A Level Media Studies

1. FILM GENRE DRAMA
CODES & CONVENTIONS
By Xue Bai
A2 Media
Studies
• Sub-genre
• Drama main points
• Codes and Conventions

2. What makes a Drama film ?
• A drama film is essentially a drama film
because of the way it makes the audiences
relate and sympathise with the characters. This
is done through a mixture of a cleverly written
script, a heightened level of tension and a good
use of editing.
How a drama film is structured ?
• A drama film is structured in a very specific way
in order to keep the audiences attention, and
make them become emotionally attached to the
action what is going on in the film. To do this
they structure the films to have climaxes and
anti-climaxes so that there are peaks and troths
I the tension. This keeps the audiences
interested and stops their mind wandering from
the film.

3. Sub-genre
1. Biography
2. Courtroom
3. Dramedy
4. Historical
5. Melodrama
6. Period Piece
7. Political
8. Romance
9. Tragedy
10.Dark comedy

4. Main Points
Films that are categorized under the genre drama have several main
points that can be recognized in all of them.
--They are serious representations of real life and /or stories and do not
include fantasy in the plot.
--Hence the name “drama” they show emotions and events at their true
height, and perhaps dramatize them.
--Heart of drama is the conflict. It includes inner/outer realistic struggles
depicting hardships, difficulty and pain.
--Audience can relate to the characters with wide age range group.
--Structured with climatic events and anti climaxes to keep the audience
emotionally attached and the tension ongoing.
--A dorm of realisation at the end/happy ending.

5. Drama/Teen Drama
1.Mise-en-scene
2.Typical props
3.Typical characters
4.Typical setting
5.Typical costume
6.Typical actors/actresses
7.Promotional Package Conventions
8.Institutional Details-Budget

6. DRAMA CODES & CONVENTIONS
• Exhibits real life situations with realistic characters, setting, and
stories.
• Portrays journeys of character development
• Intense social interaction
• Purpose of a dramatic storyline is to move the audience
emotionally
• There has to be peaks and troths in the storyline
• The characters must be easily accessible for the audiences
• There is some form of realisation at the end of the film
• It is important that the main character has clear relationships to
themselves and other people in the film.
• A happy ever after.