AS Media Production

Thematic Convention

thematic conventions is something that is in every romantic comedy. there are different thematic cenventions which are like messages and morals learned in the film.

some examples

- love can conquer all this could be used in a sad romantic comedy or in a happy one.
e.g. sad - a partner has died find love in his best friend
e.g. happy - a woman happy working but finds love while grocery shopping

- self belief finding strength and gaining confidence through love long term or short term romance.
e.g. shy girl who was bullied has no confidence finds love at new job and gains confidence

- meaning of love finding out that love is fun, laughter, pain, tears, romance and unpredictable.
e.g. someone who thinks love is for young people finds love from someone who is not her type makes her feel young again

Narrative Conventions

THE NARRATIVE CAN BE BASED UPON SEVERAL SENARIOS

> Man and woman overcoming difficulties and coming together at the end. (with each other, death of a loved one)

> Happy Ending - whether man and woman get together
- or they find themselves with help of each other but do not remain together

> journey of love (marriage, family, heartache) the audience follows the characters journey and see how they develop as a person

> love story main focus

> the characters you may see: Divorce, Bachelor, Lads lad, Feminist, Quiet one, Loud outspoken, Posh and Common. this helps the story ne more belivable or more dream like they help define what the story is about or change how a person may react to a situation or a comment.

> Tears - Park meeting
- Wedding
- Heartbreak
- Birth of new child
- Divorce

Generic Conventions

WHAT YOU FIND IN THE ROMANTIC COMEDY GENRE

- Day and night
- Real life
- Girl meets boy
- Beautiful people (who may be made up to look ugly)
- Man and woman sharply defined
- Contrast between leading characters (poor and rich, celebrity and non celebrity, football fan and rugby fan, culture)
- Sometimes a male point of view mainly female
- Empathy, Sympathy of Characters
- Passion and emotion
- Leading lady, leading man
- Love

Cinematic codes and conventions

* Rain when characters are sad, the rain is tears of the person or to wash away the pain. It could also be used when a character has over come something to wash away the old them to begin a new life.

* Leaves falling when meeting could represent shedding of old life ready to begin new one.

* Time slowing down when seeing an ex or the person they love. If it is seeing the person they love could show the fact the world is going on even though they are stood still.

12A Guidelines

12A is only used for films in cinemas. This means that those younger than twelve can watch the film if accompanied by an adult.

In a 12A there are mature themes like love and sex which may be implied by sexual references. there maybe nudity but it is concise. Sexual activity maybe brief and discreet which gives the impression of what maybe going to happen.

There is strong language but not a lot. Violence can be used but has to have a short scene there should not be much blood or showing of any injuries in detail. Sexual violence must only be implied but if shown it must be short.

There maybe a misuse of drugs may have a brief showing or hinted at the idea of drug use.

E.g of what you may see on a romantic comedy

" contains moderate strong, language, drug and sex references"

"contains moderate sex references and language with maybe some partial nudity"

"contains sexual activity/innuendo"

"contains mild language and sexual references"

12A has the second highest amount of releases in the BBFC classification with 150 releases last year where as the 15 age rating coming on top with 193 releases. There has been a gentle rises in the amount of 12A releases in the UK and Ireland since 2007. 12A has been a top earner between 2001 - 2008 in the box office despite the lower releases than "15" . In the top 10 "12A" classified films Four Christmas came 9th in the chart.