Drama Introduction
Drama is one of the most prominent genres in the entertainment industry. Directors like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Christopher Nolan are all important figures in it. Some of the most iconic titles that are part of the genre include The Godfather, Moonlight, and Parasite. Drama movies were first established at the beginning of the 1900s and have steadily been increasing in recognition.
Drama Content
Drama movies can be best described as reflections of our own lives. They portray realistic situations with characters that are in conflict. Although some situations are not deemed as realistic compared to the real world, these situations are realistic for the world and plot being shown to viewers. Drama films' main topics usually revolve around relationship issues, economic problems, racial injustice, and human greed. Characters are usually put into uncomfortable positions and have a mission to overcome them.
Drama Production Techniques
Drama movies are commonly set in real and realistic locations where lightning techniques can be manipulated. Lowkey lighting is heavily used in drama settings to provide an extra sense of suspense and mystery. Drama movies have a high usage of medium shots. This is due to the consistent dialogue throughout the movie. Drama scripts revolve around dialogue instead of solely visual action. What directs the story is the conversation between the characters. The soundtrack is also one of the most overlooked components of movies. Dramatic and suspenseful soundtracks mostly depend on bass and dark synths to create the perfect atmosphere.
Drama Marketing
Marketing in the drama world comes in different shapes and forms. But, it can be most commonly seen in trailers. Trailers give viewers a sneak peek into movies in hopes of having them create excitement and hype around the movie’s release. Some of the most iconic trailers include The Dark Knight and Interstellar. In recent years, media production companies have taken advantage of the rising use of social media to promote their movies, so the internet is the perfect place for advertisement. Also, one of the key aspects of good marketing is a quote. These quotes do not reveal much direct information about the plot, but rather give us a hint into the themes of the movies. Another great form of advertisement is through posters. Posters do not contain dialogue so they’re important due to their visual and aesthetic focus. The prime example is Moonlight's iconic piece. Trailers, advertisements, and posters all play a great role in the hype of a movie’s release.
Drama Example #1
The first great example of a movie that embodies the dramatic genre is Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. This movie follows 3 stages of the life of a gay and black man named Chiron in the city of Miami. Chiron lived a troubled youth in one of the tougher sides of Miami. He experienced constant bullying and conflict with others around him, including his own mother These are some of the most notable conflicts in the story. But, the most important battle is the one Chiron experiences with himself. Chiron is a closeted gay man in an area that is mostly surrounded by black people. His story is told through the use of beautiful lighting, dialogue that drives the story to other levels, and a soundtrack that completes any scene it is put into. The relationship between others and ourselves is what makes Moonlight such a drama classic.
Drama Example #2
A second great example of drama is De Palma’s Scarface. Scarface is known as one of the greatest gangster movies of all time. It narrates the life of Tony Montana played by Al Pacino. One of the key themes is relationship issues, but what truly changes the story is human greed. As a Cuban man in a new city, Tony will do almost anything to get by. Including dealing drugs, brutally killing others, and hurting the people he cares for most. Tony’s character can be described through the lighting and settings he is placed in. The dramatic lighting in the club scenes displays Tony’s chaos and evil inside of him. To add on, one’s personal office can tell you a lot about them, and Scarface did just that. Tony’s red carpet shows the blood spilled to get to the position he is in. His black furniture highlighted by gold shows the darkness he tries to cover up with money. Finally, the only pure color in his office is white. White signifies purity, but the irony is that the white in his office is only cocaine. What ties all of these details together to tell the story is the soundtrack. Tracks like “Intro Theme” create a euphoric and dark setting that matches perfectly with Scarface’s chaotic visuals. All of this is what makes Scarface such a fast-paced, dramatic, and meaningful story.
Other Drama Movies
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Parasite (2019)
The Irishman (2019)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Casino (1995)
Taxi Driver (1976)
