Common Conventions in Drama Films

Hello again! I have one more blog to do after this and I will be out of your hair, I promise! XD Never again will I wait this late to do THREE blog entries (I know I said this already, but I really mean it this time) Okay! Let’s get this train moving, and this party rocking! So, in my last vlog I touched a little bit on some things I observed while looking at opening scenes in the drama category. Here I will list some notes I took, as well as the links to the videos I watched but before we get into that here is a little more that I observed. The opening sequences in my genre vary, depending on the plot of the movie. For example, some would be one continuous shot, and others would be multiple shots. Some would foreshadow what the movie would be about, and some would be signifying something that is important later on in the movie. Like stated before, it depends on the style, and storyline of the movie. The opening sequence can reveal much meaning and tone without giving anything away by camera angles, costume, and lighting. For example, in the opening scene gifted, it began with a narration from the main character. He was explaining that he was different from the other kids, but we didn’t know in what way because his face wasn’t revealed until the later in the scene. We were able to get a little understanding from that scene and that opened up doors of questions.

Common Conventions in Drama films

Source: https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/coopermatt62/codes-and-conventions-of-drama 

Mise-en-scene

Lighting

-Dull lighting (Used to portray and put emphasis on dull moments)

-Normal lighting may be used to give realistic feeling in the atmosphere

-High Key lighting is used to show happy moments 

Costume and Makeup

-A representative of the character and their personality

Setting

-Takes place in real life environments

Tone of drama movies

-Tends to shift from both high to low moments

-Drama films exabits real life situations

-Most movies are serious

Cinematography

-Low angles used to portray strength

-High angles used to portray weakness

-Close-up shots allow the audience to see how the characters are feeling

-Framing also tells us the ranks and the power of each character

-Over the shoulder would give us a close relation with the characters

Editing

-Influences how the audience sees characters within the scene

-Shot reverse shot allows audience to see the characters reactions

 

Drama Movie Film Openings viewed

 

Forest Gump

Forrest Gump Opening Scene (Feather at the Bus Stop) - Forrest Gump (1994) - Movie Clip HD Scene

 

12 years a slave

12 Years a Slave - Opening Scene (HD)

 

Catch me if you can

Catch Me If You Can (2002) title sequence

 

1917

The first 2 minutes 

Parasite | The Best Picture Winner's Opening 10 Minutes | Now on Blu-ray, DVD, & Digital

 

Finding Forrester

Finding Forrester (2000) title sequence