Definition of a Romantic Drama

What is a 'Romantic Drama'? 

"Romance" 

A Romance film is defined as a genre within film where the story revolves around the love between two protagonists. It may then explores issues within the couples love, these plots can vary greatly. They often evoke strong emotional meaning to the audience ending in either happiness  or tragedy. 

"Romantic Drama" 

A Romantic Drama is a sub-genre within film which explores the complex side of love. The story most always revolves around a particular obstacle which is preventing the two protagonists from fulfilling their love for each other. These obstacles vary and can often involve emotional pain such as death or illnesses. Many romantic drama also end with the two lovers separating because they cannot overcome the obstacle. 

What is an opening sequence?

What is a film opening?

An opening sequence is the beginning of the film which give credits to all those companies and people involved in the production, distribution or exhibition of the film. The opening sequences are kept short but give an insight into the film. 

Some sequences start the film where a character is followed, or some however take the chance just to introduce the genre of the film by using music or a picture, using the sequence to credit others.

The opening sequence will also introduce all those actors involved in the film, some also introduce the actors with a picture of them on screen.

Genre Codes

Products within the media industry are categorized due to similarities within the narrative as well as its story-line. Different genres are attractive to different audience, therefore once a film in a particular genre does well, more films are produced to please that audience type. That audience will then be developed enough in that genre to feel connected and involved in the film.

Genre types involve:

1. Thriller

2. Romantic

3. Comedy

4. Action

Sub-Genre is a category within the film industry where a film crosses over with 2 types of genre, for example a Romantic-Comedy or Action Thriller. This pulls in a wide audience range as well as making the film arguably more interesting.

Conventional

A film opening in which is in conventional order would normally open with a production companies indent followed by the distribution companies. After these would follow either the film title or an introduction to the actors involved. If an actor is not well known these titles would appear first. After the actors more people will be credited such as the costume designers, editors, music supervisors, casting agents, producers, directors and production designers etc. However all films will have different conventional orders depending on the importance or status of that particular company/person within the film industry. 

Moodboards

Mood Board

Firstly, I have created a mood board which consists of words and images in which relate to film/TV dramas. I gathered a range of ideas in which relate to film/TV dramas. I gathered a range of ideas which in my opinion stand for or relate to a film drama. I particularly noticed that the colours used are dull and dark to represent fear and danger. The words collaged represent either particular events that occur in a drama ('scream'0 or a particular type/reaction of a film drama. I have gained particular interest in a romantic drama, which ends 2 people in danger or leads one to help another in danger. Therefore, I have decided upon creating more boards that develop my ideas and knowledge in the film romantic drama genre. 

Secondly, I have put together a series of images of films that specifically come under the film genre of a Romantic drama. The idea of tragedy and dangers as a result of 'love'. Particular images symbolize and relate specifically to romance or the idea of love between young people. The colours used are of bright more happy colours, however subtle hints of foreshadowing danger are visible with the use of the colours red and black. 

Thirdly, I have put together pictures of images related to Romance in particular to help me understand one side of the genre of 'Romance'. Th colours are all bright and happy and the words relate to many of the misfortunes that undertake as a result of 'love'.I have researched also some locations in which are seen as romantic in particular. 

Different Film Opening Types

DIFFERENT FILM SEQUENCE TYPES

Narrative Structure 

A Film opening that is Narrative will take us through a journey and be part of the film. We are normally introduced to either the main characters or at least the locations in which the film will be located within.

This therefore allows actors to be credited when they are visible on screen and all other credits like the production companies credited when introduced to a certain location or setting involved within the film.
When the two minute opening has finished the film carries on with no disconnection from the sequence itself.
The credits are not normally centralized or made bold in a narrative opening. They sometimes appear in the lower corners of the screen so the audience is not distracted from what is occurring on screen.

A Stylized Editing opening 

Stylized openings relate very closely to discrete opening. They have a lot of editing and transitions used for effective so although you are given several clue about the film the audience is made confused and cannot get a full understanding of what the film my be about. Stylized openings are used mainly used for action films as there are fast moving and energetic. 

Titles over a blank screen

This type of opening in my opinion is not very effective on an audience as it doesn't get them thinking about the film or questioning the event that may occur within it however it is fairly short in length. This is because it usually consists of a plain coloured back ground with a plain font type also that credits everyone involved within the making of the film. No images or other shots are shown on screen making no reasons as to why an audience may want to continue watching the film.

Discrete Title Sequence 

This type of opening sequence there is generally no introduction to any characters or settings that the film may be located in. The sequence is separate from the film or in fact to the rest of the film in general however it may 'discretely' hint where the film may go in terms of story-line or generally clues at any aspect of the film. This is a good way of getting an audience to want to watch the film as they want to find out whether their predictions are right or wrong.

 

 

Prelimary Task

'The Detention' 

Preliminary Task Evaluation

What I learnt

From carrying out a preliminary task prior to my own making of a film title I learnt the importance of how to use a camera correctly. I demonstrated within the task my own understanding of camera rules; rule of thirds, match on action editing, reverse reverse shot and the film followed the 180 degree rule. 

Rule of Thirds: compostion rule of thumb in photography 

Match on action editing: Coming closer to a certain object say a door. So you watch the hand go towards the door and then closely it matches the hand on the door so you watch the person go through.

Reverse reverse shot: I learnt how to do have a conversation between two people without making the conversation look fake and unrealistic. So therefore a reverse reverse shot shows one character and the answer from the other character.

180 degree rule: Finally I learnt that it is important to show the whole 180 degrees of the room or location you are filming within because otherwise the film would be confusing for viewers and unbelieveable. 

What I have learnt and What I will take from this

What I have learnt from the analysis of other film openings

By looking at film openings from those in the film industry, it has enabled me to understand how to attract viewers and audiences from the beginning of a film. I have seen several sequences that I find effective and some that are not, with this I can now identify what makes an effective opening and what does not. Music that plays along with the opening can portray a particular genre of the film to the audience, therefore music in my opinion is essential to have with an opening sequence because it gives an insight of the feeling of the film from the opening, for example in The Holiday opening I analysed I found that the music was relaxing and romantic, creating a happy enjoyable vibe from the start leading me to carry on watching. The credits of the film are the most dominating piece of information for the opening sequence of a film, I have learnt this by my analysis of when companies and actors are introduced in several openings. Mostly it is common for the companies involved to be credited to first followed later on by the actors, then the last couple of introductions go out to the other productions involved form the editing to the casting. 

What I will take from this

As part of my media AS course I will be creating my own opening sequence to my own film, therefore from this analysis I can take all the parts I have learnt of which to make a good opening sequence to include within my own work. I will have to involve a lot of research into the genre of my film to enable me to be able to portray this within my opening using music. The story line of my film will need to be thought out instantly in order for this to be hinted at through the very beginning. If I involve a narrative in the background to my opening it will have to apply to what is happening, as well as fit with all the camera shots etc. 

Forrest Gump opening seqence

Forest Gump 

00:04 Paramount
00:13 Paramount pictures present
00:18 A Steve Tisch/ Windy Finerman production
00:22 A Robert Zemckis film
00:27 Tom Hanks in
00:32 Forrest Gump
00:37 Robin Wright
00:42 Gary Sinise
00:47 Myketti Williamson
00:52 Sally Field
00:57 Casting by Ellen Lewis
01:02 Co-Producer
01:07 Executive music producer
01:12 Visual effects supervisor
01:17 Costumne designer
01:22 Music by
01:27 Edited by Arther Schmidt 
01:32 Production designer
01:37 Director of photography
01:42 Based on the novel by
01:46 Screenplay by
01:50 Produced by 
02:03 Directed by 

Analysis
This opening sequence follows a feather from the start fall to the ground, this questions the story line of the film from the beginning.
The music played in the background is of a piano which is very relaxing and happy, suggesting a romantic feel to the film. The camera shots over a town which sets the film within america, by passing through people in towns it is shown that we are going on an adventure somewhere as an audience showing that these people and tourists are not significant to the film but the places are as the camera slows down when on a particular building or street.
At the ending of the sequence we are introduced to a character, the use of the filming from the shoes upwards begins stereotyping of the person before even letting them speak or seeing there face. the shoes are really muddy yet have crystal clean laces tied on them, this could suggest ethier that the character is of a lower class or that  the shoes have some what f a sentimental value to him. The way in which the feather lands at his feet shoes that he has importance within the film as well as the feather because he hinds it away in his bag, suggesting this will be brought up later on in the film.
I find the chose of music and material to film particularly effective within this film opening because of the general feel it passes over to the audience as well the unusual following of a feather being interesting.

Bridge to Terabithia opening

Bridge to Terabithia 

00:01 Walt Disney 

00:12 Walden Media 

00:19 Walt Disney Pictures and

00:22  Walden Media present 

00:27 A Hal Lieberman Company production and A Lauren Levine production

00:43 Film Title 'Bridge to Terabithia'

01:02 Josh Hutcherson

01:11 AnnaSophia Robb

01:15 Robert Patrick 

01:18 Bailee Madison

01:24 and Zooey Deschanel 

01:28 Casting by 

01:35 Co-producers 

01:40 Music supervisor 

01:44 Music by

01:46 Costumne Designer 

01:50 Edited By 

01:54 Production Designer 

02:02 Director of photography 

02:05 Based on the book by Katherine Paterson 

02:09 Executive Producer 

02:13 Produced by Hal Lieberman 

02:16 Produced by Lauren Levine and David Paterson

02:20 Screenplay by 

02:25 Directed by Gabor Csupo 

Analysis
The sequence opening credits Walt Disney straight away, pulling in young age audiences as well as elder by the later introduction to Walden Media.
I find this opening sequence effect due to the use of music, again like in The Holiday sequence. The music playing starts the film and puts an effect to the film from the beginning. The sound of a guitar suggests that the film will follow a country route. The music also later portrays the genre because it gets much more upbeat and holds a magical, adventurous tone to it, portraying the adventure genre to the film. This is later reinforced by the use of both visual effects and animation. The drawings suggests the film will follow young children and the fictional characters being drawn enforce this and the adventurous style of the film. This shows the boys imagination takes over suggesting it by become danger in the film as they come alive and several of the characters drawn are associated with danger (for example trolls and dragons).
I find this opening sequence is particularly effective because it follows the boys adventure to another house. It creates both an excitable and enjoyable tone to the film for viewers from the start. 

The Holiday opening sequence

The Holiday

00:03 Columbia

00:10 Universal

00:19 Columbia and Universal Pictures

00:24 Association with Relavity Media 

00:34 Waverly Films production

00:55 Film by Nancy Meyers

01:01 Cameron Diaz

01:06 Kate Winslet

01:07 Narration starts

01:11 Jude Law

01:24 Jack Black

01:47 Film Title

02:06 Eli Wallach

02:14 Edward Burns

02:24 Casting and Uk Casting

02:38 Music by

02:44 Marlene Stewart

03:11 Edited by Joe Hutshing

03:15 Production designer

03:20 Director of photography

03:31 Executive producer

03:38 Produced by

Analysis 

The beginning of the sequence introduces the two biggest production companies involved in the making of the film. The sequence opens with a close up of a brightly coloured environment along with a couple centralised. This conveys that the genre of the film is to be romantic, the lightness of the scene suggests it will be enjoyable and happy. Alongside the opening and throughout the piece, there is music playing, the sound is relaxing and joyful, again suggesting the genre of the film and its atmosphere, I find this particularly effective for an opening sequence. 

The camera pans out to show two screens one of which is editing the scene we watched as an audience, this detracts the audience from the couple, realising they are not signifcant characters to the film. This also would explain why no actors are introduced whilst they are on screen, giving time to credit the production companies involved.

The next camera shot shows a character playing the music on a keyboard, connecting the romantic comedy genre to the piece again, despite the false interpretation of the couple. This also connects the genre with the particular character suggesting he will have something to do with romance.

Jack Black is on screen for a longer time then any other characters to highlight his importance within the film, at the same time other actors are being introduced below him on screen. This puts emphasis on him as an actor, showing he is a main character. 

Narration of a women suggests another character involved and her dialogue about love enforces the romantic genre. I particularly like the idea of a narrative voice because it starts the film before the end of the credits, preventing the beginning from being boring for viewers.