Welcome to the start of my portfolio project. When introduced to the first step of the project research, I started brainstorming what genres I enjoy and what genres I can use to achieve my expectations. At first, I was thought of horror as it would be one of the more interesting ones. However, I found that the horror genre can be very repetitive as many of them share very similar elements. That’s why for my first genre I will be researching, drama, as looking back at what I have watched over the years, it has always been drama or action. Also, with the drama genre, I will be able to have lots of creative freedom to achieve my two-minute film opening.
The definition of drama is a type of movie or TV show that tells an exciting, generally serious story as opposed to one mainly intended to be funny or entertaining (Cambridge University Press, n.d.). The drama genre usually tells a story of human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a captivating and powerful way. Within drama, there are five main subgenera tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, and musical drama. The main subgenre I will be focusing on for my portfolio is tragic drama, as it would allow me to show loss and emotion in a realistic and emotional way.
The definition of tragedy is a very sad event or situation, especially one involving death or suffering (Cambridge University Press, n.d.). In most tragic drama stories, there is a downfall of a noble or heroic character. The downfall can lead to weakness, setbacks, or both. As a result, they can show the harsh realities of life, while also revealing important moral messages. The tragic drama will allow me to explore deep emotions, internal conflicts, and personal growth, helping me build an opening that audiences can connect with.
An important aspect to look at to help me achieve my two-minute opening are content conventions. Some important content to include in my opening are emotional characters that allow the audience to get a deep connection with the characters, making the drama feel more personal and believable. Themes within the drama genre, include loss, love, conflict, or personal growth. Together these themes help drive the story forward and allow audiences to contrast the events with their own personal lives. Realistic situations also make the story more relatable, allowing for the audience to connect to the characters' experiences. Internal conflicts reveal characters' thoughts, fears, and struggles, adding to the relatability and emotionally impact of drama. External pressures force the character to make choices, creating tension and helping to drive the story forward.
Another convention that could help me achieve my opening are technical conventions. Some technical conventions are close-up shots, which show the characters' emotions in detail to give the audience a connection with the characters' feeling. Wide shots and variety give context to scenes and reveal relationships between characters and their surroundings. Natural lighting can make scenes look more realistic, as result creating a connection that the audience can relate to their persona lives. Minimal soundtracks and realistic sounds, the scenes are more realistic and allow the audience to focus more on what is occurring. Varying between slow pacing and fast pacing emphasizes sadness or tension.
The last convention I researched was institutional conventions which, are used to help the film reach and attract audiences. The story mainly focuses on the protagonist's emotional journey, internal struggles, conflicts, and personal growth after major/pivotal events. Marketing for drama films includes trailers and posters to show characters’ vulnerable or isolated moments to help convey the tone.
The target audience of drama films is between the ages of 18-29, with a majority of females. Viewers who enjoy drama, often share similar interests with emotional storytelling and character-driven narratives with issues like grief, relationships, or personal growth.
Only the Brave by Joseph Kosinski in 2017 is an action-drama film, although it still relates with the tragic drama genre. The reason I thought this film fit the drama genre so well was that it is based on a true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who had lost 19 of their 20 members battling the Yarnell Hill Fire in June 2013. As a result, the film was built to be as realistic as possible based off of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The film explores this tragedy along with relationships, loyalty, and grief among the hotshots and the community. The film utilizes close-ups and proper framing to show internal conflicts and vulnerability. With all the techniques being used, along with it being based on a true story, it provides a reference of ideas for a realistic tragic story.
Through this research, I was able to gain a better understanding of the drama genre, how to use these conventions, and how other productions engage an audience to achieve their goal as I will have a similar goal when I produce my two minute film opening.
Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). Drama. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved January 21, 2026, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/drama
Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). Tragedy. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved January 21, 2026, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/tragedy
Kosinski, J. (Director). (2017). Only the Brave [Film]. Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing.
Weir, P. (Director). (1989). Dead Poets Society [Film]. Touchstone Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
DeGuzman, K. (2025, February 10). What is drama — Definition, examples & genre conventions explained. StudioBinder. Retrieved January 21, 2026, from https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-drama-definition/
DeGuzman, K. (2025, February 10). What is tragedy — Definition, examples & types explained. StudioBinder. Retrieved January 21, 2026, from https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-tragedy-definition/
Vecchi, L. (n.d.). Target audience [Pre‑Production]. Media Coursework Project. Retrieved from https://larave.wordpress.com/as-coursework/target-audience-research/
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