Screenwriters Taxonomy


Inspired by the biological classification system of the Linnaean taxonomy, screenwriter Eric R. Williams developed the Screenwriters Taxonomy in 2017 to create a common language of creative collaboration for filmmakers. Williams’ central thesis in The Screenwriters Taxonomy: A Roadmap to Collaborative Storytelling is that the term “genre” is used so broadly to describe films that the modern use of the word has become meaningless. The Screenwriter's Taxonomy proposes seven categories for discussing the creative process of telling cinematic stories.
  1. Type
  2. Super Genre
  3. Macrogenres
  4. Microgenres
  5. Voice
  6. Pathway
  7. Point of View

    Type

In the broadest sense, Williams contends that all narrative fiction films can be broken down into two types: Comedy or Drama. The difference between these types is simply based on whether or not the film is more serious or humorous. There are ten different brands of drama, and a dozen brands of comedy.
BRAND OF DRAMADESCRIPTIONFILM EXAMPLES
Dark DramaDramas dealing with intensely serious issues.·  Oldboy
·  Requiem for a Dream
DocudramaDramatized adaptation of real-life events. While not always completely accurate, the general facts are more-or-less true.·  Into the Wild
·  Zodiac
Docu-fictionDifferent from docudramas, docu-fictional films combine documentary and fiction, where actual footage or real events are intermingled with recreated scenes.·  Interior Leather Bar
·  Your Name Here
DramedyA serious story that contains some characters or scenes inherently humorous to the audience.·  Everything Must Go
·  Hustlers
Hyper-dramaCoined by film professor Ken Dancyger, these stories exaggerate characters and situations to the point of becoming fable, legend or fairy tale.·  Fantastic Mr. Fox
·  Maleficent
Light DramaLight-hearted stories that are, nevertheless, serious in nature.·  The Help
·  The Terminal
SatireSatire can involve humor, but the result is typically sharp social commentary that is anything but funny. Satire often uses irony or exaggeration to expose faults in society or individuals that influence social ideology.  ·  Birdman
·  Dr. Strangelove
Straight DramaThis broad category applies to those that do not attempt a specific approach to drama but, rather, consider drama as a lack of comedic techniques.·  The 39 Steps
·  Ghost World
TragedyStories that explore human suffering, and end in devastation.·  Million Dollar Baby
·  Fruitvale Station
TragicomedyA story that explores human suffering, but with an uplifting ending and/or with enough comedic elements to keep the audience laughing throughout the tragic story.·  50/50
·  Man on the Moon
·  Moonrise Kingdom

Super Genre

Williams argues that there are only eleven true genres, which he calls “Super Genres”.   Super genres are defined by three elements ':
  • Character '
  • Story
  • Atmosphere
According to Williams, the eleven super genres are:
  1. Action
  2. Crime
  3. Fantasy
  4. Horror
  5. Life
  6. Romance        
  7. Science Fiction
  8. Sports
  9. Thriller
  10. War
  11. Western
The super genre “Life” is further divided into
While there are a limited number of super genres, there are at least fifty macro genres.  A macro genre contains interchangeable elements that pair with super genres to create a more detailed story.  By pairing a macro genre with a super genre, more specific expectations emerge within a story.  For example, “Time Travel” is a macro genre.  It can be paired with a variety of super genres to create a time travel fantasy story, or a time travel romance.  Multiple macro genres can be used for a single story. The fifty macro genres identified by Williams are :
1. Addiction
2. Adventure
3. Alien Invasion
4. Apocalyptic
5. Artificial Intelligence
6. Biography
7. Bro- / Wo- mance
8. Demonic
9. Disaster
10. Disease / Disability		11. Epic / Saga
12. Erotica
13. Escape
14. Family
15. Gangs / Punks / Brothers in Arms
16. Gangster
17. Ghost / Spirits / Angels
18. Heist / Caper
19. Historical
20. Holiday		21. Identity
22. Killing
23. Law Enforcement
24. Legal
25. Love
26. Magical
27. Martial Arts
28. Medical
29. Military
30. Mission		31. Monster
32. Mystery / Detective
33. Political
34. Procedural
35. Protection
36. Psychological
37. Religious
38. Revenge/Justice
39. Romantic Comedy
40. Science Fantasy		41. School Films
42. Showbiz / Artistry
43. Slasher
44. Spy / Espionage
45. Superhero
46. Super Powers
47. Survival
48. Terror
49. Time Travel
50. Workplace

An example of how the “mystery” macro genre would pair with each super genre:
Macro genres can be paired randomly with any given super genre.  Micro genres work differently.  Each micro genre is particular to a given macro genre – providing even more specificity and nuance to the story, characters and atmosphere. Therefore, each macro genre has its own set of possible micro genres.  For example, the “biography” macro genre has at least six possible micro genres:
  1. Biography of the rich and/or famous
  2. Biography of an entertainer or athlete
  3. Biography of a politician
  4. Biography of an unknown person doing something remarkable
  5. Biography of a group or organization
  6. Biography of a newsworthy or historical event
The micro genres for each macro are as follows:
MacroMicros
AddictionActions, Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling
AdventureBattle, Exploration, Piracy, Quest, Rebellion, Space
Alien InvasionEarth-centric, First Contact, Space-centric
ApocalypticActively within, Post-apocalyptic, Pre-apocalyptic
Artificial IntelligenceAndroids, Cyborgs, Robots
BiographyEntertainment, Everyman, Group/Organization, Political, Newsworthy, Temporal, Rich and Famous
Bro- or Wo- manceStronger Bond, Traditional, ''Tragedy,
DemonicDevil / Occult, Possession, Witchcraft
DisasterGlobal, Local, Personal
Disease/DisabilityPersonal, Societal
Epic/SagaDiscovery / Exploration, Event-specific, Historical, Person-specific
EroticaFetish, Mainstream
EscapeImpossible, Non-Prison, Tale, Traditional
Family DramaFamily Bond, Family Feud, Family Loss, Family Rift
Gangs/Punks/Brothers in ArmsInterest-specific, Ideology-specific, Location-specific
GangsterAnti-hero pov, Authority pov
Ghost/Spirits/Hauntings/AngelsAcross the Divide, Emotional, Mystic, Reincarnation, Traditional
Heist/CaperImpossible, Procedural, Tale
HistoricalAlternate, Modern, Period
HolidayEvent, Family, Origin
IdentityGender/Sexuality, Humanity, Loss of..., Racial, Religious
KillingSerial, Slasher, Stalker, Unintended, Reflection
Law EnforcementCommunity, Personal crime, Process and Life of..., Rescue, True Crime, Undercover/Vice
LegalCourtroom, Investigation, Tales of the System, Underdog / Whistleblower
LoveTraditional, In disguise, Nonconventional, Obsession, Unrequited
MagicalLocational, Vocational, Wonderment
Martial ArtsForm, Philosophy
MedicalBiography, Non-Hospital, Seemingly Impossible, Tale
MilitaryBiographical, Historical, Mission, Tale
MissionImpossible, Tale
MonsterAlien, Creature, Mutant, Mythic ', Scientific, Swarms
Mystery/DetectiveCrime specific , Hard boiled, Pulp, Whodunit
PoliticalContemporary, Historical, International, Local, National
ProceduralArtistic, Investigative, Legal, Medical, Political, Scientific
ProtectionBabysitter, Bodyguard, Family/Loved Ones, Legal
PsychologicalConspiracy, Evil, Mistaken Identity, What if? Worst Case
ReligiousBiographical, Religious Text, Spirituality
Revenge/JusticeLegal, Psychological, Settle a Score, Vigilante
Romantic ComedyAdult, Child, Non-conventional, Remarriage, Teen
Science FantasyDiscovery, Dying Earth, ET Relations, Mad Scientist, Space Opera, Sword & Planet
School FilmsCollege, Elementary, High School, Specific School
Showbiz/ArtistryBiography, Culture, Creative Process
SlasherSplatter, Survival, Teen
Spy/EspionageCorporate, Military, Political, Secrets
SuperheroOrigin Story, Personal Battles, Save the World
Super PowersIntelligence, Life extension, Mental, Physical
SurvivalCaptivity, Experiences, Nature/Outdoor, Rescue
TerrorMan-made, Natural, AI / ET encounter, Paranormal, Stalker, Survival
Time TravelDiscovered, Exists, Secret Invention
Workplace'Boss’ story, What it's like, Worker's story