Hey everybody! Welcome back to the blog! Lately, I've been doing a lot of research to try to decide which genre to choose for my brief. I narrowed down my options to drama, thriller, and romance, but I'm still not sure which of the three to choose. So, I did plenty of research to (hopefully) help me narrow it down further. I also focused mostly on plot, themes, and characters so that I can focus more on the story before I get into the nitty-gritty of mise-en-scene and editing.
Drama
I did a lot of research on drama, because it basically goes with every other genre there is. There are thriller dramas and romantic dramas, so regardless of which I choose, I figure I'll still need to know this genre in depth.
One of the things I noticed about dramas is that they are often centered around everyday people who aren't overly glorified. A drama shows us our main character(s) at their bests and worsts in order to keep us invested in their story. For example, in Forrest Gump, we see Forrest during his worst moments in Vietnam and dealing with the aftermath of the war, but we also see every happy and genuinely fun moment in his life. Plus, Forrest starts out as pretty much your average Joe, but the ups and downs of his story make it incredibly inspiring.
The settings of dramas are also usually pretty normal, though of course with some exceptions. In Shawshank Redemption, the film takes place in a regular prison, hardly a fantastical setting. In Schindler's List, the setting is all real places in Europe (like certain areas in Poland and Germany). And, as you can see above, one of the most memorable scenes in Forrest Gump is at a bus stop bench. The drama genre is so story-heavy that you don't need fantastical situations, locations, or characters to make an incredible film; you just need a good story.
Dramas can address a wide variety of topics, such as how Schindler's List addresses the Holocaust and Shawshank Redemption addresses the prison system, and both movies address how a man can redeem himself. However, some of the most common topics I found are as follows:
- Current or historical events
- Prejudice or hatred
- Religion
- Poverty
- Society
- Drugs
- Politics
One of the most crucial pieces of the drama genre is its ability to blend seamlessly with other genres. Shawshank redemption are both dramas with heavy elements of suspense (not unlike thrillers). In fact, it's sometimes more common for films of a certain genre to also be a drama rather than purely their original drama. It seems that it can meld with other genres so easily because drama is centered mostly around a story and is a much broader genre than most others. So, the conventions of a thriller or romance can usually fit under the umbrella of the conventions of a drama film.
Overall, the drama genre is a really strong contender, but I think I'll probably choose one of the other two genres and hybridize it with drama.
Thriller
The thriller drama is extremely interesting to me. It can sometimes seem more like straight horror but just toned down, and other times it can seem more like a drama. It's generally a very versatile genre, as seen through its many subgenres. All of the following are some popular thriller genres:
- Spy thriller
- Horror thriller
- Medical thriller
- Action thriller
- Drama thriller
- Legal thriller
as well as many, many more. A lot of the time, the story features dramatic plot points that keep the audience guessing and, in effect, thrilled. Plots of thrillers often have huge plot twists, subtle misdirection, and/or shocking betrayals. A great example of this is Parasite. In Parasite, the main family slowly works its way into the life of the much wealthier family, but what they don't know (and suddenly realize in one of my favorite scenes in cinema) is that there is already a pair of people trying to do the exact same thing. Then, later in the movie (Spoilers ahead, so skip to the end of the paragraph if you still haven't seen Parasite), one of the other people hiding in the house ends up killing the owners during their child's birthday party, an insane twist that shocks viewers and serves as dramatic payoff to the previous setup. Thrillers are overall extremely suspenseful films that constantly keep viewers guessing and engaged.
If you can't quite see it, there's a man in the center of the shot (one of the other people in the house).
The most crucial aspect of thrillers as a genre is that they are entirely characterized by the emotions they elicit in the audience. A thriller that doesn't make you nervous or anxious is barely a thriller at all. They rely on keeping the viewer constantly anticipating what will happen next, which then makes the viewer way more engaged with the story. These kinds of films are known for keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Romance
The romance genre is one of the more compelling to me. I feel like you can create more emotional stories in a romance film compared to a horror or pure drama. And my research supported this idea, too, as I found that romance films are usually more intimate - they focus on a story between (usually) two characters. Thus, the story overall feels a lot more close-to-home and resonates more with viewers.
The genre usually features themes of emotional vulnerability, passion, and intimacy between people, again making the general plot much more emotional overall. Just like the previous two genres, the romance genre is pretty easily merged with other genres. Some of the most famous romance genres are romantic comedy and romantic drama, but romantic comedy in particular has become one of the staple genres of film. Some of my favorite examples of a romantic comedy are Bridget Jones' Diary and Love Actually. Bridget Jones' Diary focuses on a 32 year-old woman's love life, especially her ups and downs. Meanwhile, Love Actually features several different love stories all happening at the same time, showing a more interconnected web of love triangles and interpersonal relationships. Despite the surface level differences, however, the two films both emphasize the connections between people while showcasing the highs and lows, with humor sprinkled throughout.
Romantic films are often some of the most emotionally impactful films, and romantic dramas even more so. It's a very versatile genre, which makes it extremely useful for trying to make an especially emotional film.
Reflection
Overall, I think I'm settled on doing a romance film. Out of all the movies on this list, I think La La Land (and the other romantic films) is my favorite, so it makes sense. As for whether I'll do a romantic comedy, drama, or other kind of romance, I'll decide after doing more research in my next post. See you all then!
P.S. All my sources can be found below.
- Backstage. (n.d.). A guide to the drama genre. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/drama-genre-guide-78027/
- Filmsite. (n.d.). Drama films. https://www.filmsite.org/dramafilms.html
- IMDb. (n.d.). Romance feature films. https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title_type=feature&genres=romance
- Mandy. (n.d.). A nail‑biting guide to the thriller genre. https://www.mandy.com/magazine/article/a-nail-biting-guide-to-the-thriller-genre-78975/
- No Film School. (n.d.). Drama genre: What it is and how it works. https://www.nofilmschool.com/drama-genre
- No Film School. (n.d.). Romance movie genre explained. https://nofilmschool.com/romance-movie-genre
- No Film School. (n.d.). Thriller genre definition. https://nofilmschool.com/thriller-genre-definition
- StudioBinder. (n.d.). What is drama? Definition and examples. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-drama-definition/
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