Drama films intend to engage the audience and invest them into the diegesis of the world inside of the film, manipulating them into forgetting that they are watching a film. This is achieved by enforcing realism; this is done through the narrative and stylistics.
Films of the drama genre are typically narrative driven; the plot is the focal point, therefore they are rarely based around fantastical characters or settings. To allow the audience to empathize and engage, The characters must be realistic and believable. They are usually average or normal people that would fit into our reality, rather than extravagant caricatures that are not of the norm. The narrative usually revolves around emotional themes that the viewer can emphasise with. They are human feelings that can be related to by the viewer. They do not have to be familiar situations, but familiar emotions such as love, hate, greed, or jealousy. The viewer is likely to have felt these emotions, and so it is easier for them to engage.
The ending of the drama film is usually happy or resolved in some way. It will rarely end abruptly or on a cliffhanger, there is usually a sense of resolve for the characters. This allows the audience to feel satisfied that the plot has been wrapped up whether justice is served, love is rekindled or a lesson has been learned.
Genre conventions- Drama
Editing usually has a strong sense of continuity; it should avoid dynamic cuts that do not flow naturally, such as jump cutting. Cuts like these take the audience out of the authenticity of the reality of the film; it reminds them that they are watching a film, which defies the intention to engage the audience into the story.
Mise-en-scene is used to reinforce the realistic nature of the narrative. The lighting and colour of the film will be natural and authentic, rather than harsh or garish. Lighting should be emulated to look as natural as possible. This allows the film to look as true to life as possible, therefore fulfilling the aim of achieving a realistic look.
Dear Megan...
17/08/2009
(Two by Two)
( Bagdad express by Nimear Rashead )
The purpose of a dramatic storyline is to move the audience emotionally. Drama films depend mostly on the development of realistic characters dealing with emotional issues. • In most cases the film concentrates on normal character(s) that is dealing with a conflict or dilemma. Dramas often give actors a chance to stretch into a role that other genres wouldn’t allow them to do. This is because drama films focus on building up characters that the audience can engage with.
Drama is a very broad genre and sub-genres of drama often overlap. Sub genres include…
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Crime drama generally follows a character(s) involved in criminal activity or law enforcement and the justice/legal system.
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Historical drama Films that focus on dramatic events in history particularly war films.
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Comedy drama A drama film that uses an equal, or nearly equal balance of humour and serious content.
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Melodrama a sub-type of drama films that uses plots that appeal to the heightened emotions of the audience. These films often put the character in danger to appeal to the emotions of the audience. Melodramatic plots often deal with "crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, neuroses, or emotional and physical hardship." (often including a central female character) that would directly appeal to feminine audiences. Also called tearjerkers, or "chick flicks". If they are targeted to a male audience, they can be nicknamed "guy cry" films
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Romantic drama are films which dwells on the elements of romantic love.
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Period Piece, these drama films focus on a specific time era. The era in which the film is set adds not only to the plot, but to the characters and costumes as well. A Period Piece films are often based on a novel. These films tend to have a longer run time than traditional Dramas.
Lemna Road
Leytonstone ,
London
E11 1JJ
By doing this page im more aware of the conventions my short film should contain to make sure the genre is obvious. This page helped me realise what subdrama genre I would like my film to be classified as aswell.
Yours Sincerly, Megan xo
