Romantic Comedy - Love and Laughter

Romantic Comedy, commonly known as “Rom-Com,” is a film genre that combines elements of romance and humor. These films focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two protagonists, presenting their journey in a lighthearted and amusing manner. The genre appeals to audiences who enjoy stories about love, relationships, and the comedic situations that often accompany them. The highest-grossing rom com of all time (adjusted for inflation) is Pretty Woman (1990), grossing $432,566,361.

Conventions

Typical content conventions in Romantic Comedies include:

Meet-Cute Scenarios: The protagonists often encounter each other in an amusing or unusual situation that sparks interest

Contrasting Personalities: The main characters usually have differing personalities, backgrounds, or lifestyles, leading to humorous interactions.

Obstacles: Various misunderstandings or external obstacles create tension and keep the characters apart temporarily.

Supporting Characters: Friends or family members provide advice/humor.

Happy Endings: Most Rom-Coms leave the audience with a feel good resolution.

Production Techniques

Production techniques commonly used in Romantic Comedies:

Bright Lighting and Vibrant Colors: Creates a cheerful and inviting atmosphere.

Upbeat Music and Soundtracks: Enhances the lighthearted mood and highlights emotional moments.

Close-Up Shots: Captures the characters’ facial expressions to convey emotions intimately.

Montage Sequences: Shows the progression of the relationship over time through a series of scenes set to music.

How is Genre Marketed

Institutional conventions/marketing conventions for Romantic Comedies usually include:

Eye-Catching Posters: Feature the lead couple in playful or romantic poses, sometimes highlighting their contrasting personalities.

Trailers with Key Moments: Showcase a mix of comedic and romantic scenes to attract viewers.

Strategic Release Dates: Often released around holidays like Valentine’s Day

Star Power: Cast popular actors to draw their fan base and generate buzz.

Film Sample #1: “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)

The film follows Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) over 12 years as they navigate a complex friendship that questions whether men and women can truly be just friends

Analysis: 

Content Conventions: Features a classic “friends-to-lovers” storyline with numerous misunderstandings and personal differences that keep them apart. 

Production Techniques: Utilizes close-up shots to capture intimate conversations and emotional shifts. 

Marketing: Posters and trailers highlighted the chemistry between the leads and the quest for love, appealing to a broad audience

Film Sample #2: “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)

A long flight classic, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), an economics professor, travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) and discovers he belongs to one of the country’s wealthiest families, leading to cultural clashes and familial obstacles.

Analysis:

Content Conventions: Incorporates the “fish-out-of-water” trope and addresses themes of class differences and family expectations. Balances romantic developments with comedic situations from Rachel’s unfamiliarity with Nick’s world.

Production Techniques: Showcases lavish settings and vibrant visuals to emphasize the opulence of Nick’s family. 

Marketing: Emphasized its all-Asian cast and representation, appealing to audiences seeking diversity. Trailers highlighted the extravagant visuals.

Other Notable Romantic Comedies

             1.     “Notting Hill” (1999)

    2.     “The Proposal” (2009)

3. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)

4. “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001)

5. “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)

6. “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)

7. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” (2018)

Representation in Breaking Bad

When it comes to representation in media, “Breaking Bad” is a masterclass in using characters to reflect and critique different aspects of society. I want to look at two characters, Walter White and Gus Fring.

Walter White’s character starts as the ultimate representation of the average, unremarkable man, a high school chemistry teacher who’s struggling to make ends meet. In terms of selections/stereotypes, the choice to portray Walter as a middle-aged, white, educated man who feels powerless in his personal and professional life plays into a classic stereotype: the "everyman” figure. In the beginning, we relate to him. He’s the guy struggling under capitalism, underappreciated by his students and family, and dealing with a health crisis. But as time passes, we see him transition from Walter White to Heisenberg, becoming a villain.

Second, when looking at construction, Walter's descent into crime is often shown with exaggerated visuals. Walter, the once innocent teacher, stands in his underwear, cooking meth in the middle of the desert. The way his environment and outfits shift reflects the show’s representation of how the ordinary can become extraordinary under the right conditions. The desert setting, in particular, acts as an “exotic” backdrop, turning his transformation into a spectacle.

Gus Fring is another character that’s rich for analysis when it comes to representation. He is one of the most compelling villains in television history, and his representation is developed in 3 key ways. First, through decentering. Gus is a Black Latino man running a successful fried chicken franchise as a front for his drug empire. The show deliberately makes him a character that breaks stereotypes. Rather than portraying him as a loud, flashy drug lord, Gus is calculated, quiet, and strategic. These are qualities that contrast against the stereotypical representation of minority criminals, de-centering the traditional portrayal of crime in media.

However, while Gus is a unique character in many ways, he still fits the stereotype of the charismatic villain. The show selects specific elements, like his polished demeanor and respect for his employees, to make him an intriguing, almost admirable character. This selection process makes his downfall even more dramatic, emphasizing the message that power and success come at a cost.

Finally, Gus’s background is shrouded in mystery, particularly his past in Chile. By not fully revealing his history, the show exoticizes his character. His composed demeanor and sophisticated style are contrasted with the gritty world of drug trafficking, which adds an element of fascination around him.

Sound Project Reflection

For our project, we were tasked with creating a 1-2 minute scene that unfolds in real-time, using sounds to represent actions and environments realistically. We could only use seven words of dialogue and had to include at least four foley sounds made from everyday objects.

I learned about the power of sound in storytelling and how sound effects and auditory techniques can convey a narrative without visuals. It was interesting to see how everyday sounds can be incorporated in a story.

My partner Fabi and I chose to depict an elevator ride to the office. This scenario fits within a 1-2 minute timespan and offers a variety of sounds. During brainstorming, we listed every sound that would occur: footsteps approaching the building, door handles turning, ambient lobby noises, pressing the elevator button, the elevator’s ding, doors opening and closing, elevator ascent sounds, and ambient office noises upon exit. I decided on the phrases “Hold the door!” and “Thank you” for the limited dialogue, and I sourced the "Hold the door!" from a movie and "Thank you" from YouTube.

Source of our "Hold the door", a movie called "The Blues Brothers" (1980)

The outline helped me organize these sounds effectively. By detailing each sound and noting which ones would be foley sounds, I could plan the recording and editing process more efficiently. I used CapCut for editing, which allowed me to layer and adjust the sounds accurately.

Our Outline

CapCut Timeline

Reflecting on the project, I’m pleased with how the sounds came together to tell the story. The foley sounds added a personal touch. This project taught me a lot about how sound shapes a narrative. However, I realize the outline could have been more detailed and a little longer. It had about 20 sound elements, but aiming for 25 would have provided more length. Next time, I’d include more sounds.

Here's our project: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11L_vfaeYlB2Pp9IRkYhUF8V5zmAPZ9qD/view