Film conventions of the Genre

The first piece of work that I need to complete to start off my task making a film genre is to research the conventions of the romantic drama which is the genre of the film I am making. I have some ideas of what is included in a romantic drama film, but I need to do this research so that I can cement these ideas and conventions into my head and confirm it with research and evidence from movies and articles about movies from this genre.

Romantic Drama

This is a list of conventions that I have discovered about the Romantic Drama genre:

Characters

• Male character
• Female character, often of a different social status than the male character
• Family members, in-laws
• Other partners, past exes or future boyfriend/girlfriend.

Settings

• Beaches, beach houses
• Small towns, villages possibly cities
• Can be more than one place if the male and female lead characters live in separate places or even countries
• Romantic places, beaches, by the sea, meadows. Places where the couple can be alone/isolated

Storylines

• Reach deep into the emotions of normal people, makes people ask big questions about the way they are living their lives
• Often, not always have a tragic or painful ending, although tragic can sometimes be happy in a way
• The meeting of the two lead characters, and the development of their love, deep love/passion/romance
• Often an obstacle gets in the way of the love, social status, moving away, family, illness
• The love is often resolved, although ending may not be happy

Props

• Outdoor clothing chunky knitwear and scarves
• Sometimes a photo album, a lot of memories could be anything from photos to ornaments.

Cinematography and editing

• Not always linear can be flashbacks, often the tragic event, ending happens at the beginning and we find out why and how it happens, with a series of flashbacks and narration from one of the lead characters.
• Use of slow paced editing, focusing on the two main characters to show the love they have for each other
• Other characters, exes, family are often introduced in more of an action scene, wedding or fun fair, where fast editing is used
• Very light often filmed mostly outside, in big open areas, with only the main characters around.
• Often the camera shots have both the male and female lead in them, especially when the couple are together, when the couple are apart, temporarily or permanently the shots of the leads are separate and often one after each other

Sound

• Romantic slow, music often hinting on sadness and separation
• Limited dialogue, especially when the couple are alone in their isolated areas, but very poignant when used
• More dialogue in busy scenes with more characters and a specific event or situation, e.g. Funfair, wedding.
• Parts of film can be narrated often first person, by the female character although sometimes by the male. Sometimes explain what’s happening in the film

Comment

• It was useful to research the conventions of this genre, so that I can understand fully what the audience would expect to see in my film opening. Also so that my film opening is easily recognisable as a Romantic Drama.
• I have learnt that Romantic Dramas nearly always feature, one male and female lead character that at some point in the film fall in love and are separated again. Also that Romantic Dramas do not always have a happy ending and can be told using flashbacks. These has taught me that in my Romantic Drama film opening, I should feature at least one of the lead characters and possibly have some introduction to the story, maybe via the ending first

I have learnt from this piece of work that every genre has quite strict conventions which are often but not compulsory to follow in the film. For my genre of the romantic drama I have learnt that my film should include a male and female lead and the whole narrative should be about the development of the love between the two lead characters and the obstacles they have to face to resolve this love, not necesarily in a happy way but by the end of the film the love is resolved. The film may not be in a linear sequence but there can be flashbacks used and romantic dramas often feature tragic events. In conclusion this piece has shown me what features or conventions my film should included so that it can be classified into the Romantic Drama genre. I also now think that I know what I need and want to include into my film opening, and in the film as a whole such as a non linear narrative and a resolved love that isn't strictly a happy ending.