- Drama
- Genre Conventions (content)- Drama films are often a representation of serious social issues or life events, experiences or problems and concerns. The message of the film is often bold and meaningful to the public and mentioned throughout the film. The main focus of most dramatic films is character development through their experiences, setting, and story. There are many sub-genres of Dramatic films such as love-dramas, historical dramas, crime dramas, and melodramas. The general theme of dramas from what I have learned is to show the human element throughout life, in the character's best or worst times.
- Genre Conventions (production techniques)- There are not many strong characteristics of production techniques in Drama films. One technique, however, that I learned is common among the drama genre is that a score is usually created specifically for the emotionally tense films themselves. The main characteristic of dramatic films is the progression of the story through the characters development of emotions through situations established in the story. Most or nearly all films within the drama genre or subgenres share qualities of realism films when dealing with strong emotions human issues that occur in our everyday lives. A key production technique used in many drama films are close-ups as it adds much more emotion from the actors to the audience. Another common filming technique is to use prolonged shots with not much action as it forces the viewers to analyze the scene further and become more emotionally engaged with the film.
- Institutional Conventions- Most dramatic films are marketed toward the middle age or older audience rather than the younger or youth audiences. A common technique to market drama films is to show the stars of the film in the trailers, especially if they are known actors or actresses because most people will see them and therefore discuss the movie that is coming out because they are familiar with the actor or actress. This technique can be shown by the marketing and trailers for “La La Land” by Summit Pictures, and “Fences” by Paramount Pictures. In “Fences” the poster is of the main actors, Denzel Washington, and Viola Davis and the trailer primarily shows that they are the main characters within the film to attract fans of the popular actors and actresses.
- Film Sample Analysis #1- One of my personal favorite films over the past few years has been the drama of growing up in Miami in the film “Moonlight” by director Barry Jenkins. The whole plot line and the basis of the film is to follow the progression from childhood to young adulthood while growing up in a rougher end of Miami as a gay African American. It highlights on the emotions struggles highlighted in key events through the main characters life. The poster of the film is a close up of an edited photograph of the main character through stages in life, as a child, teen, and young adult signifying that the main focus of the film is that main character. The film is emotionally suspenseful constantly and revolves around the main character’s struggles. A serious issue discussed in this film, like many other drama films, is the way homosexuality is interpreted throughout someone’s life with factors such as their environment and friends or family. There are a few strong messages throughout this piece to give to the viewer regarding self-love and acceptance and regarding the path, you take through life is meaningful.
- Film Sample Analysis #2- “A Bronx Tale” is a dramatic film focusing on the maturation of the main character growing up in New York during the mob era. It is considered a Crime-Drama because, within the film, it does portray the gangster crime acts and motives, but in order to progress the story from the main character, Calogero’s, point of view. The film highlights the tough decisions he must make as he grows up by his conservative father’s ways during the day, but mob ways at night. Techniques used within this film are close-ups of the main character’s facial expressions and long shots to make the scene more emotional. As well as, the poster of the film is a profile shot of two of the main characters who are also big name actors at the time in 1993, Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri. “A Bronx Tale” is one of my most favorite films because of how emotionally enticing it is, and how it lets me believe I am there and experiencing the same things as the main character. I am able to watch this film endlessly and still be engaged with the character throughout the film.
- 5-7 more examples-
- “Titanic” (https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/).
- “The Help” (https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/).
- “Forrest Gump” (https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/).
- “Life Is Beautiful” ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ).
- “12 Years A Slave” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/?ref_=nv_sr_2 ).
- “Fences” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2671706/).
- “Schindler’s List” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/?ref_=adv_li_tt).
