Romantic Comedy

Romantic Comedy Research 

                                 How can comedy be so romantic?

As one of my favorite movies " 10 things i hate about you", romantic comedies have been an all time stable in our household.  Even though most films have a similar format, they all evoke that humor and heart felt feeling in us. Directors like Garry Marshall and Nancy Meyers have are known for their creative and entertaining romantic comedies and have inspire many of the young generation.                                    

Marketing

Typically, this sort of genre,romantic comedy, targets a broad audience, including young adults, and families.  They especially are towards those who are looking for a distraction, an escape and an emotional connection. Overall, all ages and all background are welcome to enjoy these types of movies.

Romantic comedies marketing strategies are focusing on the film romantic and comedic aspects. So they may come up with catchy tag lines, romantic posters and trailers to pull the audiences. A clear example can be "Crazy Rich Asians". The film’s marketing campaign targeted multiple audiences strategically, especially social media, and celebrity support. This specific marketing team used social media platforms to create content fans liked, like behind the scenes footage, stunning locations, posts about fashion and etc. This helped overall help with its box office success.

Production Techniques

 Many of the romantic comedies use many of the medium shots especially when they involve dialogue between the characters. The slow motion may be used to call attention to emotionally inciting scenes.The sets especially the lightings are normally very bright and in most scenes the set has extra features such as flowers candles and so on to create a more cozy and normal environment. During romantic comedies, fashion and trends are believed to be of showcasing the latest fashions for the female leads of romantic comedies. Music is another point, an incredible number of romantic songs and popular songs are used to emphasize the emotional component. Editing techniques, such as quick cuts and slow-motion, can be used to emphasize comedic timing or romantic tension. Montages are commonly used. Special effects are not large but exist; for instance, scene changes are accomplished using fade in most of the cases. Therefore, when all together you get a romantic but comedic environment where it is both joyful and emotional.

Content

Romantic comedies follow a pretty standard formula that keeps us coming back for more. At the heart of it all, you’ve got a central couple whose relationship is the main focus of the story. They usually face some kind of tension or conflict, like family issues, career goals, or just plain old misunderstandings, which really tests their love. comedy is thrown in, think like witty lines, funny situations, and funny characters that make us laugh. By the end, everything wraps up nicely with a happy resolution, reminding us that love can conquer all and leaving us feeling warm and satisfied. 

Example # 1: "When Harry met Sally"

"When Harry Met Sally" is the ultimate romantic comedy that nails everything we love about the genre. It dives deep into the tricky waters of male-female friendships and how they can evolve into something more. The chemistry between Harry and Sally, paired with their sharp dialogues and playful banter, keeps us all hooked. The film does a great job of throwing in some misunderstandings and conflicts to spice things up, like their amusing debate on whether men and women can be "just friends." It not only brings the laughs but also shows just how their relationship is changing, pushing boundaries while keeping it relatable. By the end, we get a heartwarming resolution that reinforces the idea that love really can conquer all. With its witty lines and real-feeling characters, this film has become a timeless favorite that still resonates with viewers of all ages.

Example #2 : "Clueless"

“Clueless” is one of the many classic romantic comedies to date and is still consistently watched to this day. It has the mix of both humor, stylish outfits, and classic high school drama. The story follows Cher Horowitz, a rich and popular teen who’s obsessed with matchmaking. The chemistry between her and Josh adds excitement as they start off clashing and eventually fall in love, filled with laughs and sweet
moments.But it’s not just a rom-com; “Clueless” really captures Cher’s evolution from a self-obsessed girl to someone who genuinely cares about her friends and herself. It humorously critiques the superficial life of the elite while celebrating friendship and personal growth. 

More examples!!

500 days of summer (2009)

How to lose a guy in 10 days (2003)

The proposal (2009)

Anyone but you (2023)

She's the Man (2006)

Representation

    One of my favorite tv shows is Gossip Girl, a popular teen drama series, capturing a small glimpse into the lives of the elite teenagers on Upper East Side of Manhattan. This is shown through the characters, relationships and societal expectations, it reflects the complex life behind high-class society.     

    Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf are two of the show’s main characters, they are portrayed as best friends even though they have contrasting ideals. Serena is free-spirited and rebellious while Blair is loyal and strictly old fashioned. Blair’s character highlights the pressure and expectations that comes with maintaining a high social status, however, Serena is the complete opposite. 

   

    Having said this, the conflict between Serena and Blair demonstrates the classic power struggle of the Upper East Side society. Their desire to win the favor and love of the audience and to be on top. The competition here also shows the truths that lie behind the glamour of the upper class, which is richness.      

    The show Gossip Girl stylizes wealth and privilege while at the same time, commenting on it. There is an opportunity to get the glimpse of rich characters of the show, going to premiere in designer wear, having private parties and living in luxurious apartments. But it also reveals a void and the hollowness which occasionally lie behind such a luxurious life. The characters strive for status and approval most of the time while portraying that material things and people’s approval are valuable than being real to themselves and to other people.  

  

    To summarize, Gossip Girl presents the audience with a complex depiction of high class society. While the problems depicted in the show and the drama of characters and their relationships unveil the reality of Upper East Side; the characters which are portrayed as flawed and imperfect do the same in equal measure. It is from the life of these women- Serena, Blair, and the rest of characters we are able to capture an understanding of the vain and shallow lifestyle that defines the higher class society. 

Sound project

                                                                  Link to sound project

   Currently, I'm learning during the sound lesson and assigned videos I was able to learn how Foley sounds were created using everyday objects and some assigned videos demonstrated those objects that I can use to create certain sounds and how I can incorporate that into my project. 

    For our sound project, my partner and I brainstormed a scene that could be effectively
conveyed using only sound, without any visual elements. We chose a surgery room because it offers a variety of distinct sounds, such as beeping monitors, air conditioners, and the rustling of fabric. These sounds are easily recognizable and can create a vivid auditory experience, even with a black screen. 

    During our approach to completing this project, we focused on creating a scene using various sounds without any visual elements. We brainstormed and listed different sounds that could be used and organized them into an outline. We were required to create four of these sounds ourselves. The sounds we chose to produce were footsteps, utensils being dropped, fabric rustling, and gloves being taken off and thrown into the trash. These sounds were manageable to create without professional experience. This approach made the project easier to complete and helped us stay organized, ensuring we had a clear plan for the sounds we needed to produce. 

    For our brainstorming session, my partner and I considered various scenarios that would be easily recognizable and not too complex to create. We thought about scenes like rush hour, a barbershop, or a crowded place. However, the idea that stood out to us was a surgery room. Both of us are fans of medical dramas, so we were familiar with the sounds typically heard in such settings. This familiarity made it easier for us to envision and recreate the scene. Our love for this genre helped us incorporate the surgery room scenario effectively, making the project manageable and enjoyable. 

    Organizing my sounds by breaking down the scene into different sections helped me figure out which sounds to incorporate. It also kept me organized by identifying which sounds to search for and which to create myself. As someone who struggles with disorganization, this method was convenient and made the process much easier.

    I used the InShot app for editing, which made on-the-go editing easy and offered many useful features. I created the scene on my iPad, which I was already familiar with, making the process smoother. I utilized various files, downloads, and instructional videos. My partner completed the first half of the project, and I finished the second half. By extracting audio from the video she sent me, I could seamlessly add to her work and make the final product more cohesive and polished. This method was convenient and helped me stay organized.

    What worked well in this project was our ability to seamlessly incorporate files into the editing process, making everything come together smoothly. However, if given another opportunity, I would incorporate more sounds to make the scene feel more complete and busy, reflecting the work being done on a patient. Overall, the project was presented well, but adding more sounds could enhance the realism. Despite some initial challenges, my partner and I had a lot of fun creating this project, and it turned out to be one of my favorite projects.