Paige Edwards

Genre research
As a group, we have decided for the genre of our film to be a Drama. Drama
is a film genre, which aims to tell an honest story on human struggles, which
are taken from intense, real life issues, whether they face conflict from the
outside or within themselves. This is something some of the viewers may be
able to relate themselves to, making it more enjoyable for them to watch it.
Drama films usually consist of conflict, hidden truths or a threatening source.
This could make the viewers feel vulnerable, especially the ones that are able
to relate. Drama films mainly revolves around an emotional theme, they often
include families and disruptions.
The literal meaning of drama is an exciting, emotional, or unexpected event
or circumstance.
Colours such as soft tones; grey, beiges and off whites are coupled with
Dramas as it makes the film setting appear to be more discreet. This allows
the audience to be left with answers, not giving too much away, opposed to
what vibrant colours would do. Also, having dull colours sets the scene, and
creates an effect, associated with tension and mystery. This relates to low-key
artificial lighting as it also links to the idea of drama, and being diplomatic and
wary.
In terms of camera angles and shots, they include canted angles and panning
movements, as if the audience was a part of the film, helping them
understand what our characters are feeling, disorientated and confused, all
over the place, not knowing whats next?
It can be argued that the most important part of a Drama film, would be
sound. Score music can help build up suspense and tension. It is often
combined with opera music, as this is quite a loud and dramatic genre of
music. Sound in a drama film has the power to create certain moods, to
create character and can signal events that are about to happen.
The power of sound and music to manipulate the audience has always been
acknowledged in a dramatic genre film. Incidental music is used often in a
Drama, to add more emotion and rhythm to it. This is usually meant to be
gone unnoticed. It can also add understanding and meaning to a scene, to
remind the audience of ideas.
The history of drama originates in classical Greece (western drama). The
origins of drama go back to competitions held as a
part of a traditional festival, celebrating the God
Dionysus (the god of wine). The city-state of
Athens came up with the three genres of drama:
tragedy, comedy and the satyr play. Another
example of the history of drama was a man named
William Shakespeare. He wrote and produced
many plays that are still performed today.
Furthermore, he was one of the first to weave
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Paige Edwards
comic elements into tragedies. The type of work that
he created is common in modern drama. The first
ever drama film made was in Latvia in 1913.
These two masks are associated with drama represent
the traditional generic division
between comedy and tragedy.

Top 10 Drama films according to the telegraph

1. The Conversation (1974)
Hackman plays a seedy surveillance expert who suffers a crisis of
conscience when he suspects the couple he is bugging are about to be
murdered.
It's bigger than mere commentary - the real subjects here are paranoia
and culpability, loneliness and love.
2. Strangers on a Train (1951)
Two men swap murders. Patricia Highsmith's best novel; arguably Alfred
Hitchcock's best movie, this is a great taught morality tale with a sticky turn by
Robert Walker.
3. There Will Be Blood (2008)
When he hears about oil oozing from the ground near the Western town of
Little Boston, Daniel takes his son on a mission to find their fortune.
4. Winter Light (1962)
Ingmar Bergman could have a top 10 of his own, but this little-seen entry in
his 'Silence of God' trilogy ranks alongside Wild Strawberries and Persona as
a brief, freezing masterpiece.
5. Dogville (2003)
It's three hours long, there's no set and John Hurt does a maddeningly arch
voiceover. But Lars von Trier's Nicole Kidman-in-chains sadomasochistic
study of small-town America is still thrilling filmmaking.
6. Raging Bull (1980)
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Paige Edwards
Martin Scorsese's best and Robert De Niro's too. Against stiff competition.

7. The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 (1972/4)

Coppola's Corleone saga works because it's only brushingly a gangster pic.
Really it's the best family soap ever shot: more King Lear than Lock, Stock
and Two Smoking Barrels.
8. Double Indemnity (1944)
Billy Wilder's insurance scam classic, based on a James M. Cain story, is film
noir at its most tar-hearted.
9. Apocalypse Now (1979)
So that's four films by Francis Ford Coppola in the top 10. But it would be a
horror to omit his Cambodia odyssey.
10. Chinatown (1974)
Roman Polanski. Robert Towne. Jack Nicholson. Faye Dunaway. John
Huston. Enough said.
Anthony Hopkins's menu choices may be an acquired taste, but few could
resist the five-star excitement of Jonathan Demme's electric classic.

Paige Edwards