AS level Media Studies Codes and Conventions of Mystery Romance with Reference to Existing Films

1. Polina Zalevskaya
AS level Media Studies
Codes and Conventions of mystery romance with reference to existing
films

2. Romance
 1. Setting
Typical setting of a romantic film usually is set in an urban area such as beach,
school, or a local diner. Sometimes action takes place in big cities such New York
or Paris.
For example, in
La La Land (2016)
action took place
in big beach city
Los Angeles.

3. 2. Sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)
 In sad parts of a film instrumental music is included, for example sound of a
piano or violin. Such sound usually leads to breakups or fights between two
people that are in love. However, in happy parts of a movie, cheerful music is
also likely to be included. Upbeat and joyful music is used. Stereotypically, as
female characters show more thoughts the voiceover is lead by them.
In Call Me Your Name (2017)
the films ends on a sad note
and that is followed by a slow
and sad song “Visions of
Gideon” by Sufjan Stevens.

4. 3. Editing and Transitions
 Fast film cuts are likely to be used in action scenes. Not always, but
sometimes flashbacks are used, and dissolve transition is used to portray them.
 Shot reverse shot is used quite often when main characters are speaking or
looking at each other.
For example, Titanic (1997) begins with Rose Dawson Calvert’s flashback of her
love story on Titanic.

5. 4. Characters
 Characters included usually are:
 The male and female which are the lead characters
 Friends of both main characters
 Families of both main characters
 The competitor for one of the main characters, usually male
 Usually, main characters are shown straight away, in the opening sequence.
“Male meets female” is very often a plot of romantic films. Sometimes main
characters are of different social status which makes that story even more
special. In most romantic films there is a third person or a “villain” that gets in
the way of love of a couple.
 Well known and good-looking actor is likely to be casted to play a male
character.
Again, Titanic is a great example of this as mother of Rose DeWitt Bukater
(played by Kate Winslet) is included in the film and there is a “villain” that
stands in the way of love of Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and
Rose.

6. 5. Props
 They are likely to include flowers, box of chocolate, different jewelry such as
rings, presents, hearts, cell phones, cars and so on.
For example, in Forrest Gump (1994) when the main
character was telling his story on which the film was
based, he was holding a box of chocolate.
In Love Actually (2003) there was
a weeding scene where other
typical props of romantic films
were included, such as flowers.

7. Mystery
1. Setting
 Usually, two types of setting are included in the mystery films: it is either
some isolated area with a low population density such as countryside,
warehouse, docks, deserted area, forests, mountains, hospital and so on, or it is
a big, modern city (for example London).
 Mystery films that are happening in big cities usually revolve around a murder.
For example, in Midsommar (2019) a group of young adults are isolated by a
pagan cult.

8. 2. Typical Storylines
 Mystery films usually involve a crime that is solved throughout the film with a
main character obtaining clues and being in the circumstances that help them
solve it. Usually, such genre involves some person or a “villain”, the main
character, in some cases detective, is meant to meet.
 Another way the story can develop is where a group of people are isolated,
and they try to solve some problem they have been faced with.
3. Sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)
 Dramatic music is used to portray the feelings of characters. It can be
instrumental such as piano or violin.

9. 4. Camera angles and movement
 Close-up shots are used to show the emotion of characters more clearly. When
main character(s) gets closer to resolving a crime moving camera shots, fast cuts
and upbeat music that gives a sense of tension to audience are likely to be
included.
5. Low-key lighting is often used.
For example, such lighting was used in Enola Holmes (2020) during the fighting
scene.

10.  6. Props usually include:
 Blood
 Police tape
 Police uniform
 Police cars
 Torch
 Guns
 Some form of evidence
Such and other props were used in Murder Mystery (2019).

11.  Except that our film is related to such genres as mystery and romance it is
important to compare it with other films about artists. One of such films is
“Big Eyes”.

12. Both films include:
 Female artists and them as protagonists
 Romantic relationships, although in our film the main romantic part happens
in the end while in “Big Eyes” the main character falls in love in the
beginning and then starts to slowly split up with her husband.
 The beginning in which the main character decides to break away from
everything that has been holding her in the past and to start a completely
new life.
 Music in the opening sequence.
 Narration in the opening sequence.