Our film challenges some conventions of comedy films. While it uses typical locations like schools and homes, and films during the day, it differs by using social realism as its subgenre rather than romance. It creates humor through exaggerated physical comedy and editing rather than just dialogue. It also breaks conventions with a simple title that does not hint at the plot and by including credits in a creative way within the film itself rather than separately.

1. In what ways does your media
product, use develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products ?
By Saima Uddin

2. Conventions of comedy films
• Bright places like towns and cities, in populated places
mostly and filmed during the day.
• Locations are usually schools for teen comedies, for social
comedies locations would be shot most likely in bars and
homes.
• Mostly natural camera work and medium shots to show
facial expressions.
• Funny dialogue, edited sounds to create humour.
• High key lighting.
• Socially awkward characters/smart people and quite
‘idiotic’ characters (accident prone).
• Subgenres e.g. Romance
• Exaggerated acting, lots of props that are used to create

3. Our film
In order to pursue the
comedy conventions we
set the main locations in a
house and a high school.
All scenes were filmed
during the day time and
we used comical theme
music in order to create
humour. The teacher
(George Donnelly)
portrayed quite ‘idiotic’
gestures e.g. when he
trips and all his papers
blow away.
Our short film’s
subgenre is social
realism which makes
it not the typical
subgenre most
comedies are which
is romance.

4. Our filmWe put the
credits as part of
the film by finding
a creative way to
present the cast
and crew. Putting
modern upbeat
background
music made the
scene become
light hearted and
fun.
We did not follow the
typical convention of film
titles fitting with the film
and giving hints as to what
the film might be about.
We used a bold and
simple title.
We filmed during the day
to achieve the comedy
conventions of bright
populated locations.

5. Our film
In our film we didn’t
depend on the
dialogue in order to
create humour
instead we used
comedic gestures.
This screen shot
shows when George
trips on the
pavement making it
look clumsy and silly.
Medium shots and close
ups to show their facial
expressions.
Teen comedies are well
known for being located
in schools, because we
wanted to follow
through these
conventions, we set the

6. Our film
In order to portray
the comical ‘idiotic’
and silly character, in
this scene George
tries to kick the ball
but misses, which
creates humour for
the audience
because of the know
fact kicking a ball
isn’t really that hard.
In contrast we harry
played a more
serious character
compared to be silly
and ‘idiotic’
characters which are
typically portrayed.

7. Our film
We edited in speech bubbles
to the birthday scenes. The
speech bubbles helped to
give a comical effect and also
informed the audience what
the characters wish is.We included a twist
for the audience.
When George
realises he no
longer feels himself
anymore after the
wish he begins to
look nervous and
starts to panic it
creates enigma for