School-based dramas typically feature an antagonist, protagonist, and rookie character who each play important roles. The characters usually belong to distinct groups like popular kids or nerds. Their actions and appearances are designed to seem realistic and relatable to teenage audiences. These dramas commonly depict recognizable school settings through elements like buses, classrooms, and intercom announcements. The music and sounds, like rap songs or creaking doors, help set the mood and advance the plot.

1. CONVENTIONS OF A
SCHOOL BASED DRAMA
By Grace-
Laura Rowe

2. CHARACTERS
 Characters in any drama are very important, dif ferent
individuals have dif ferent roles to fill.
 In all school based dramas there is always an antagonist
(enemy) , protagonist (main) & a rookie (new). All of these
play a dif ferent important role and is shown throughout the
drama. For example, the Rookie finds there way around and
does something that makes them fit in with everyone. The
antagonist provokes some characters to not to like them.
 In most School based dramas, all the characters have a
certain ‘group’ for example, popular/nerds.
 Characters do certain actions to allow teenagers/audience to
relate to them. They normally make the characters seem
realist.

3. MISE EN SCENE
 A lot of school based dramas have a lot of the same
properties about them. For example, most American school
based dramas normally have a school bus, most scenes shot
in the class rooms, school bells or intercoms. Also normally a
stereotype of individuals are shown.
 Usually, the beginning of the film is outside to show the
scenery and always get a long and close up shot of the high
school where the drama is filmed.
 The dress sense of the characters are realistic as they wear
what they like and allows people to relate.
 The behaviour of the characters fit the scenery. For
example, normally violence/drug scenes are filmed near the
beginning so at the end you can see that either that
characters are okay with each other or they have solved there
drug problems.

4. MUSIC/SOUND
 Music is a very important part of the drama/film because it
tells the audience how they should be feeling and what
emotions they should be experiencing. It not only creates
ambience but it allows it to plot the story line.
 If the film is quite modern then usually rap music is played to
show the type of people the individuals are.
 School bells, creaking doors or shouting are usually used
throughout to create a sense of atmosphere. Creaking doors
can be used in dif ferent situations and can create dif ferent
moods/feelings.
 The sound in this sort of drama will be mostly Rap or
something upbeat.