Codes and Conventions

There are certain codes and conventions used for different genres of films. Below are the codes and conventions that are used in Romantic Dramas.


The settings usually used for Romantic dramas are :

-Beach towns/beaches or town centres.
-There are a variety of places where the characters can meet by accident throughout the film.
- Places we associate with being romantic like beaches, restaurants and couples homes. Places where the main characters are on  their own/isolated, so they can show affection freely.
-workplaces of the main characters

The props usually used in Romantic dramas :

-Flowers/chocolates
-Presents
-Nice clothes/swimwear
-Car
-Mobile phone
-Photography
-Suitcases

The typical Action usually used in a Romantic Drama :

-Boy meets girl
-Girl meets boy
-Boy and girl grow close
-Boy and girl fall in love or one of them does and has unrequited love for the other
-Boy and girl are pulled apart by a tragedy, betrayal, jealously or a mistake
-A period of time where the boy and girl or just one of them are mourning the loss of the other
-Boy and girl are pulled together by some spontaneous moment/decision
-Boy and girl are reunited (although they may remain apart)


The typical character types usually seen in a Romantic Drama :

-The male lead character
-The female lead character
-The friends of both of the main characters
-The family members of the main characters
-The competitor for one of the main characters affections (usually male)

The typical Storyline usually seen in a Romantic Drama :

-Boy meets girl
-Boy and girl spend lots of time together and soon fall in love
-Boy and girl become separated by a tragedy/problem
-Boy and girl spend most of time mourning the loss of the other
-Boy and girl are drawn back together
-Boy and girl live happily ever after

the typical sound/Music usually heard in a Romantic Drama :

-Piano solos that can moves between melancholy to happiness
-Brief dialogue in parts maybe more in others
-Possibly some narration to help explain scenes
-Songs that are related to love or break ups.

The cinematography/editing usually seen in a Romantic Drama :

-Flash backs of the past. Not used in all romantic dramas but are usually used to help give some background to the characters
-Few editing techniques used as the film is based mainly on reality
-Many different shots of the main characters apart and together


These codes and conventions have shown me the sort of things that i will have to put into my own film. i have the learnt that even though they are mainly based on reality, there are lots to them and involve a lot more work than I originally thought.