This document provides guidance for Assignment 5 on film study and conventions in film. It includes instructions to explore films, choose a film and explain the reasoning, identify the genre and subgenre, apply Stam's theory on genre, analyze semantics of characters, locations, story traits and costumes, list and analyze conventions of the chosen genre, discuss dominant ideologies and intended audience, and apply audience theory.

1. Assignment 5 -
Film study &
conventions in
a film.
Ingrid
and
Maria

2. Target ( We choose Red & some element of yellow)
Ø Target
Ø Level checklist
Ø Exploration of films
Ø Film of choice and reasoning
Ø Genre
Ø Subgenre
Ø Stam’s theory
Ø Semantics (characters, locations, story traits, costumes)
Ø Conventions list of genre in relation to all films (at least 5 conventions)
Ø Conventions analysis (at least 2 each) with examples from film
Ø Dominant ideology (at least 2)
Ø Audience (a + b) + explanation
Ø Audience theory (at least 2 reasons)

3. Exploration of films

4. Film of Choice and Reasoning

5. Genre
The main genre in this movie is Drama. The evidence we have for
this is the conflict within Pursuit of happiness.
The character
is usually The character is
dealing with usually in
a serious conflict with
problem themselves and
such as others around
poverty, class them or loved
divisions, or ones.
violence.
The image above connotes the characters Chris and Linda having a
disagreement.

6. Subgenre

7. Stam’s theory
Stam’s theory says that genre is not easily defined under the main
genres but can easily be classified in other ways such as budget,
Ethnicity focus or performer based. Another way to classify a
main genre is through the type or sort.
- It’s a based on a true story
- It had a high budget
- It’s a mainstream film
- It has famous actors such as Will Smith.

8. Semantics
Characters: Locations:
v The train
v Father v His home
v “Wife” v Outside in the garden
v Son v His room
v The bathroom
o

Story Traits:
v Christopher Gardner looses Costumes:
his wife v A suit
v He looses his House, His bank v Jeans
account. v A T-shirt
v Christopher Gardner loses v Overalls
everything and ends up v Jumpers
homeless.

9. Evidence of Semantics
• Without Chris Gardener I don’t think
The Pursuit of happiness would have
been so famous and well known.
• Will smith is a well known actor which
has starred in many movies/ TV
shows
• Example: The fresh prince of bel air
Character: Chris Gardener as Will Smith
Story Trait: Linda leaving Chris, I know this because
Linda looks really upset/hurt.
Location: The image above shows Chris Gardener with
Christopher sleeping in the bathroom.
Costume: Christopher is in denim overalls and a red
stripy short sleeve top.

10. Conventions of
genre/subgenre/hybrid

11. Evidence of Conventions
genre/subgenre/hybrid
Sadness and pain are shown in this
scene of the Sister’s Keeper, when
the mother get’s told by her own
daughter that “it’s going to be
fine’”.
In this scene Rose notices that Jack is
dead in Titanic.
By calling Jamal a ‘boy from the slums’ in a ironically
way he’s basically undermining him for coming from
the slums of India.
Lalita judges Darcy without knowing him at first.

12. Tone
Linda explains to
Chris the reason
as to why she's
leaving him and
her only son.
• The lighting is a dark Yellow, brown and white mixed with black. This could be used to
highlight the seriousness of the situation.
• The tone of the colours intensifies the sadness and pain of Linda leaving Chris.
• The tone evokes sympathy from the audience as we start to feel sorry for Chris.
• The colour black is associated with sadness and darkness.
• The colours are dull and serious.

13. Conventions of analysis
Chris and Linda are arguing about
who will pick up Christopher.
Chris and his son are waiting for the bus.

14. Dominant Ideology
The father is always the strongest, and Chris waited for his son to sleep to cry.
wouldn’t allow their feelings to be
shown.
In this scene Chris is crying
whilst his son sleeps.
Linda leaves Chris and her son, and she
The relationships always ends with a
leaves the house hurt and upset.
heart break.
In this scene you can
see Linda looking
down crying while
she leaves Chris.

15. Audience
The pursuit of happiness is for a mass audience because it
was advised every where for everyone on bill boards, TV and
magazines.

16. Audience theory (McQuail)
Because it’s an emotional and touching movie, and it
might be inspiring to those who might go or went
through a similar situation. It encourages people to
never lose hope.
Because it can help someone who’s going through the
similar situation how to deal with it.

17. Syntax
 The overall message:
Chris & his son look happy as they
 are smiling and laughing.
• Look after one another
• Money cant buy you happiness.
• Try to make the best out of a bad
situation.
• Be smart when your decision making.
• When life knocks you down get back up.