What I’ve Learned

Through my research so far I have found a lot of information that I believe will help me in the creation of my title sequence in the months to come. I want to take this post to make a list of the important details I think I will need to remember when it comes to planning and shooting our film.

What I learned from The Devil Wears Prada

• Know what you’re trying to convey. (In The Devil Wears Prada it was contrast between the main character and the rest of the cast.)
• It is never too early to establish themes and conflicts. (In The Devil Wears Prada themes like society’s view of women and body image were already being established.)
• A little says a lot. Even small camera tilts can express emotions like anxiety or confidence.
• You can use music! Just make sure its not over powering, diegetic sound and dialogue should still be present and audible.
• Don’t just focus on the actors! Establish a setting with artistic backgrounds and thematic props.

Dramatic Comedy is a broad genre that allows a lot of room for the creative process to work its own magic, which is why I love it. When it comes to genre conventions there is really is no strict guidelines to follow, however, general themes and concepts should be included to create the desired dramedy feel.

What I learned about Genre Conventions

• Make sure characters and the situations they are in are realistic. The audience has to relate to the film to get caught up in the drama.
• End on a happy note, or some kind of “new start”
• Take time to test wise cracks or the use of sarcasm in the script to make sure the jokes land with the audience.
• Adding narration or breaking the fourth wall can be used in drama but I do not plan to use this in the film in the hopes of making it seem more realistic.
• The use of music and surprise are present in both genres and I do plan to use these in the film.

What I learned about Film Settings

• Drama Comedies are broad so your movie can be set ANYWHERE (as long as its relatable to the audience of course)
• Most dramedy films occur in bright settings, the films are supposed to be light hearted. Most scenes will be shot during the day with more serious scenes shot at night or somewhere dark.
• Movement is good! A lot of dramedies involve trips (especially road trips), they allow for a physical journey to symbolically match the emotional one taken by characters.
• Choose settings wisely, they will impact costumes, props, and even key character aspects.

I will continue to add to these lists as I am researching in the hopes that looking back on them will remind me of important details to include in our final product. In future posts I plan to be looking at more opening scenes from the drama comedy genre as well as researching the audience we plan to reach with our film.

Resources:

“Don Cornelius Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/don_cornelius_401183.