Deconstruction of Genre

Deconsttuction of Genre: 'The Big Short'
Genre is shown in a film using key convention codes through the use of mise en scene. There are multiple genres and sub genres for films such as horror, action mystery and drama. Our trailer is an urban crime drama with the sub genre of action.
In the 'The Big Short' I deconstructed genre through the use of mise en scene, including sound, editing and camera shots/angles.

• We see genre through the use of editing in the trailer. It conforms to the common use of action represented in the media. We see this through fast paced shots that the trailer becomes tense and energetic which conveys to the target audience. An example of this from the trailer is during the end when we see tension arise with action through the use of fast paced shots to create build up through the use of cross cuts of an alligator to businessmen shots and a low angle aquatic swimming shot.

• Through the use of mise en scene we see what conventions conform to the genre of the big short. We see this in the trailer through as part of the props and editing to connote to action. An example would be the build up of fast paced shots. In the footage there is a gun scene which represents action through the use of violence and danger. We also see this through the use of printing money which is a common convention code that conforms to corruption in a business drama. This links well with our trailer which is a good exemplar to use as part of our inspiration.

• Actors also conform to genre through the use of mise en scene. By using their image and reputation we can infer their film specialism. An example of this is from the titles where we see the main character Steve Carrell's name used. From research it proves that he specialises in drama films, as well as comedy which conforms to the film being about a drama through the use of the actor.
• In relation to credits we also see the production companies shown at the beginning of the trailer. This convention can also be used to decode the genre because from research we see what the production company's specialisms are in a certain genre. In the trailer we see Paramount, who specialise in drama films, such as 'The Gambler' and 'Shutter Island' which are both have drama based genres. In relation to this the co-production company 'Regency' also enforce the genre being a drama as they too specialise in drama. They were the distributer for the film and allows the audience to decode the genre based on their reputation.

• The sound also emphasized the genre through the use of diegetic and non diegetic dialogue. In the trailer we hear the non-diegetic dialogue, which is the sound edited into the trailer but didn't wasn't originally in the footage. The soundtrack of the trailer in the opening stages is used to portray the influence of a ticking time bomb based on the clicks of a timer embedded from a song.
• On the other hand, we hear from the diegetic dialogue the character talking about the house market crash in the US which outlines the narrative of the film as well decode the genre of drama relating to business and corruption which heavily links with our trailer. An example of this from the trailer is when one character says "It's a time bomb"