Class & Homework (not watching movies) - 12 hours
Class, Homework, and 1 genre movie per week - 28 hours
Class, Homework, and 2 genre movies per week - 44 hours

Week One - Coming-of-Age and Fish-Out-of-Water - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: My Girl, Love Simon, Legally Blonde, City Slickers, Crocodile Dundee, and Back to the Future.

Week Two - Horror and Thriller - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: Get Out, Scream, A Quiet Place, Panic Room, Along Came a Spider, and Runaway Jury. 

Week Three - Action and Adventure - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: Die Hard, Charlie's Angels, Batman Begins, The Mummy, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and The Princess Bride. 
 
Week Four - Romantic Comedy and Buddy - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: While You Were Sleeping, Fever Pitch, 50 First Dates, The Heat, Dumb and Dumber, and Zootopia. 

Week Five - Western and Historical - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: The Magnificent Seven (2016), Young Guns, True Grit (2010), Hidden Figures, Gladiator, and The Book Thief.  

Week Six - Science Fiction and Fantasy - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: The Martian, Arrival, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Penelope, Enchanted, and Legend. 

Week Seven - Disaster and War - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla, Starship Troopers, War Horse, and Behind Enemy Lines.

Week Eight - Comedy and Drama - What are the elements of the genre, what does the audience expect from the genre, what type of characters populate the genre, how to make a watch list to help you write within the genre, and we'll watch film clips and discuss from the following movies: Clueless, Spaceballs, Home Again, Little Women, Steel Magnolias, and Eat Pray Love.