Drama is a film genre that focuses on developing realistic characters dealing with serious emotional struggles. It aims to gain empathy from audiences by touching on deep emotions. In the 1950s, the arrival of trained stage actors brought a more naturalistic style. Notable drama directors in the 1970s included Coppola, Scorsese, and Stallone. Subgenres include historical, courtroom, and period dramas. The group chose to do a drama because it allows portraying elements that engage audiences emotionally. They took inspiration from raw, honest dramas about self-destruction.

1. GENRE
RESEARCH
B Y AYA N M A G U D I A

2. WHAT IS A DRAMA?
• In the context of film, drama describes a genre of narrative fiction (or semi-
fiction) intended to be more serious, focusing on in-depth development of
realistic characters who must deal with realistic emotional struggles.
• Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, child abuse, drug addiction, infidelity,
moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, sexuality, poverty,
class divisions violence against women and corruption put characters in
conflict with themselves, others, society, or even natural phenomena.
• A drama is a film genre which revolves mainly around the development of
realistic characters in which the audience can relate to which is known as
'dramatic themes.
• Drama is effective because it usually have the ability to gain empathy from
the audience and touch upon the deepest emotions of the audience.

3. THE HISTORY OF DRAMA
1950’s:
In the early years of cinema, melodrama had been dominant and influential. Silent
cinema’s pantomime meant films were done in a presentational manner.
In the 1950s, the arrival of stage actors like Marlon Brando, trained in more naturalistic
techniques, slowly changed drama to a more realistic tenor. A Streetcar Named Desire
is considered a pivotal film in this development.
1960’s and 1970’s:
The 1960s brought politically driven dramas focusing on war, such as Judgment at
Nuremberg Flashback and The Manchurian Candidate. Sports dramas became
inspiration such as The Hustle and Downhill Racer.
During the 1970s, modern dramatic directors made some of their first films. Francis
Ford Coppola directed The Godfather. Martin Scorsese directed Taxi Drive, and
musical drama New York, New York. Sylvester Stallone created one of the most
successful sports drama franchises with Rocky. In addition, in sports drama were
films that focused on the struggle of athletes such as The Longest Yard . War films
and specifically World War II films were produced, giving the most realistic adaptation
of the war seen in films at that time. Tora! Tora! Tora! and Apocalypse Now which all
show the trials and hardships of war, are still considered classic war films.

4. THE HISTORY OF DRAMA
1980’s and 1990’s:
• In the 1980s, dramatic film put emphasis on highly emotional themes. Do
the Right Thing and The Colour Purple were full character studies of African
American culture and history.
• Drama, with a science fiction edge was a theme when Steven Spielberg
directed E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
• During the 1990s, Goodfellas took a gritty, hard-edged look at mob crime.
The Shawshank Redemption, which was set inside a prison, had strong
themes of hope.
• Dramas also took a turn with existentialist thrillers such as Fight Club. race
relationships were a theme in American History X (1998), and the AIDs
epidemic and discrimination were the focus of Philadelphia (1993)

5. CONVENTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
DRAMA
• Spoken thought
• Lighting
• Slow motion
• Freeze frame
• Conflict
• Struggles
• Tension
• Flashbacks
• Narration
• Realisation at the end
• Struggles
• Elements of abuse
•Portrays a characters journey and developments
•Exhibits real life characters, situations, settings and stories.
•Intense social interaction
•Dramatic sounds and exaggerated performance

6. SUB GENRE
• Historical is a sub-genre of Drama film that examines a specific time in
history or group of people. Many Historical films aim to portray true events
and people. However, most Historical films are only loosely based on these
events and people.
• Melodrama film is a sub-genre that appeals to the heightened emotions of
the audience. The plot and characters often are more unrealistic than those
found in the traditional drama film. Melodramas usually cater towards a
female audience and tell a story that centers on a great crisis and a heroic
protagonist
• Courtroom drama film uses the justice system as a main component of the
plot. The story usually unfolds inside a courtroom with the prosecutor,
judge. Tension plays a large part in courtroom dramas as the judgment can
often mean li
• Period Piece is a sub-genre of Drama film that focuses on a specific time
era. The era in which the film is set adds not only to the plot, but to the
characters and costumes as well. A Period Piece films are often based on a

7. • Political drama film contains themes, characters, and a plot specifically
about politics and the political scene. The main protagonist is often at odds
with the harsh reality of corruption in politics
• Romantic Drama film is a genre that explores the complex side of love.
The plot usually centres on an obstacle that is preventing love between two
people. The obstacles in Romantic Drama film can range from a family's
disapproval, to forbidden love, to one's own psychological restraints
• Tragedy Drama is a genre wherein the downfall of the character is caused
by a flaw within the character. While Tragedy Dramas sometime put the
character in extraordinary circumstances, this genre is really about the self-
destructive behaviour of the character. This can and eventually result in
death or other form of degradation.
• Comedy Drama a balance of humour and serious content.

8. WHY WE CHOSE A DRAMA AND WHAT
INSPIRE US
As a group, we decided to do a drama as we felt they are many different
elements that we can use to portray this to the audience which will make
them emotionally invested. I felt it would be a rewarding challenge as I had
never created a drama piece.
A drama’s require attention to detail and thus could be extremely hard to pull
off, we aim to create a production that focuses on minor details to create a
meaningful, yet clear drama that the audience will be able to interpret and
understand.
We have taken inspirations from dramas such as Thirteen and Saving
Augusta – both films that centre on young girls self destruction. Both
executed with honesty and raw emotions, we aim to emulate these qualities
within our own production.