2. CODES
Characters must he easily
accessible for the audience-
it must be easy for viewers
to relate to.
A form of realisation
towards the end of the
film
The character has a clear
relationship with people
and to themselves
Use of realistic
storyline
Usually depicting
some form of a
journey
Use of realistic
settingsGuidelines
Verisimilitude within
the storyline-there is
truth within the story
3. Conventions
A drama film is a genre build with emotional themes that character represent like poverty, class division, drug addiction,
sexuality, moral dilemmas and so on…
‘Drama is life with the dull parts left out’ Alfred Hitchcock.
Conventions are alternative ways of presenting parts of drama. The conventions or so called rules are mainly known by film
makers and actors in order to create drama in film through actions that are linked with characters dealing with
emotional issues like struggles or dilemmas…
Characters in drama films are divided in three main groups:
Protagonist Helper and best friend
Antagonist
Protagonist is the main character in the film and is often exposed under trails with determination to overcome evil.
The antagonist provokes other character in the film and get what they want, including hurting somebody, breaking the law or
even killing. But rules can be broken and the bad or good character can transform into a different person.
The helper or the best friend is loyal to protagonist, often has moral codes witch can be broken, in order to assist the protagonist
to achieve triumph or to support the main character to find a way in life.
Character must be realistic and believable. They are usually average or normal people that fit into reality.
4. Narrative
Films of the drama genre are typically narrative driven. The narrative usually revolves around emotional themes that
the viewer can emphasize 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.
Dramas do not have to have some explosive dramatic themes. All drama films are very tense and it is likely that the
music will have mysterious intense scores to provoke emotions on speculator. The ending of the drama film is
usually happy or resolved in some way, with exceptions, e.g. Titanic.
Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene will support the location of the film with a realistic setting such as an average neighborhood or
town. The costuming will also support this meaning that there will be not fascinating costume but regular
clothing that matches the character. An example is the Revolutionary Road.
Cinematography
It can be used to impose a specific mood onto the audience. For instance, a slow pan can be used to draw out tension,
or fast handheld camera movements could evoke nervousness, anxiety or stress. There is generally little use of
dynamic shots and a deep depth of a field can be used to stimulate the images of the human eye.
Editing
Editing in drama films can also be flexible depending on the mood of the scene. For example, it could become fast
paced to evoke panic or nerves, or a slow pace in order to get opposite effect. Editing in drama films has a very
strong sense of continuity and it should avoid dynamic cuts that do not flow naturally, such as jumping cuts.
5. Summarizing Conventions:
Focus on real life situations
CONVENTIONS
The theme of character
development
Emotionally affect the
audience
Particular themes
explored
A steady increase
and build up of
tension
Heart of the Drama is
some form of conflict,
struggle, mental or
physical pain
The end of the film
portrays a hard-
hitting ending leaving
a lasting impression
8. 1.Biography
A Biography drama incorporates dramatic elements into a biographical film. These
films are based on true stories . They tend to show a comprehensive and accurate
picture of the specific subject and tend to be serious and intense.. An example is ‘Blow’,
produced in 2001.
2. Courtroom
Courtroom drama film uses the justice system as the main component of the plot. The
story usually involves the prosecutor, judge, jury, and the defense. Tension plays a large
part in courtroom dramas . An example is ‘A few good Men’, produced in 1992.
3. Dramedy/Comedy Drama
A genre that has a dramatic tone yet important elements of the comedy. In Dramedy,
the amount of drama and comedy are almost equally balanced. An example is ‘Little
Miss Sunshine’, produced in 2006.
4. Historical
A sub-genre that examines a specific time in history or group of people. Many
Historical films aim to portray true events and people. They are considered to be very
educational. An example is ‘Hotel Rwanda’, produced in 2004.
5.Melodrama
A film that appeals to the heightened emotions o the audience. The plot and character
often are more unrealistic. An example is ‘Sophie’s Choice’, produces in 1982.
9. 6.Period Piece
Period Piece is a sub-genre that focuses on a specific time era and are often based on a novel. These
films tend to have a longer run time than traditional Dramas. Example of Period Piece film is ‘Romeo
and Juliet’, produced in 1968.
7. Political
Political sub-genre has a plot specifically about politics and the political scene. An example is ‘Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington’, produced in 1939.
8.Romance
A genre that explores the complex side of love. The plot usually centers on an obstacle that is
preventing love between two people. An example of this obstacle could be a family disapproval,
forbidden love, or one’s own psychological restraints. An example is ‘Titanic’, produced in 1997.
9. Tragedy
A genre wherein the downfall of the character is caused by a flaw within the character. The genre is
mainly about the self-destructive behavior of the character. The end is usually a death of the character
or other form of degradation. An example of this film is ‘American Beauty’, produced in 1999.
10. Dark Comedy
Has comedy influences and has serious, usually taboo themes, such as rape, murder, war, insanity and
terminal illness. An example of this film is ‘Fargo’, produced in 1996.
10.
11. MonodramaMonodrama
Monodrama is drama sub-genre that I have chosen for my 5 minutes short film.
Monodrama drama designed to be performed by a single actor. Monodrama can be also referred to as ‘One
person show’. Monodramas include the play-monologue and dramatic miniatures in the form of a conversation
with a silent character. The term is also applied to dramatic works having two or more characters whose roles
are performed by a single actor. Text in monodrama is assigned to only one man, who speaks his monologue
text to himself, imaginary person, without having a real dialogue with a real person we as the audience can see.
This name first appeared in Germany, when the actor Brandes between 1775 - 1780, popularized short piece
for an actor or actress, accompanied by music or choir.
Monodramas were shown as part of the play with three dramatic programs, often as parts of longer adapted
drama. In the same way incurred so-called duodrama, short pieces with two faces. Monodrama is very popular
with theater shows like ‘Pygmalion’ for example.
The realistic monodrama is becoming popular as a means of psychological analysis and as an expression of
modern man's loneliness according to Cocteau, Beckett.
Monodrama can be a dramatic representation of a person, in which all characters are only projections of
various states of the soul of the hero.
