Codes and Conventions of Drama/Fantasy Film

Codes and Conventions of Drama:

• Exhibits real life situations with realistic characters, settings and stories. 
• Portrays journeys of character development
• Intense social interaction
• Purpose of a dramatic story line is to move the audience emotionally
• Heart of drama is conflict
• Audience can relate to characters
• Structured with climaxes and anti climaxes to keep the audience emotionally attached
  

Examples of these codes and conventions in real media texts include the dramatic and emotional narratives of films such as Les Miserables and Titanic. The texts show although fictional and set in the past, non-fictional realistic situations and show how this effected the characters in the progression in their storyline such as the romance in Titanic.

Codes and Conventions of Fantasy:

• A typically younger target audience, however may have a older appeal.
• Emotive, often romanticised narratives
• Hyper real, idealised represenations
• Saturated primary colours, vibrant colours and imagery
• High key lighting
• A particular close attention to post production i.e. effects and CGI
• Aspirational, escapist characters, often undertaking a quest
• Positive narrative outcomes
• Propps character roles can often apply
• Often set in the past or an imagined time. 

Examples of these conventions in real life media texts include Lord of the Rings and Pan's Labyrinth which particularly use CGI to create supernatural and other-worldly settings and characters. Both protagonists of both films, Ofeilia and Frodo, both go on a quest to save themselves or the world they live in. The other characters in the films both fit Propps character roles, such as the Pan who plays the role of the magic helper.