The document discusses conventions of teen drama films. It notes that many are set in schools as this is where most bullying occurs for teenagers. It also mentions scenes set at home where characters struggle with parents. Common props include cars and books or folders for bullied characters. Teen dramas often feature a lead character facing problems with love interests, school, or parents that others help them overcome. Characters typically include the main protagonist, a donor who helps them, and a false hero revealed to be bad.

1. SPINCT
InTeen Dramas

2. BACKGROUND
My film is about a teenage boy who is bullied in school and has further problems at
home as his mother says that she can’t help his mental state as there is nothing
wrong with him, despite him knowing that is wrong.
The story develops as Cameron, the teenage boy, one day becomes popular and
then distances himself from people who had been there for him before.These
people look for revenge, and to bring Cameron down a level.
The genre of the film is a ‘teen drama’ so we drew inspiration from similar films, in
our film.

3. SETTING
Many teen-drama films are based in school, as this is where most teenagers are.
This is mainly because it is something that many people can relate to, as they may
have been bullied and out casted at one point in their life, and this normally
happens at school for many people.
As well as that, there are scenes at home where people often struggle as they battle
with parents or siblings. In our case, Cameron battles with his mother who says that
there is nothing wrong with him, but Cameron knows that she is wrong.

4. PROPS
Some props used in teen dramas often involve cars as many people of the mid-to-
late teen ages have cars.
As well as that, many teen-drama’s which have a bullying element involve the
bullied person carrying book or folders, this is stereotypical as a lot of people who
are bullied, are viewed as the ‘nerdy’ type who are barged into by bullies and beaten
up.

5. ICONOGRAPHY
In a lot of teen-drama films, bright colours are used as it connotes happiness, and
many people say that your teenage years are the best years of your life.
As previously said, someone carrying their folders or books can be seen a nerd,
which is stereotypical as not all people who carry their books in hand are the same.
Due to the film being set in a school, it is typical of the teen-drama genre as this
where they’re commonly set.

6. NARRATIVE
The narrative of a teen-drama usually follows the way of a lead character getting
into problems, one way or another and then others helping them out.
The problems that the lead character will ordinarily find themselves in is with a love
interest, struggling with school, or having to deal with parents that are having
issues. A lot of the time, this can all be put into one issue.

7. CHARACTERISATION
In teen dramas, there are often different types of character who have different roles
within the film. Using Propp’s character theory this can be broken down.
The main character will encounter the problems and try and find a way to deal with
the issues, but they will often fail by themselves.
There may also be a donor who will help or give the main character something to
get past the issues that they’re having.
As well as that, in teen dramas, there may be a false her who is perceived to be a
good character, but is later revealed to be bad.Thus making the main character
falter.

8. THEMES &TECHNICAL ASPECTS
The themes that can arise in a teen drama include depression, love, good versus evil, home issues,
self-consciousness and issues at home. Many of which occur in real peoples lives.
The costume of the characters in a teen drama are normally up to date with the times, however the
person getting bullied may be bullied because of what they’re wearing.
The lighting in teen dramas is normally naturalistic as the aim of many of the films is to produce a
realistic version of somebody’s life.
The actors in teen dramas are usually teenagers themselves or are played by people in their early
twenties as they’re able to adapt to the role a lot easier.
The make-up can vary from character to character as females can be glossed up a bit more, however
some characters may be picked on because of how they look, so make-up isn’t massively important.
Props used in teen dramas are usually up to date gadgets that many people will have, although,
similarly with previous some people get bullied because of what they do and don’t have in teen
dramas.
Finally, the setting of teen dramas are usually at school.This is because, teenagers can be usually
found at school.Along with that, issues at home may also lead to another setting.