romance conventions
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
ROMANCECODES & CONVENTIONS
With reference to Dear John
By Libbie Sargent.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.