romance conventions

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ROMANCE CODES & CONVENTIONS With reference to Dear John By Libbie Sargent.

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Page 1: Romance conventions

ROMANCECODES & CONVENTIONS

With reference to Dear John

By Libbie Sargent.

Page 2: Romance conventions

TITLES AND CREDITS

In most romance film openings, titles and credits are shown in various ways. In

the film Dear John, some of the credits and titles are on a screen of their own.

They com up on a blank blue background with white writing, with the two

colours perfectly contrasting, still images/close up’s etc were not needed in

conjunction with the writing. The writing showing the titles and credits fade in

and out, a transition which is very stereo typical of a romance as it gives the

shots or title screens a dreamy effect. After these title and credit pages are

shown , the film opening’s action begins showing John himself in the war. For a

while, whilst this character is speaking, no titles or credits are shown until he

finishes he’s speech with ‘you’ and then another important credit’s page is shown

telling you who made the film. ( Lasse Halstrom ). As the film opening

progresses, Channing Tatum and Amanda Sefried’s names are both shown.

Being the two main characters within the film, the audience can now interpret

who is involved because they have seen that these two actors have both been

given a screen to themselves with the credits showing importance.

Page 3: Romance conventions

CHARACTERS

It is quite stereo typical in a romance film opening for the main characters in the film

to be shown straight away. These characters usually consist of two protagonists,

usually a male and a female. A romance usually starts with (most commonly) a male

but sometimes a female, narrating/speaking. Take Dear John, for example. This film

opening is of him as a voice over, narrating the film as flashbacks are shown of him

when he was younger, in the army, etc. He has significant importance as he is the one

being spoken about in the narration so he is shown for the first 1-2 minutes of the

opening sequence. Savannah, Amanda Sefried's is then shown to the audience. At this

point the audience can interpret who they both are and their importance in the film.

Other characters can be shown in a romance film opening but it is rare that a lot of

time will be spent showing any shots of extra’s or other characters with less

significance to the film.

Page 4: Romance conventions

SETTING

In most romances, there are stereo typical places that they are set. They are normally

set in an urban environment, a beach, a school etc, places where a chance encounter

would happen. When a romance film opens, it is likely that much of the setting will be

shown to the audience from the use of establishing shots and wide shots showing

characters and much of the setting and area behind them. Depending on where they are

situated, this can sometimes help the audience interpret what they think is going to

happen in the film or where the action is going to take place. For example, In Dear

John, we can see that when the film begins, Still images, panning cameras and long

shots are shown to suggest to the audience that the places such as the trenches and

buildings in the war and the beach, could be the main setting’s used within the film. A

beach is quite a romantic place to go with a boyfriend or girlfriend and a war trench

could suggest loss etc so both of these settings help set the tone and mood of the film.

Page 5: Romance conventions

DIEGETIC AND NON DIEGETIC SOUND

Sound is very important within a romance to help set the tone mood and atmosphere.

If the film is going to be quite sad, sometime the music will establish this by the use of

an instrumental such as a violin. Romances usually start with a guitar, piano or violin

kind of instrument. All of these musical instruments can be used effectively through

diegetic and non diegetic sound editing. In a stereo typical romance opening, music in

the background will be quite quiet as the characters are usually narrating and speaking

during the first few minutes of the film. If the non diegetic sound, being the music was

up too loud then the audience wouldn’t be able to hear what they were saying (the

diegetic sound). The two have to be balanced out well for the film opening to be

effective. The music played in the background and the pitch and volume of that music all

help set the mood and also help the genre be identified. A song such as the one used in

Dear John helps set the romantic, quite sad mood at the beginning of the film.

Page 6: Romance conventions

PROPS

Depending on what is being shown within the opening sequence can depend on the amount of props

and the props which will be appropriate to the sequence. In a genre such as a horror, close up’s of

props like knives, needles etc will be shown to the audience to help establish the mood and

atmosphere. In a romance, this isn’t always necessary but in our opening sequence which we plan to do

we will be using close up’s of various props to help set the mood and tone of the film. These close up’s

will include props such as art pieces, maps, manikins etc because all of these props are necessary to

our films storyline. Props are an essential part of a opening scene if you are using close ups or mid

shots. Sometimes, if more than one long shot is being used in an opening scene, props aren’t always

necessary unless they are easily noticeable. They help draw the audience in by putting sometimes

tension, a twist or a hint of humour on the scene. Depending on what is being shown, some props

shown in a romance genre film opening are very significant to the rest of the film and the story line. For

example, relating back to Dear John again, when he is speaking about his collection of coins, coins

(props) are shown on screen and they do have a significance in the film as it progresses. This can help

draw the audience in by making them question why that prop has been used.

Page 7: Romance conventions

CAMERA ANGLE/SHOT AND MOVEMENT

A romance film opening can consist of many angles shots and types of movement. Mid shots, close up’s and

panning shots are used quite frequently in romance film openings. A mid shot can be used effectively to set the

scene and introduce characters. An example of this could be when, in Dear John, John is sitting down on the

beach and you can see from a mid shot from the right side of John, Savannah in the background with her friends

and boyfriend who are later introduced. This helps the audience understand and interpret where the characters

are and who the characters being shown are. (What their significance is). High angle shots are used frequently

in Dear John too which help set the scene and depending on which characters (if any) are being shown within

the shot, help set a romantic feel to the film opening. Panning shots and tracking movement can be used often

in romance genre film openings to give a stalker element or to show attachment through two people following

each other or walking together. In the film opening we have planned to do we have decided we are going to use

a low tracking shot to show both main characters feet walking at normal pace and then picking up pace as the

music also picks up. They both begin to run and as they get faster the camera angle gets higher showing more

of the characters bodies. These shots are effective as they build tension for the audience and you don’t know

what they are running at or too. Music is essentially something that has to fit the shots, movement etc

perfectly. A fast pace type of music in the background of slow pace action wouldn’t look right.

Page 8: Romance conventions

EDITING AND TRANSITIONS

Editing describes the relationship between shots and the process by which they are combined.

Editing in a romance genre film can be used effectively in many ways. When main characters are

being shown, editing such as fast cuts etc can be used in pace with the non diegetic music in the

background. This is an effective way to portray the emotions and atmosphere of the film depending

on what action is taking place on the screen. In Dear John, in the titles and credits fade transitions

are used which give a dreamy romantic loving mood before the film or characters have even been

properly introduced. Fades are also used on different parts of the scenes and shots being shown to

the audience which help determine what is going on in the action being shown. Shot reverse shots

can be used in a romance opening scene to show two characters looking, speaking etc at one

another. Although this type of shot could be filmed at completely different times, it can be used

effectively to make it look like both the characters were looking or speaking at each other even if

the opposing person they were meant to be speaking to wasn’t there at the time the shot was filmed.

These can be used in a romance to make it seem like the two characters are telling each other they

love them for example, or proposing etc. The other person doesn’t always need to be there for a shot

reverse shot to be effective.