Conventions of a...... School Based Drama

Liam Boreham

Introduction

In this PowerPoint I'm going to familiarise myself with the conventions of a school based drama. For my AS Media main coursework task we have to make the opening of a film, whatever genre. However I'm going to look into what is traditionally included in a successful school based drama.

The Traditional Main Characters

• The rookie, the protagonist is usually a new girl to the school who is unpopular at first yet changes throughout the drama.

• The ‘Jock’/Good-looking Boy, the boy that all the girls admire, usually the rookie ends up with him.

• The Antagonist, usually the most popular boy/girl at the school, who dislikes the rookie and also is in love with the ‘jock.’ The rookies enemy.

The Traditional NarrativeThe narrative in many school based dramas are essentially, plots the viewers

can relate too. The importance in the plot appearing relatable is that the audience have to understand and sympathise with the characters as if they know how they feel. The usual storyline involves the rookie joining the school without friends, falling in love with the ‘Jock’ then something goes wrong due to the Antagonist and they fall out and then in the end the Rookie and the ‘Jock’ become a couple and the popular Antagonist is brushed aside, this appears in many American school based dramas for example, High School Musical, Glee, Grease, Mean Girls etc.

Openings of School Based Dramas

Lean On Me – Notes on mise en scene: Madness, Chaotic, use of corridors, violence, resolution, Music reflecting the action within the shot, Graffiti regularly used to display the type of setting

Dangerous Minds- Notes on Mise en scene- Rookie, Jocks, Buses clicks within the school e.g. the ‘nerds’ ‘jocks’ ‘cheerleaders’ etc, Shouting, youth music reflecting the era the film is set in.

Evaluation

From looking into the conventions of a school based drama and the prospects of using this in my main task, I've decided I'm going to research more film genres and the conventions and the make a final decision. Thanks for watching.