Conventions Of A Chick-Flick
Text
A chick flick is slang for a film targeted to appeal a female audience. Typically, chick flick’s are associated with films that are
emotional or based on a relationship.
Text:
Typically, the opening credits of a chick flick are pink or purple; informing the audience that the film is aimed towards teenaged
girls. Fonts also play a part for creating more of an impact towards this genre. For example, many fonts used in the opening
credits tend to have more of a fancy element. Here below is a list of typical fonts used in chick flicks:
Edwardian Script Gigi Giddyup Std
Forte
Curlz MT Monotype Corsiva
Mistral Vladimir Script Vivaldi
Rage Italic
Music
Many chick flick’s include music with the opening credits. Normally, the music used is currently in the
charts in order to attract the intended target audience. The following includes soundtracks that have
been used in chick flicks:
‘Boom Clap’ Charlie XCX – The Fault In Our Stars
‘The Climb’ Miley Cyrus – Hannah Montana The Movie
‘She’s So Lovely’ Scouting For Girls – Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
¹ ¹ ¹ ¹
Dialog
ue
Non diegetic sound can be used in the opening credits. Narrator’s commentary is often used when the film is based on a fairy-tale
or a book. For example, the film ‘Ella Enchanted’ (fairy-tale themed) begins with a narrator explaining the character's. The
narrator can make the audience feel as if they are part of the film, or are involved with the character.
Character
sStereotypes are featured in almost every chick flick. For example, if the movie is set in
a school, it’s clear that there will be an introduction to the audience of the ‘popular’,
‘geeks’, ‘jocks’ etc. in order to inform the audience of this divide within the school. The
audience can engage and relate to this because this is an issue which is quite
common throughout school life. The film ‘Mean Girls’ is a prime example of this.
Issues
Issues:
Many chick flicks have an issue amongst the story line which is then uncovered by the
character. From rebellion, conflict with parents, first love etc. these type of issues are
relatable to the wider society, especially to the target audience (typically teenagers) because
they can relate to them. It is a way of connecting the character to the audience.
Example Of A Chick
Flick‘Clueless’:
Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent
life. Her behaviour at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and
intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-
important teenage social life.
The DVD cover represents this ‘popular’ stereotype. For example, the fact that she has a
phone by her ear (along with the other two characters) immediately informs the audience
that this is due to popularity; everyone wants to be her.
Also, the use of mise en scene creates more of an impact on the audience and reminds
them of how being popular also means that you are fashionable, pretty and rich. For
example, the clothes worn by the three characters are fashionable, again, setting the theme
of this movie.
This film was released in 1995, where the phones in which the three girls are holding, were
the main craze. This shows that the girls are ‘rich’ due to the fact that they own one of
these. Although the phones may seem old and dated in this day, however, their ‘rich’
persona is reinstated when we are shown the mansion.
The beginning of the film shows the main character (Cher) using a programme on
the computer which is a ‘virtual wardrobe’ that helps Cher choose an outfit. This
virtual wardrobe adds to the idea of Cher having this easy, rich lifestyle. It seems as if the
audience engage with the characters through this feeling of jealousy because they want to
be part of this life, and the only way that they can be, is by watching the movie.

Conventions of a chick flick

  • 1.
    Conventions Of AChick-Flick
  • 2.
    Text A chick flickis slang for a film targeted to appeal a female audience. Typically, chick flick’s are associated with films that are emotional or based on a relationship. Text: Typically, the opening credits of a chick flick are pink or purple; informing the audience that the film is aimed towards teenaged girls. Fonts also play a part for creating more of an impact towards this genre. For example, many fonts used in the opening credits tend to have more of a fancy element. Here below is a list of typical fonts used in chick flicks: Edwardian Script Gigi Giddyup Std Forte Curlz MT Monotype Corsiva Mistral Vladimir Script Vivaldi Rage Italic
  • 3.
    Music Many chick flick’sinclude music with the opening credits. Normally, the music used is currently in the charts in order to attract the intended target audience. The following includes soundtracks that have been used in chick flicks: ‘Boom Clap’ Charlie XCX – The Fault In Our Stars ‘The Climb’ Miley Cyrus – Hannah Montana The Movie ‘She’s So Lovely’ Scouting For Girls – Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging ¹ ¹ ¹ ¹
  • 4.
    Dialog ue Non diegetic soundcan be used in the opening credits. Narrator’s commentary is often used when the film is based on a fairy-tale or a book. For example, the film ‘Ella Enchanted’ (fairy-tale themed) begins with a narrator explaining the character's. The narrator can make the audience feel as if they are part of the film, or are involved with the character.
  • 5.
    Character sStereotypes are featuredin almost every chick flick. For example, if the movie is set in a school, it’s clear that there will be an introduction to the audience of the ‘popular’, ‘geeks’, ‘jocks’ etc. in order to inform the audience of this divide within the school. The audience can engage and relate to this because this is an issue which is quite common throughout school life. The film ‘Mean Girls’ is a prime example of this.
  • 6.
    Issues Issues: Many chick flickshave an issue amongst the story line which is then uncovered by the character. From rebellion, conflict with parents, first love etc. these type of issues are relatable to the wider society, especially to the target audience (typically teenagers) because they can relate to them. It is a way of connecting the character to the audience.
  • 7.
    Example Of AChick Flick‘Clueless’: Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her behaviour at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all- important teenage social life. The DVD cover represents this ‘popular’ stereotype. For example, the fact that she has a phone by her ear (along with the other two characters) immediately informs the audience that this is due to popularity; everyone wants to be her. Also, the use of mise en scene creates more of an impact on the audience and reminds them of how being popular also means that you are fashionable, pretty and rich. For example, the clothes worn by the three characters are fashionable, again, setting the theme of this movie. This film was released in 1995, where the phones in which the three girls are holding, were the main craze. This shows that the girls are ‘rich’ due to the fact that they own one of these. Although the phones may seem old and dated in this day, however, their ‘rich’ persona is reinstated when we are shown the mansion. The beginning of the film shows the main character (Cher) using a programme on the computer which is a ‘virtual wardrobe’ that helps Cher choose an outfit. This virtual wardrobe adds to the idea of Cher having this easy, rich lifestyle. It seems as if the audience engage with the characters through this feeling of jealousy because they want to be part of this life, and the only way that they can be, is by watching the movie.