Portfolio Project Genre #2

Hello!

I am considering doing a drama for my portfolio project. Here is my research on it!

The primary target audience for drama films are typically adults and young adults, as these films can show the more mature and complex aspects of life and navigating the real world struggles of adulthood. The protagonist can vary in age but is usually thrown into a severe conflict or a moral struggle. It can contain themes of hardship, resillience, social injustice, and chaos. There is usually a bigger takeaway by the end of the film and it acts as a message to carry with you through your own life, like hope, hard work, or trusting yourself.

Although it is a genre in itself, there are also many subgenres that can drastically differ one drama from another. Under this wide umbrella, I am considering either a comedy drama or a coming of age drama, which would create a possibility of combining my two ideas for this project into one. This would make my project more lighthearted while also containing more mature themes I could not consider with a coming of age story.

It's common for most dramas to utilize dramatic low key lighting, close ups to depict emotion, long shots to capture movement, and handheld camerawork to add realism or chaos to certain moments. 

These films target a general audience of adults, usually utilizing R&B, classical, or generally intense soundtracks. The posters are colored darkly while also correlating to the subgenre like in these examples- Whiplash with a dangerous red and black, Waves with a sad blue and romantic pink, and Moonlight with a dull gray and an ambitious purple. Dramas are marketed with serious trailers and give off a vibe of being relatable or important. They usually do not hold big events or get promoted by other creators or companies, usually relying through word of mouth after its release.

Moonlight, Whiplash, andWaves all represent this genre through their coloring, themes, and overall larger messages, like to trust yourself or question the cost of ambition.

              

Sources:

MasterClass. (2021, September 3). Guide to movie subgenres: 21 popular film subgenres. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-movie-subgenres

The Knowledge Academy. (2024, May 22). What are filmmaking techniques? A comprehensive guide. https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/filmmaking-techniques/

Hellerman, J. (2023, November 28). How to use color psychology in film. No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/color-psychology-in-film

Ebiri, B. (2022, October 28). Damien Chazelle sees Whiplash as a twisted sort of ‘origin story’. SlashFilm. https://www.slashfilm.com/1076916/damien-chazelle-sees-whiplash-as-a-twisted-sort-of-origin-story/