Why is an understanding of genre so critical?

by Matt Misetich (General Manager)
June, 2009

Action, drama, thriller, horror, romantic comedy, and all the variations in-between: should a writer of any level, beginner or professional, pay extra attention to the actual genre they’re writing in?  Not only should they pay attention, but it’s a must if you plan on either selling your spec script or landing writing assignments.  A marketable premise is the first step, but a writer must always consider their audience.  In other words, think like a producer or investor.  Why would someone want to pay to see this film?

If you’re writing a horror, for example, the genre demands certain expectations—you need a strong protagonist/antagonist relationship, the story should usually have a number of twists, or at least one or two major surprises along the way, maintain a tone that provokes mystery and suspense. . . .  Same idea for other genres.  You can still infuse originality in your concept (in fact, that’s almost a requirement), but try not to mix your genres too much.  A romantic comedy/horror/action (and they are out there) is nearly impossible for a writer or manager to pitch successfully because most audiences wish to a see a movie with a certain degree of predictability.  That is, in terms of genre, not plot.

There are exceptions, of course, and cross-breeding in genres takes place all the time, but in the cases where a writer has “genre immunity,” so to speak, they are typically already established, and a studio or production company would be more willing to take a chance on their material.  Take a film like “Magnolia,” for example, which tends to skew the dramatic genre, at least to an extent.  A novice writer without credits would have a supremely uphill battle trying to get that script sold.

Start simple, and once you gain some steam as a professional writer and master the rules of the genre, then you can start breaking them.