Genre Conventions for Final Project Blog Post

 1. What genre have you selected and what is the history of that genre? What were key landmark films for this genre and why were they so impactful? Important actors, directors, etc. for the genre. Be as detailed as possible. (18-20 sentences)

The genre I selected is the mystery genre. Key landmark films for this genre include Knives Out (2019), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Chinatown (1974), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and it's remake in 2017, Death on the Nile (2022). Mystery films first started appearing in the early 1900s with the advent of cinema itself, before it's popularity soared during the 1930s and 40s. The first mystery films in the 1900s were based off of the Sherlock Holmes novels, which are cited as the first murder mystery films. While the genre is not as common as other mainstream titles, it is still able to hold it's own with critics and at the box office with films like Knives Out (and its sequels) and the Hercule Poirot film series (which includes Murder on the Orient Express). The rise in initial popularity with mystery genre films is also tied with the rise and success of noir's black and white composition. 

    The Maltese Falcon is considered by Collider.com (a film and entertainment news site) to be the most influential mystery film ever created. The film is described as influencing and embedding the genre with "hard-boiled grit that has become a norm in crime mystery stories for the past 85 years." The film is also renowned for visuals, even if it was shot in black and white. Director John Huston used sparse lighting, deep-focus cinematography, and dark, tightly composed shots that also made noir a visually distinguishable cinema genre. This film adapted the work of author Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel of the same name. It is also notable how plots and events of mystery films were not just created and planned from the minds of filmmakers, but films can be adapted from novels. Examples include Murder on the Orient Express and The Silence of the Lambs. 

    Chinatown (1974) is cited as one of the best ever screenplays ever written, and is sub-classified as a neo-noir film with it's take on the mystery that is solved in the film. The film established a blueprint for future films in the mystery genre with embedding real world themes, problems, and issues that people face daily being mixed into the film to play a role in the plot. Chinatown was also revered for including real-world pessimism where themes of corruption are woven into the plot to resonate with viewers. Director Roman Polanski is acclaimed for using Los Angeles and his cynical view of it as a backdrop for the plot, along with Robert Towne is praised for his storywriting and screenplay of the film. 

    Murder on the Orient Express (1974) is renowned for helping spur the "whodunnit" subgenre of mystery films, produced by Sidney Lumet and featuring an ensemble cast including Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman, and Sean Connery. The film is cited as revitalizing the mystery genre and setting the blueprint for whodunnit mysteries, such as Knives Out featuring an ensemble of characters who have backgrounds and backstories that could make them suspects. The remake of Murder on the Orient Express and it's sequel, Death on the Nile are contemporary successes at the box office that helped put the genre back onto the minds of modern audiences. Contemporary films like Knives Out have also been praised for exploring and critiquing real world themes such as rich individuals and their lifestyles.

2. What are some common conventions of the genre you chose? How will these conventions affect the production of your Final Project? Please refer back to our notes we took earlier in the course about genre conventions and make sure to be detailed in your explanation of them. (18-20 sentences)

    Common genre conventions for the mystery genre can range from the classic "whodunnit" to more in-depth mysteries being explored with clues, tips, and leads being explored and investigated. Commonly, a character such as a detective or investigator is driven to solve a murder, a mystery, or some sort of oddity because an incident sets the plot in motion. Such incident could be murder, corruption, or other nefarious activity that requires the attention of characters and is pressing. 

    The investigator archetype of a mystery film leads and draws in the audience, who follows along this investigator as they discover more clues, leads, and use their intellect to deduce suspects of a case. This will allow the investigator to reveal who is at the center of the incident that occurred and opens the door for a resolution. Next, another common character archetype are possible suspects that are part of the main cast. An example of a broad range of suspects can be found in films like Murder on the Orient Express and Knives Out. In this type of classic "whodunnit" subgenre, each character's motives, backstories, and personalities are explored by the investigator in the search for a correct suspect. Clues serve as ways to advance the plot, such as finding documents, discovering suspicious items and motives, along with observing details that may be miniscule but has an effect on the plot. This is something I intend to replicate in my opening sequence where details, patterns, and the background help serve as quintessential elements of a plot. Throughout a mystery film, there is slow escalation with the buildup to a reveal of those who are suspected of committing infractions that set the plot in motion. However, because this is an opening sequence that will not be possible to explore with only 120 seconds of content. Arguably, the genre allows interpretation for crafting a mystery plot that isn't strictly "whodunnit" but gives room for creativity to craft a mystery that isn't necessarily investigating a list of suspects but more of using clues to figure out suspects. Basically, not everyone is immediately a suspect nor should they be outed as a possible suspect, but the slow reveal of clues leads to that determination.

    As a whole, I do not intend to replicate the whole "whodunnit" subgenre, but set out to start a mystery that is something along the lines of corruption occurring in a small American town. Everyone is more or less oblivious to it except a main character (and a few supporting individuals) who notice discrepancies and are motivated to find out what is actually happening. The investigator character serves as a useful basis for creating a character in my opening sequence that is a teenager in their town, enjoying school and life but notices something is off within the school and town. The conventions of character archetypes of the mass range of suspects is not planned to be replicated, but serves as a start where I am able to create possible suspects and side characters that serve to advance the plot forward. While not all clues could be immediately revealed in the opening sequence, it is possible that the opening sequence sets the tone, mood, and setting of the film in a small businesses where the main character is in a relaxed environment until they notice patterns and details of discrepancies. These conventions serve as creative inspiration and adaption for the final project but the "whodunnit" subgenre is not within my creative vision or interests to replicate. 

3. Find 3 examples of opening sequences for films in your genre. Explain how these films conform or don't to the conventions of opening sequences as a whole and to their genre as well. Please include the links to these examples in your blog post. (18-20 sentences) 

Knives Out (2019) - Opening Scene

This scene conforms to some of the mystery conventions with a build-up to the big reveal that someone was murdered. With the violins building up the intensity, it helps build up tension where everything is perfectly normal at first with the servant preparing and bringing the murdered man's breakfast. The emphasis of routine being shattered is evident where it seems to be any other normal morning until it isn't when it is discovered there is a murdered individual, kicking off the film. There is no immediate introduction of the detective, Benoit Blanc, that will solve the murder mystery, but the scene is intended to set the context for why the film occurs and why the investigation is needed. The clip fits the mystery genre where the servant walks into the murdered man's room he was last alive in, and finds his throat slit with blood all over the couch and floor. This prompts her to drop the food in horror as the scene ends as anyone would be shocked to walk into a room and find a dead body. Interestingly, a noticeable repetition occurring in this clip is repeatedly showing short cuts of statues that have eyes in them, signaling some sort of theme of surveillance and vision that I intend to replicate with background details and objects that could be symbolic. 

The Maltese Falcon (1941) - Opening Scene

This scene conforms to mystery conventions where straight off the bat, a subject walks into the office of private detectives and asks for their help to locate a missing relative. The mise-en-scene of what seems to be wooden-clad desks, offices, and walls fits into the idea where the working space of these detectives are well-furnished, organized, and looked after to ensure they are able to complete their jobs successfully. In the opening sequence, the audience is introduced to characters that will be important to the plot, including a detective that will soon be murdered at the end of this opening sequence. The immediate introduction of characters provides context to what is about to occur and the mystery that needs to be solved, which is arguably "routine" at first for the detectives and it seems like another everyday task for them to get to the bottom of. When the subject who asked for help leaves after consulting with the detectives, one of the latters goes to investigate that night, but is shot and killed by an unknown assailant. This sets the plot in motion right in the opening sequence where the one of the detectives was killed and it is now up the other surviving one to figure out who killed him and why. This arguably fits into the convention of a classic mystery film where the death of one of the detectives is to be avenged, all the while following an investigator going around looking for clues to catch suspects. 

Chinatown (1974) - Opening Scene 

In this clip from the neo-noir mystery film Chinatown, the clip opens immediately to a conflict that is evident when a man is shown images of his (presumed to be) wife cheating with another man. The shot then zooms out to the pictures being flipped through rather quickly and to a private detective sitting at an oak-like desk. The scene somewhat conforms to the mystery genre, but this is not immediately obvious without further context as it could be assumed at first that this was some kind of revenge-like film or plotting retribution. However, in the context of this film the scene sets up a mystery of suspense where arcs of corruption, cheating, and mystery loop in with one another to form the plot of the film. The film itself is the type of mystery movie that executes a slow burn to reveal the actual truth and deliver a sense of justice, and not the sort of "whodunnit" mystery in films like Murder on the Orient Express. This arguably helps keep the film grounded and realistic as audiences follow a detective who seeks the answers to a mystery they are being paid to solve as a private detective, something I plan to replicate with an injection of realism.

4. After all of this research about your genre, what are your plans with your Final Project to try and align yourself as close as possible with your chosen genre? (8-10 sentences) 

For the final project, I plan to take some creative liberties by not fully adhering to the "whodunnit" subgenre of mysteries, but there is still content and elements of the opening sequence that fit the convention of a mystery. An opening introduction for context could either take place in the downtown of the local area, or depending on limitation and restrictions, be filmed completely on and during campus time for this class. Pertaining to the initial plans, a possible "mystery" that could be revealed in the opening sequence may be some sort of corruption scheme, monetary theft, or other nefarious activity that is taking place in and around the institution/location where the scene will be filmed. It is planned that this will be shot in color, and not black and white for the noir effect. Rather, if it is needed, low lighting and attempting to manipulate shadows could add to any suspense such as a serious conversation between two characters or a confrontation. The opening sequence will introduce a main character who is just living their normal life around school/in their town, until something suspicious happens (such as missing fundraising money or a conversation with someone reveals something that requires closer attention). Such event would occur towards the end of the sequence as the first few scenes will probably be contextual to introduce the character first before jumping into a possible mystery. The portrayal of normality can be represented through conversations, everyday interactions with friends in long takes, or some sort cuts of routine activities in a school day. Overall, the final project is intended to be a grounded portrayal of daily life that is upended when corruption is unearthed and forces characters to confront the truth, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be or who it affects.