Typical and Atypical film clips.

Romeo and Juliet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkIjVOSE34w This is the drugs scene from the 1996 Romeo and Juliet film. From this scene you wouldn’t be able to tell that this is a love story (unless you know the play very well). It has dark scenes, and very disorientating, fast pace editing. This is not normally a convention on love stories. The scenes in typical love stories are usually light and happy, not at all confusing or disorientating.

Continued… The music is low and quiet and fairly mystical. But romance films usually have upbeat, positive music to accompany scenes (unless the character is upset). But the music changes through the scene, but it’s adding to the confusing effect rather than creating a positive mood. Also the use of drugs in a romance film is very unconventional.

Dear John. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMsc8Xu4n0Y&feature=relmfu This clip shows the couple being close together. The setting is fairly intimate, it’s just the two of them, so it’s quite romantic. The colours of the setting are very light so they are not distracting from the characters which is typical of romance films.

Continued… There is no actual music, just diegetic sounds coming from the surrounding area (birds, wind etc.) this gives the scene a realistic feeling, which is typical of romance films. The fact that the couple are talking about life plans and are making up after a fight, shows us that it’s a romance film.