9. ROM-COM CONVENTIONS
• Appeals to anyone who has ever been in love or who hopes to be so soon.
• Characters in love are distracted and liable to do daft things – comedic value.
• The plot of a rom-com will see an obvious couple taken through a series of
misadventures designed to keep them apart until the ending (usually when
they get married).
• Happy ending (marriage and children).
• Target audience: Young Women
10. ROM-COM CONVENTIONS
• Plot involves male protagonist after female protagonist he fancies and having to
overcome obstacles and rivals for her affection.
• Typical male and female, heterosexual relationships.
• Male protagonist offers comedic value due to his incompetence or struggle to attract
female protagonist.
• Soft, romantic music.
• Stereotypical gender/sexuality roles. Attractive protagonists, particularly female.
• Very cliché and stereotypical of the idea of ‘Love’.
• Begins with introduction of 2 characters to fall or in love or the protagonist (male seeking
woman).
• Twists to relationship, including a period where it seems the relationship is over until the
end when they reunite and are happy together.
11. ROM-COM CONVENTIONS
- Filmed in a big city/town location (e.g. London/New York)
- Another male (usually more attractive, clever and wealthy) to compete for females
attention, underdog eventually wins.
- Male protagonist fails in his attempts to be romantic.
- Unlikely couple from audience’s point of view at beginning of film, get together at
end of film.
- The colour red represents love, hearts, sexuality and passion.
- The colour white represents innocence, purity
(at weddings ect)
- The colour pink represents love, romance and femininity.
- Usually labelled ‘Chick flicks’.
12. Rom-Com trailers and synergy (with poster)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=8UzT9ZZSVEA
13. Composition:
Main actor is directly
in the middle of the
shot to show that he
is the centre of
attention Shows different
important
The poster is rather characters
plain, yet effective
This relates to the
plot of the story
14. Rom-Com trailers and synergy (with poster)
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v
=ILCB_f0IIyI
