Romance/DramaGenre analysis

What is Genre?

A genre is a specific type of music, film, or writing.  There are many genres for example:1. Comedy2. Thriller3. Romance4. Horror5. Science Fiction6. Action7. Adventure

What is romantic genre? Romantic films, love stories, or affairs, emotion, affectionate involvement of the main

characters usually a leading man and lady, and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot. The most successful romantic film is the 1997 blockbuster, Titanic which grossed over $600 million domestically and $1.8 billion worldwide. The narrative of a Romaic film would normally be a love story or love triangles, it would also include romantic scenes such as beaches and cities. They also include holidays with each other such as honeymoons or engagement and marriage. In each romantic film there is normally a protective father or an evil mother sometimes even both. The main ideas of a Romantic film would be falling in love, some kind of arguments, dates, gifts and soft music. The two most famous romantic films are Titanic and Romeo and Juliet, they are both very traditional romantic films. This is because they both include the protective father of the girl, falling in love, arguments and family rivals. Iconography is used within films such as romantic films this is to tell the audience from the fist scene that it is a romantic movie, the key things you see would be the man and women meeting or seeing each other somewhere. Also you would see them on a date or being reunited.

What type of audience would watch a romantic genre?

The audience that would watch romantic films would mainly be people that like to relate to that particular genre of film, this could be young teenagers or just women in general. This is because romantic films tend to be watched more by girls/ women as they find the idea of the narrative romantic, also the audience are drawn to the film because of the actors staring in the film. People sometimes watch a film because they have seen other films with the actors staring in them which draws them to other films they are in.

Dear JohnTitles and Credits

 In most romance film openings, titles and credits are shown in various ways. In the film Dear John, some of the credits and titles are on a screen of their own. They com up on a blank blue background with white writing, with the two colors perfectly contrasting, still images/close up’s etc. were not needed in conjunction with the writing. The writing showing the titles and credits fade in and out, a transition which is very stereo typical of a romance as it gives the shots or title screens a dreamy effect. After these title and credit pages are shown , the film opening’s action begins showing John himself in the war. For a while, whilst this character is speaking, no titles or credits are shown until he finishes he’s speech with ‘you’ and then another important credit’s page is shown telling you who made the film. ( Lasse Hailstorm ). As the film opening progresses, Channing Tatum and Amanda Siegfried's names are both shown. Being the two main characters within the film, the audience can now interpret who is involved because they have seen that these two actors have both been given a screen to themselves with the credits showing importance.

Characters It is quite stereo typical in a romance film opening for the main characters in

the film to be shown straight away. These characters usually consist of two protagonists, usually a male and a female. A romance usually starts with (most commonly) a male but sometimes a female, narrating/speaking. Take Dear John, for example. This film opening is of him as a voice over, narrating the film as flashbacks are shown of him when he was younger, in the army, etc. He has significant importance as he is the one being spoken about in the narration so he is shown for the first 1-2 minutes of the opening sequence. Savannah, Amanda Serfried is then shown to the audience. At this point the audience can interpret who they both are and their importance in the film. Other characters can be shown in a romance film opening but it is rare that a lot of time will be spent showing any shots of extra’s or other characters with less significance to the film.

Setting In most romances, there are stereo typical places that they are set. They are

normally set in an urban environment, a beach, a school etc, places where a chance encounter would happen. When a romance film opens, it is likely that much of the setting will be shown to the audience from the use of establishing shots and wide shots showing characters and much of the setting and area behind them. Depending on where they are situated, this can sometimes help the audience interpret what they think is going to happen in the film or where the action is going to take place. For example, In Dear John, we can see that when the film begins, Still images, panning cameras and long shots are shown to suggest to the audience that the places such as the trenches and buildings in the war and the beach, could be the main setting’s used within the film. A beach is quite a romantic place to go with a boyfriend or girlfriend and a war trench could suggest loss etc so both of these settings help set the tone and mood of the film.

Diegetic and non diegetic sound  Sound is very important within a romance to help set the tone mood and

atmosphere. If the film is going to be quite sad, sometime the music will establish this by the use of an instrumental such as a violin. Romances usually start with a guitar, piano or violin kind of instrument. All of these musical instruments can be used effectively through diegetic and non diegetic sound editing. In a stereo typical romance opening, music in the background will be quite quiet as the characters are usually narrating and speaking during the first few minutes of the film. If the non diegetic sound, being the music was up too loud then the audience wouldn’t be able to hear what they were saying (the diegetic sound). The two have to be balanced out well for the film opening to be effective. The music played in the background and the pitch and volume of that music all help set the mood and also help the genre be identified. A song such as the one used in DearJohn helps set the romantic, quite sad mood at the beginning of the film.

Props  Depending on what is being shown within the opening sequence can depend on the amount

of props and the props which will be appropriate to the sequence. In a genre such as a horror, close up’s of props like knives, needles etc. will be shown to the audience to help establish the mood and atmosphere. In a romance, this isn't always necessary but in our opening sequence which we plan to do we will be using close up’s of various props to help set the mood and tone of the film. These close up’s will include props such as art pieces, maps, manikins etc. because all of these props are necessary to our films storyline. Props are an essential part of a opening scene if you are using close ups or mid shots. Sometimes, if more than one long shot is being used in an opening scene, props aren't always necessary unless they are easily noticeable. They help draw the audience in by putting sometimes tension, a twist or a hint of humor on the scene. Depending on what is being shown, some props shown in romance genre film opening are very significant to the rest of the film and the story line. For example, relating back to Dear John again, when he is speaking about his collection of coins, coins (props) are shown on screen and they do have a significance in the film as it progresses. This can help draw the audience in by making them question why that prop has been used.

Camera Angle/shot and Movements  A romance film opening can consist of many angles shots and types of movement. Mid shots, close

up’s and panning shots are used quite frequently in romance film openings. A mid shot can be used effectively to set the scene and introduce characters. An example of this could be when, in Dear John, John is sitting down on the beach and you can see from a midshot from the right side of John, Savannah in the background with her friends and boyfriend who are later introduced. This helps the audience understand and interpret where the characters are and who the characters being shown are. (What their significance is). High angle shots are used frequently in Dear John too which help set the scene and depending on which characters (if any) are being shown within the shot, help set a romantic feel to the film opening. Panning shots and tracking movement can be used often in romance genre film openings to give a stalker element or to show attachment through two people following each other or walking together. In the film opening we have planned to do we have decided we are going tousle a low tracking shot to show both main characters feet walking at normal pace and then picking up pace as the music also picks up. They both begin to run and as they get faster the camera angle gets higher showing more of the characters bodies. These shots are effective as they build tension for the audience and you don’t know what they are running at or too. Music inessentially something that has to fit the shots, movement etc perfectly. A fast pace type of music in the background of slow pace action wouldn’t look right.

Editing and Transitions  Editing describes the relationship between shots and the process by which they are combined.

Editing in romance genre film can be used effectively in many ways. When main characters are being shown, editing such as fast cuts etc can be used in pace with the non diegetic music in the background. This is an effective way to portray the emotions and atmosphere of the film depending on what action is taking place on the screen. In Dear John, in the titles and credits fade transitions are used which give a dreamy romantic loving mood before the film or characters have even been properly introduced. Fades are also used on different parts of the scenes and shots being shown to the audience which help determine what is going on in the action being shown. Shot reverse shots can be used in a romance opening scene to show two characters looking, speaking etc at one another. Although this type of shot could be filmed at completely different times, it can be used effectively to make it look like both the characters were looking or speaking at each other even if the opposing person they were meant to be speaking to wasn’t there at the time the shot was filmed. These can be used in a romance to make it seem like the two characters are telling each other they love them for example, or proposing etc. The other person doesn’t always need to be there for a shot reverse shot to be effective.