Media Homework Project - FilmMelissa Shearer 10TP

Week 1: Montage of pictures from your chosen genre

Conventions of the Comedy Genre

Exaggerates the situation, the language, action, characters

Light-hearted, intended to amuse and entertain

Mimics or impersonates a person, organisation, situation or idea

Can be something the audience can relate to (portrayed humorously), or something totally out of the ordinary that the viewer finds funny because of its improbability

Characters are exaggerated and stretched out of the ordinary for the amusement of the viewer

The Scary Movie films are an example of this because they take the stereotypes of the horror genre and mimic them using signature shots from horror films, for the amusement of the audience

In Mean Girls, the day-to-day events of an American High School are exaggerated and make humorous to the audience

In The Hangover, the events that happen are far from the normal, and so the audience is amused by the situation that the characters are in

Fun, happy stories usually suitable for the whole family

The tagline ‘momma’s got back-up’ mixes the stereotypes of a mother trying to look after many young children with the stereotypes of a dangerous police life –gives and idea of what the film is going to be about

Shot from below – seeming powerful and in control

Contrast between the conventions of a stereotypical grandma (comforting, kind) to the gun and the police badge she is holding

‘Big’ is exaggerated by making it the largest word on the page -humour

Two contrasting personas shown in one person –mimicking (a stereotype of comedy genre)

Colour schemes are bright but natural – shows the audience that it is based from a real-life perspective

Famous actors used, names showed at the top in bold so that fans of that particular person are drawn in to want to watch the film

Eye contact with the camera makes a connection with the audience, makes them notice the characters more and draws them in to want to watch the whole film

Characters are placed close together but not touching, and don’t seem to be aware of each other’s presence –shows that they are the same person and makes the viewer want to know why

Name: The Diary

Main character: 16 year old girl called Sandra, living in London attending a private boarding school called Hometown Academy

Main Plot: A 16 year old girl called Sandra James finds an old diary in the school changing rooms, and adopts it. She soon starts to write everything in it, including making up a world where all of her enemies have evil personas, and her and all of her friends are queens. This is twisted when she accidentally leaves the diary in a classroom, and it is found by one of her friends. Determined that Sandra should be taught a lesson for all the sarcastic comments and evil comparisons she has made in the diary (particularly giving every member of her year an animal persona), she publishes the book. Soon, the whole school knows and begin to form a plan. They all act as if the story had never been published, until one day when every member of the school comes in dressed as the animal they were depicted as in Sandra’s diary.

Certificate: 15

Target Audience: Young adults who can relate to being in a situation similar to that of the main character. Typically 15-18 years old, mainly female, with an interest in the comedy genre and who enjoys similar films in which they can escape from their own personal lives.

★★ ★★ ★‘Absolutely hilarious, film of the yeAr.’ – The Daily Mail

‘A Must-see for any lover of a good lAugh’ – Comedy Magazine

Starring Jennifer Aniston

Coming to a screen near you this spring!

A4 Poster for Film