Portfolio project: Drama

Drama

Stating that Drama is anyone's favorite movie genre is a widespread and universal statement. The Drama genre consists of a huge spectrum going all the way from "Historical Dramas" to "Romantic Dramas." Typically, the main target audience for Dramas are younger and older viewers typically consisting of females, due to its broadness. The main reason why I personally enjoy and love this genre is that it can depict anyone's life perfectly or similarly.

Although the genre is very broad, there are many ways or conventions that allow viewers to understand that it is in fact, a drama movie. The first primary technique derives from the content, such as creating characters that are relatable that the audience will show sympathy for. For example, the character, Christine, from Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig) which many teenagers may relate to. Another important content technique is having the Character go through ups and downs, with some climaxes and "anti-climaxes", which is seen in La La Land (Damien Chazelle) in which the two main characters go through a rollercoaster of emotions in their relationship.

The Drama genre also uses production techniques such as lighting which sets a tone for the audience, The use of a color palette, typically cool hues (blues, purples, etc.), and the scores and music typically alternative or mood genres.

However, even if these techniques are all set in stone in a drama production, mainly what attracts a viewer is the use of a marketing team. Clearly, movie trailers, famous actors promoting their movie through the press and using an appealing movie poster is a huge factor in the marketing aspect, but particularly what is seen in drama movie marketing is the use of " Based on a True Story" or " Based on the famous novel " such as the movie Beautiful Boy ( Felix van Groeningen).

La La Land

The film La La land ( Damien Chazelle) beautifully embodies the essence of what the romantic drama genre is. In the first few scenes, the two main characters Mia, an ambitious actor, and Sebastian, a jazz player, meet when they get stuck in LA traffic ( realistic setting). The movie's love story begins when the two main characters see each other at a "1980s pop" party, where they begin to have chemistry. A few months go by and Mia and Sebastian have moved in together but have heated arguments. Five years later, Mia has married another man and she sees Sebastian at his own club, imagining what life would have been like if she would have stayed with him. The specific drama techniques that are used in the movie are the Character ups and downs ( Moving in together, getting into arguments, not ending up together), the color palette such as cool hues ( Blues expressing their sadness, and violet expressing inspiration with both of their aspiring dreams) and the classic marketing technique of the catchy "City of Stars" soundtrack.

Good will hunting

The film Good Will Hunting ( Gus Van Sant) is a fantastic film that also demonstrates the drama genre in a beautiful way. The premise of the film is about a young boy by the name of Will Hunting ( Matt Damon), a genius who works as a janitor at MIT. A teacher by the name of Professor Lambeau challenges his students with a difficult math question and Will anonymously answers the difficult problem. Eventually, the professor catches him and acts as a mentor for him, and helps Will with a psych therapist named Sean, who will forever change his life. This movie can be interpreted by many as something they can possibly relate to and talks about mental health, which many enjoy and usually occurs in the drama genre. The tone of the movie progressively grows and the color palette is neutrals expressing sadness.