Analysis of the drama genre and Casablanca

1. Drama genre of film

2. Codes and conventions
• Codes and conventions of the drama genre:
• exhibits real life situations with realistic characters,
settings, costumes etc.- audience can relate to the
characters/ storyline
• follows a characters journey
• purpose to move audience emotionally
• conflicts (inner or outer struggles)
• climaxes and anti-climaxes to keep the audience on edge
• happy ending - however Titanic does not follow this
convention as it ends tragically
• can be combined with other genres such as fantasy and
comedy

3. Analysis of Casablanca
Mise en scene:
• Lots of people all crowding and old- fashioned outfits
to reflect the time period
• All the characters that are American are almost always
wearing either suits or evening dresses, whereas the
people that are locals in Casablanca are in robes and
are wearing very basic clothing. This presents the
main/ American characters as very rich and upper
class.
• The audience will aspire to be the main characters
because they seem very sophisticated due to their
outfits.

4. Editing:
• Text is placed on top of the trailer to introduce
the trailer and give some information about
the film to add to the advertising value
• Wiping transitions as well as a range of
different types of transitions
• The clips are very short to a rushed and tense
atmosphere
• Black and white screen (no colour)
• Black outs between the shots that get closer
(mid-shot to close-up)

5. Sound:
• Instrumental music that is associated with adventure and
adds an uplifting atmosphere.
• Narration over the top to introduce and briefly explain
where? What? Why?
Camera angles:
• The angles do not change very often, the shots do not
move in each clip (there is usually a transition/blackout in
between)
• There are only one or two pan-shots and zooms
• Over the shoulder shots to show the romantic and tragic
parts (most dramatic bits)
This trailer was very influential because it was one of the first
trailers for a film that had a high budget. There was a lot of
experimentation with the effects and transitions and the wide
use of transitions massively influenced trailers that came after
it and they are still widely used today.