Genre Research: Drama



  1. Drama:are serious presentations or stories with settings or life situations that portray realistic characters in conflict with either themselves, others, or forces of nature. A dramatic film shows us human beings at their best, their worst, and everything in-between.
  2. Genre conventions-content:   
  • Representations of real life
  • No fantasy in plot
  • Show emotions and events realistically but dramatically 
  • Show emotions at best and worst 
  • Heightened emotions 
  • Protagonist that’s easy to relate to create empathy with viewer
  • Complex plot 
  • Emotional peaks
  • Some form of journey 
  • Protagonist tend to be particularly unstable or vulnerable facing a hard decision, relatable with target audience
  • Challenging stereotypes
  • Connecting in a complex level, as well as personal 
  • Showing how the protagonist overcomes challenges
  • Climaxes and anticlimaxes to make viewer attached
  • Hardships, pains, and difficulties present 
  • Form of realization at the end 
  • Development of character throughout film 
    3.Genre Conventions-production techniques:
  • Close up: used to emphasize the expression of person or important object, this creates empathy with the viewer
  • Long shot: show the surroundings of character to emphasize the action in the scene , used in dramas mostly at the moment of climax when difficulties are presented
  • High angle: this brings perspective to the character’s issue or to show their state of vulnerability in an emotional time
  • OSS: used in conversations to maintain the continuity of probably an emotional scene Andy show the characters POV with them still in the shot 
  • Medium shot: used to show the body language and intentions of a character, this helps the audience focus on the emotions of the character with the setting still in the shot. 
  • Extreme close up: this is often used to represent intensity of scene, since the chosen objec is the ONLY important thing in the film. They help add tension or intimidation by showing the emotions or personality of a character, it keeps the audience intrigued in the protagonists problems. It can also serve to foreshadow future challenges.
  • Eyeliner match: portrays relation between characters
  • Diabetic sound: helps the viewer understand the narrative world 
  • Everyday sounds helps build relationship between character and viewer to keep the viewer engaged in the narrative 
  • Mise-en-scene ranges since their is many sub genres from war dramas to romantic dramas Andy many different ages through time 

     4.  Shindler’s List: 
This film embodies this genre, since it’s a war drama that emphasizes the relationship of the characters and the viewer, and uses color as a way to do this, like the scene where the only thing in color is the lost little girl’s coat, to emphasize the atrocities of the war, as well as the fire while the prisoners are celebrating their faith, even with all the repercussions it has brought them, showing their hope and rebellion against the Nazis. This film shows the growth of Mr Schindler, and the difficulties he was willing to go through to save as many people as he could, even though it started with making money, his growing relationship with many of the characters especially Itzhak, shows the emotional rollercoaster the viewer is put through, even at the end when they’re free and Schindler flees and his workers are there supporting him and thanking him. They use many close ups, especially the extreme close up of the candle, create this sense of rebellion, of a fire that will burn out, and serves As a metaphor for the war. The high angle on the little girl portrays her vulnerability, and the diabetic sound of the war help the viewer become fully emotionally involved in the trauma.

     5. Moonlight:

 This drama showcases this genre, by exploring three stages of the life of Chiron, and how difficulties in this defining chapters of his life, made him the man he was. Throughout the film, he is faced with a series of challenges, that are emphasized with the use of low-key lighting, high angles, to show his vulnerability in moments where he connects with the audience the most, like the moments he's finding himself and discovering his identity. Jenkins achieved this dramatic effect by using a series of medium shots and close ups, as well as setting the tone with mise-en-scene, editing the color palette and also through the specific selection of the setting, which allows the audience to have a direct understanding of the drama that is Chiron's true story.
  6. Examples:

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Representation




 In my project I am looking to represent a breakup between a loving couple, that has been separated by outside factors that they couldn't control. This factors are what break them apart, and eventually lead to the utter devastation of both characters, since there is nothing worse than breaking up still in love. I plan on showcasing this in the most raw way i can, so it feels real, and the film opening will introduce the beginning as well as the end of their marvelous relationship.

 An example where a case like this is showcased would be La La Land by Damien Chazelle. Sebastian and Mia, are two artists who are trying to make it in Hollywood. However, as they fall in love, they realize that their goals and dreams don't follow the same path. The representation of this relationship is unique, in that is real, it showcases how even though they were in love, they wanted to pursue their dreams, and broke up because of it. This is not usual in Hollywood movies, romances are usually portrayed as happy and end with a happy ending.
Image result for la la land

 Another example of a film like this is Call me by your name by Luca Guadagnino. Yes, in this film it is technically Oliver's choice, however, they made the choice not only because homosexuality wasn't as well represented in the time period, but they also lived in different continents. They had the fear of being discovered by their communities, mainly Oliver, who is later engaged. At the end, the close up of Elio crying with the credits in the fire place, is the purest most realistic raw break up scene i have ever seen.
Image result for call me by your name break up 
In this representations, i do agree in how the relationships are portrayed, however they are the exception, most of the time relationships and break ups tend to be shown as a basic script followed by everyone. I think every relationship is unique and has different aspects, thus each break up is different. So i plan to challenge the representation of break ups, and embrace it at the same time, because yes, every love story has a start and an end, but i want to make it its own thing, make it unique.
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Genre Research: Romance

  • Genre: Romance : love stories, that center on emotions, passion,
    and the romantic relationship of
usually two main characters and the journey that takes them through
dating, courtship or marriage
  • Genre Conventions—content      
    •  Often a voiceover is used to to introduce theme and characters
    • The script often suggest the characters are meant to be
    • ‘Boy meets girl’ is a common theme, meet cute
    • Often contains emotional feelings
    • Aimed at female audiences
    • Usually contains things that relate to love : flowers, weddings,
      etc
    • Usually what happens on day to day life                
    • A typical romance includes sexuality, status, gender, and
      relationships.
    • Usually bright and feminine colors are used: pink, red, orange, etc.
    • Climax is usually an argument or consequences of an action, and
then one of the characters seeks forgiveness, and they end together.
    • Usually has an emotionally satisfying optimistic ending
    • Occasionally love has obstacles like illness, money,
      discrimination, family, etc
    • Serves as a fantasy for audience “happily ever after”
    • Setting is usually an urban setting/big cities
    • Most of the time centered on female character
    • Through the years the genre has been stereotypically
      about heterosexual couples, recently though it has expanded.
  • Genre conventions--- production
  1. Sound is very closely related to the moods and feelings
    of the main character
  2. There is often used of diegetic and nondiegetic sound       
  3. Mid shots are used to set a more emotional connection with
    audience
  4. close ups used to show the main characters emotions, used
    to make the audience
  5. feel empathy
  6. two shots are used to show how the relationship develops
    through the film
  7. Panning shots are often used to show attachment of two people
  8. To portray the emotion better, romance films tend to use
    nondiegetic sounds and fast cuts are used to increase intensity
  9. as an argument may ensue   
  10. Over the shoulder shots are used to keep the conversation between
    the characters
  11. Establishing shot used to set the scene and location of the story   
  12. Long shot shows how close the characters are in their surroundings
  13. Extreme long shot shows the scenery of where the characters are,
    usually a famous landmark of the city, so audience can relate
  14. Usually sound has instruments like piano, guitar, or violin
  15. The music is key on setting the tone and mood of the film and
    scene
  16. Costumes are very generic and specific to the time period, as
they get happier the colors might get brighter

  • Institutional conventions-- marketing

  • Target audience is usually females
  • The posters usually include the couples in an embrace
  • Instagram and Snapchat ads are used often to target the teenage
girl audience, for high school romances like Love, Simon , since its '
the easiest most effective way to reach teenagers or young adults.
  • The trailers are often optimistic, and show the usually attractive
couple, and how “cute” their story is, where it is, and usually snippets
of their relationship, with a hint of the problem they will have, like
The Fault in our Stars.
  • Social media posts include interactions between the actors that are
in the romance film, interviews, and rumors of the actual actors dating,
creates publicity for free for the producers, a fandom
is born that “ ships” them, and the film can increase viewings this way,
like To all the Boys I've Loved before. This is a technique many Netflix
films use, since they are not shown in the movie theater, and rely on online
publicity.
  • Film example 1
Moonrise Kingdom
Image result for moonrise kingdom
  1. The movie begins with  a long take that ends in a long shot of the
    setting, the house of Suzy in an island.
  2. It contains diegetic and nondiegetic sound
  3. The colors are warm and bright
  4. The characters are introduced in the opening scene
  5. There is use of mid shot to create empathy and an emotional
connection with the audience, like when Suzy looks at the
camera in the opening scene
  1. Day to day life factors are very prevalent.
  2. Two shots are used to show the relationship of the characters
  • Film example 2
10 Things I Hate About You
Image result for 10 things i hate about you

  • The movie starts with sound that sets the mood of the film an
  • hints at Kat’s personality, as it switches when the music changes as she appears 
  • There is diegetic, the bell, and nondiegetic sound, the rock music in the opening scene
  • The characters are introduced, however there is two love stories in this film and one of each story is introduced at first,
  • Kat and Cameron, however we meet Patrick and Bianca after, and the
  • two stories collide, but Patrick and Kat’s is the main focus
  • An establishing shot shows the setting of the film: a school       
  • Climax is the consequences of the actions of Patrick, and it concludes in them ending together.
More examples of romantic films:
  1. Call me by your name
  1. Titanic
  1. La La Land
  1. P.S. I love you  
  1. The Shape of Water
  1. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
  1. Blue is the warmest color

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