Portfolio Project Genre #1

Drama Research

Hey blog!

So we have officially started our portfolio project! I'm very excited for this project because it seems very fun, and it is a big part of our final grade for this class. We're researching our genres right now, and the first one I'm thinking of doing is drama, or more specifically, coming-of-age drama.

What is the genre of drama?

At its core, drama is a genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to have a more serious than humorous tone. It focuses on the in-depth development of realistic characters who deal with emotional struggles, conflicts with each other, or societal pressures (man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society). Typically, you won't see the "man vs. nature" conflict in a drama film. 

 

The genre drama involves conflicts and emotions and portrays human experiences through dialogue and actions. There are many different subgenres of drama, but mostly I'm thinking of doing coming-of-age. It typically presents a story or a situation that engages the audience's emotions, making them feel things like excitement, empathy, or tension, and is centered around 

The main audience for a drama film is males and females from the ages of 17 to 29, but for a coming-of-age film, it's mostly females. My target audience would be made for a little younger, like 14 to 25, but also make it an enjoyable film for all ages, including younger and older ages. 

Dramas usually have characters you'd see as your friends, neighbors, or family members dealing with the struggles of everyday life. They usually take place in a home, an office setting, or with a group of characters forced to interact day to day. If the characters in the movie are younger, then typically the settings would be home, school, or public settings, with the same characters and some side characters.

The type of drama needed in my film

My film is based on events that happen to a teenage girl. If I use drama as my genre, I would have the subgenre be coming-of-age. 

Coming-of-age films focus on a character growing up and learning important life lessons. The story usually shows a young person (usually a teen) dealing with things like identity, friendships, relationships, family problems, big life changes, etc. These plots usually focus on emotions, personal struggles, and character development, which are things I would like to use in my film. 

Drama films examples

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about a shy freshman, Charlie, who feels like he doesn’t fit in. He becomes friends with two seniors, Sam and Patrick, who help him experience new things and meet new people. It is a drama film because there are serious emotions, and Charlie has personal struggles. This movie also falls under the coming-of-age genre because of how Charlie grows, learns about himself, and discovers the person he is throughout high school. I want to take inspiration from this movie because it is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I love the message that it sends. The message is that everyone goes through struggles, but having supportive friends can help you grow and heal. 

Lady Bird is about a high schooler called Christine that calls herself Lady Bird. She wants to leave her hometown and figure out who she really is. During her senior year, she deals with friendship problems, family problems, and relationships while trying to become more independent and learn more about herself. The movie is a drama because it focuses on real emotions and conflicts, especially between Lady Bird and her mom. It is also a coming-of-age because she grows up and learns more about herself before she leaves for college. I want to use this movie for inspiration because I want to show that the main charcater un my film is an independent young woman who faces challenges and finds herself.