- Genre: Drama
and contains many sub-genres. It is a genre that relies on the emotional development of realistic
characters and aims to tell an honest story of human struggles. Drama is also structured with
climaxes to keep the audience emotionally connected while also relating to the character. The
plot mostly consists of :
Realism
Some form of journey
Heightened emotion
Plots with a twist
And as I mentioned above, a protagonist that’s easy to relate to.
At the same time, in dramatic films, they often always contain a happy ending or a
“happily ever after.” Now that you know a little bit about drama, lets move on to production
techniques!
techniques!
3. Not only in dramatic films but in all films, the production techniques such as sound,
special effects, lighting, mise en scene, composition and movement of camera shots
and angles, and music are all used to shape and develop the film. Many of these techniques
are involved when making a dramatic film. For example, lighting creates mood and in the way
its angled, it also changes the picture. A soft lighting can suggest romance, a bright lighting can
suggest happiness, and a dark lighting can suggest a feeling of being gloomy or upset. Typically,
in dramatic films, the main lighting that is used is bright, and maybe some soft lighting. Once the
plot twists and something bad happens, the lighting then turns from bright to dark. Another
common technique used are the use of props. The most common props that are used in
dramatic films include: guns, alcohol, knives, phones, and drugs. These are the main props
used because some of them associate with the lives of teenagers or young adults. Along with
props, there is also setting. Settings in dramatic films are very important because they allow the
audience to see the atmosphere that the characters live in. Not only does the setting do what I
just said, but it also reflects on the character’s personalities. For instance, this might include
an apartment or house. Another important element of a Drama is the use of costumes. Depending
on the type of drama, clothing may vary. Clothing also allows for the audience to have an automatic
opinion on the character. For example, if the film was a teen drama, the characters would most
likely use hoodies, or designer clothing. Color also has a strong role because it helps resemble
feelings and more. The color may vary since drama has maybe sub-genres. If the film is a fighting
movie the colors might be dark, and if the film is a romantic movie then it might include lighter colors
like white, and a hint of red.
special effects, lighting, mise en scene, composition and movement of camera shots
and angles, and music are all used to shape and develop the film. Many of these techniques
are involved when making a dramatic film. For example, lighting creates mood and in the way
its angled, it also changes the picture. A soft lighting can suggest romance, a bright lighting can
suggest happiness, and a dark lighting can suggest a feeling of being gloomy or upset. Typically,
in dramatic films, the main lighting that is used is bright, and maybe some soft lighting. Once the
plot twists and something bad happens, the lighting then turns from bright to dark. Another
common technique used are the use of props. The most common props that are used in
dramatic films include: guns, alcohol, knives, phones, and drugs. These are the main props
used because some of them associate with the lives of teenagers or young adults. Along with
props, there is also setting. Settings in dramatic films are very important because they allow the
audience to see the atmosphere that the characters live in. Not only does the setting do what I
just said, but it also reflects on the character’s personalities. For instance, this might include
an apartment or house. Another important element of a Drama is the use of costumes. Depending
on the type of drama, clothing may vary. Clothing also allows for the audience to have an automatic
opinion on the character. For example, if the film was a teen drama, the characters would most
likely use hoodies, or designer clothing. Color also has a strong role because it helps resemble
feelings and more. The color may vary since drama has maybe sub-genres. If the film is a fighting
movie the colors might be dark, and if the film is a romantic movie then it might include lighter colors
like white, and a hint of red.
4. When advertising for films, lots of trailers, talk shows, and film posters are very popularly used.
For example, having a trailer that shows the main plot of the film, but not spoiling the movie to the
audience is one way that these films are marketed. Also, having popular celebrities in these films
can help increase the excitement of the film, and also make their target audience want to watch the
film even more. Since Drama is such a broad genre, the target audience may vary by sub-genres.
Some sub genres include: Romantic comedy, Comedy, Melodrama. These films mostly target a female
audience from the ages of 15-50 years old and are usually called “chick flicks.” However, drama films
that are targeted to male audiences are usually called “guy crys.” For example, in theaters, film posters
are used to promote and advertise a film and are usually displayed inside and on the outside of movie
theaters, shops, and elsewhere on the street. On TV, talk shows can be a television or radio show in
which various topics are discussed with the main characters of the dramatic film and listeners, viewers,
or the studio audience are invited to participate in the discussion. Also, promotional tours, interviews
and merchandising is also used when marketing these types of films.
For example, having a trailer that shows the main plot of the film, but not spoiling the movie to the
audience is one way that these films are marketed. Also, having popular celebrities in these films
can help increase the excitement of the film, and also make their target audience want to watch the
film even more. Since Drama is such a broad genre, the target audience may vary by sub-genres.
Some sub genres include: Romantic comedy, Comedy, Melodrama. These films mostly target a female
audience from the ages of 15-50 years old and are usually called “chick flicks.” However, drama films
that are targeted to male audiences are usually called “guy crys.” For example, in theaters, film posters
are used to promote and advertise a film and are usually displayed inside and on the outside of movie
theaters, shops, and elsewhere on the street. On TV, talk shows can be a television or radio show in
which various topics are discussed with the main characters of the dramatic film and listeners, viewers,
or the studio audience are invited to participate in the discussion. Also, promotional tours, interviews
and merchandising is also used when marketing these types of films.
5. Film #1: A Star is Born. This movie is about a musician who falls in love with a struggling artist.
Right when she starts giving up on her dream about becoming a famous singer, the main artist coaxes
her into the spotlight. When the young girl’s career takes off, their relationship starts to break down,
as Jackson (the musician) fights an ongoing battle with being an alcoholic. This film embodies the
genre drama because it relates to human struggles. Most dramas include alcohol, which is one of
their main props. In this movie, the musician has struggles at the beginning with alcohol and as he
falls in love, his alcoholism progresses even more. Due to his struggles, every time he drank, he
was a completely different person and would verbally attack his girlfriend at times. Due to this, he
commits suicide to save her from all the trouble he put her through. This resembles to real world
human problems because many people struggle with this addiction and with the thoughts of suicide.
In many dramas, they aim to tell an honest story of human struggles, in which the audience can relate
to. Lastly, this movie includes two very popular celebrities. Ally which is Lady gaga and Jackson
which is Bradley cooper.
Right when she starts giving up on her dream about becoming a famous singer, the main artist coaxes
her into the spotlight. When the young girl’s career takes off, their relationship starts to break down,
as Jackson (the musician) fights an ongoing battle with being an alcoholic. This film embodies the
genre drama because it relates to human struggles. Most dramas include alcohol, which is one of
their main props. In this movie, the musician has struggles at the beginning with alcohol and as he
falls in love, his alcoholism progresses even more. Due to his struggles, every time he drank, he
was a completely different person and would verbally attack his girlfriend at times. Due to this, he
commits suicide to save her from all the trouble he put her through. This resembles to real world
human problems because many people struggle with this addiction and with the thoughts of suicide.
In many dramas, they aim to tell an honest story of human struggles, in which the audience can relate
to. Lastly, this movie includes two very popular celebrities. Ally which is Lady gaga and Jackson
which is Bradley cooper.
6. Film #2: Dude. The movie follows four high school girls as they navigate the loss of a friend from
their group, and deal with life as they approach their upcoming high school graduation. In the
beginning of the movie, these four friends are inseparable and wild. They are the typical high school
group. They go to parties, do drugs, study, and have their own love lives. When they lose one of their
friends, everything starts to go downhill and life as they know it, completely changes. Like I said
before, the most common props that are used in dramatic films include: guns, alcohol, knives, phones,
and drugs. In this movie, drugs is the main use of escaping their emotions toward losing their friend
and helps them cope with what they're dealing with. Along with props, the costumes in this movie are
very relatable to what teenager where these days. They often wear hoodies in school and designer
clothing at parties which resembles the personalities and the lives of young teenagers. Lastly, this
movie includes one very popular celebrity which is Lucy Hale as lily.
their group, and deal with life as they approach their upcoming high school graduation. In the
beginning of the movie, these four friends are inseparable and wild. They are the typical high school
group. They go to parties, do drugs, study, and have their own love lives. When they lose one of their
friends, everything starts to go downhill and life as they know it, completely changes. Like I said
before, the most common props that are used in dramatic films include: guns, alcohol, knives, phones,
and drugs. In this movie, drugs is the main use of escaping their emotions toward losing their friend
and helps them cope with what they're dealing with. Along with props, the costumes in this movie are
very relatable to what teenager where these days. They often wear hoodies in school and designer
clothing at parties which resembles the personalities and the lives of young teenagers. Lastly, this
movie includes one very popular celebrity which is Lucy Hale as lily.
7.
Bibliography
“Drama Films.” Most Influential, Significant and Important Films in American Cinema - The 1960s, www.filmsite.org/dramafilms.html.
“Drama (Film and Television).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama_(film_and_television).
Burton, Nikki. “Group 14.” Conventions of Drama Genre, 1 Jan. 1970, bca2media2013group14.blogspot.com/2012/09/conventions-of-drama-genre.html.
