This document discusses genre conventions for comedy films. It provides examples of conventions related to mise-en-scene elements like location, weather, props, lighting, and clothing that help set the tone for comedy. Music and title sequences from films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and 10 Things I Hate About You are examined. Technical elements like natural camera movements, shot types including medium and long shots, and editing techniques are also covered as important for capturing comedy and reactions. The document aims to help a film producer understand comedy conventions to apply to their own film.

1. Genre Convention
Comedy

2. What is a genre convention?
 A genre convention- A genre convention is something commonly used within
films. It is useful to use a genre convention as it gives you as a producer key
ideas and instructions you might say, as to what to include within your film.
The genre I have chosen is Comedy. Within this power point I am going to
research features comedy and take from them key aspects.

3. Mise-En-Scene
 Location- The location of a comedy sketch will always be within a
bright area, this could be outside or inside and occasionally where social
groups form. The location of a sketch is important as it gives the audience key
information as to what the character is like and what to expect from the film.
Within my film I have chosen to film in the homes of the characters as they are of a
young age. It would not have made sense to film them in a place of work. Secondly
due to the story of my film being about the group going on holiday, the use of a car
and home environments adds to the comedy that teenagers experience. This makes
it more realistic for my audience.
 Weather- The weather links to what type of comedy you are watching,
within spoofs, bad weather such as thunder and lightning will be common to
create the dark humour aspect. Where as in light hearted comedy the weather
will often remain sunny and bright as a bright location is key in most films.
Due to the time I will be filming my film, I will be relying on natural light and
bright light to create a bleak early morning.
 Props- Within slapstick comedy props which may hurt a character are
very common as this is what leads to slapstick. However depending on how a
prop is used other types of comedy can be created. Flowers create a sense of
rom-com, what happens with the flowers is what creates the comedy.
From this I have decided to use a car and mobile phone as my props, my film is not
intended as slapstick, it will be the actions of the car and the use of the phones I
will create comedy with.

4.  Lighting- To create a realistic environment to a film natural or bright light is used. This plays
a huge role within most comedy films as lighting must fit with location.
In my film the lighting will be mainly natural with bright light used when emphasising facial expressions
and time of day.
Clothing- The clothing is hugely dependant on the type of film. Within slapstick comedy clothing
can be used as a prop (shoelaces) however clothing can actually be something which keeps your film in
peoples minds. Clothing has become iconic for many actors and in turn these films are remembered. For
example Charlie Chaplin, Dumb and Dumber and the Mask. The make up in the Mask and Dumb and
Dumber adds to the effect of the character. The green mask is what cause the comedy to kick into action
in The Mask. With out this visual effect the movie would be very different. Dumb and Dumber had to
create two grown men to live up to the audiences expectations. By giving them funny haircuts and missing
teeth helps create this reality for the audience.
Within my film my costumes will resemble my characters personality's. I have used summery clothes on
the actors I hope to create a humours vibe because they will stand out.

5. Music
 Focus
Song: I'm a man child.
http://www.what-
song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/16
75/Focus#
This song is played over the
course of a city scape and opening
credits. This song gives the
impression that the main
character is a ladies man through
the tempo, instruments and
name.
In my film I hope to create
humour through my song choice.
From this I will
bring to my movie
a song that relates to
my characters.
 Ferris Buellers Day off.
Song: DANKE SCHOËN
http://www.what-
song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/413/Ferris-
Bueller-s-Day-Off
This song is the highlight of the movie for
me. It shows a key example of how comedy
works within a social area. When Ferris is
on the float singing this song to the crowds
being cheered the reactions of the crowd
and his friends make the situation even
funnier. The song want released at the
time of the film, it was released around
1963 and the film was released in 1987
more than 20 years later. Again this plays
a huge role to the comedy.
I hope to incorporate an old song into my
film to add to the comedy vibe.

6. Titles
 10 Things I hate about you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa
IWHB-m_yY
The opening titles to 10 things I hate about
you show that the character within this
film is feisty. The colours change from
bright orange to blue changing shape in a
fit of rage, this implies that the character
will have anger issues. The titles do not go
well against the first set of music however
when the character is introduced it makes
more sense.
Titles within comedy can be more soft and
light.
In my film I will mimic the usual font to
create my titles.
 Kingsman
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=OfWRfqbCrZU
The opening to Kingsman the secret service is set
within a desert location. Therefore the titles are
yellows and gold's to blend with the surrounding.
The font is large enough to read which is
important as the title in the sequence are
animated and fly past the audience who are
watching the film through the lenses of a camera.
From this I understand that the colours that I
include within my title sequence must mimic or
foreshadow the film making reference to what
locations will be within my film through colour.

7. Technical codes.
 Natural camera – The camera needs to move naturally to
create a realistic effect to the scene the character is in. Within comedy this
is vital as things can either be believable or not depending on what type of
comedy you are hoping to achieve. Within my film I want to create a
scene and story which my audience can relate to and believe. There fore I
will be aiming to use mainly natural light unless I need lighting to help
and film in movements which relate to my characters actions.
 Shot types – Medium shots are great to catch body language and
facial expression, within comedy the audience search the characters faces
to see how they react to situations, so within my film I will be using
mainly medium shots to show how my actors are reacting to scenes. Long
shots are also useful as they allow the audience to see everything that is
going on. I will try not to use too many long shots though as the focus of
my scene may be lost.
 Editing, sound and tempo- Editing in a comedy can effect how
much the audience find the scene funny. When editing I will use lots of quick
shots to show how fast the action is happening. And try cutting from a long shot
to a close up so the expression can be properly captured. I can extra sound to
add extra comedic value to certain scenes. For example the sound of my
character falling with a loud bump. The tempo will speed up depending on the
situation as this adds to the cliché of comedy.