Rom-Com
The Sub-Genres of Rom-Com - Romance and Comedy
Romance
What is Romance ?
Romance- Romance films (or romance movies) are romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theaters and on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters and the journey that their genuinely strong, true and pure romantic love takes them through
Examples of romance films.
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Conventions
Titanic- Romance
Titanic is a story surrounding the diaster of the "unskinable Titanic" thats sunk on its first voyage. However titanic follows the love story of Rose - the rich girl who fell in love in the love with the poor boy. the story has a tragic end, as Jack dies along with thousands of others leaving Rose to live the rest of her life without him.
Titanic is one of the most iconic romantic films made. Directed by James Cameron, the story of the rich girl and the poor boy is told beautifully. From this scene, the hand gestures - Jacks arm around her waist protecting her from falling demonstrate realtionship and romance. There is a clear social divide between the two characters as demonstrated by their clothing, the conventional storyline of rich and poor is also utlised in Titanic. The romantic close up of Jack and Rose, with Rose with her eyes closed demonstrates their realtionship and trust, proving that the Titanic is Romance film.
The "Titanic" works on the theme of fate, another convention of romance films. Jack's place on board of the titanic was down to a poker game, hinting at fate being the reason that they met.
Close-up two person shot
The soundtrack for the film is very romantic and personal. Most romance films have a heartfelt song to go with the storyline
Camera-
Over the Soulder shot, often used to demonstrate realtionships.
Close-up : close-up are used to demonstrate realtionships and emotion. Emotions that are displayed from talking etc to other characters can be demonstrated through.
Prevelance- Directors often linger shots that envolve touch in order to demonstrate the start of a blossoming realtionship.
Comedy
Comedy is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. These films are designed to entertain the audience through amusement, and most often work by exaggerating characteristics for humorous effect. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (the black comedy being an exception).
Click the arrow to scroll through examples of comedy films
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Anaylsis of The Heat
From this clip its easy to see what makes a comedy - anything that makes you laugh. In this scene the element of comedy comes from Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) being out of place in the Boston "Chav" area in her suit and prestigous behaviour . The over exaggerated Boston accent seems hilarous as they try to get her to understand what she is saying, so the comedy comes from the conflict between the classes and their inabiltiy to understand one another . The apperance of the family is also entertaining as they are dressed horrendously and look "typical". Generally everything about this scene has been over exaggerated purley on the basis of making it seem funny, which it achieves.
Camera work and editing
High Angle: The high angle of the dinner table allows the audience to see all the family and their expressions of shock as Ashburn sits down.
Close-up : Which shows Ashburns confusion and her diffculty in understanding the man.
Cross-cutting: This emphaises the tension in the room between Asburn and the family.
Rom-com
What is a Rom-Com ?
Is a hybrid film that inculdes both conventions of romantic films and that of comedies
Two types of Rom-Com films
Vladmir Propp theory
Vladimir Propp developed a character theory for studying media texts and productions, which indicates that there were 7 broad character types in the 100 tales he analysed, which could be applied to other media: The villain (struggles against the hero) The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
How does this apply to Rom-Com?
Example of Propps theory (the princess is also often blonde)
Analysis of Bridget Jones- The Edge Of Reason
In this clip, there is evidence of chemistry between the two character which is a typically a conventions of Rom-Com. The element of comedy comes from Bridgets failure at making food, the high ange of the "blue soup" is evidence of her failure. The high angel mid shot of Bridget coveredin food is further proof of her being a source of comedy to the scene. The two person shot of Bridget and Mark highlight a sense of romance, and the lingering shots of this further emphaise this. If we were to apply props theory to this example Bridget would Princess as in the end she gets her prince and Mark would be the hero as he swoops in to help her whenever she needs it, his prize is also his princess- Bridget.