{"id":128971,"date":"2022-06-30T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=128971"},"modified":"2022-08-30T10:14:50","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T15:14:50","slug":"genre-breakdown-romance-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/genre-breakdown-romance-films\/","title":{"rendered":"Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Romance Films"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learn more about the romance film genre and the subgenres filmmakers use to tug at the heartstrings of audiences around the world.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Romance is everywhere; “Love really is, all-around” is probably one of the most famous romantic lines, thanks to the 2003 film Love Actually<\/a><\/em>. Why? Because it is 100% true that there’s no escaping love. From restaurants to park benches, from beaches to the Eiffel Tower, you will find yourself unknowingly, and maybe for some of us, unwillingly, surrounded by romance even when we are blissfully unaware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romantic love is a natural part of everyday life, so it may be the genre<\/a> with which filmmakers and audiences connect with the easiest. If this genre is naturally all around us, why not create a short film encapsulating love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The influence of early romance film is so strong in cinema that one could argue that the vast majority of movies include many elements of these early romances. And while the genre has evolved over the years and hybridized with other genres\u2014like drama and comedy\u2014the basic tenets of chance encounters, heartfelt passion, and complex love triangles remain strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, for those filmmakers looking to create romance films of their own, here are some basic romance film subgenres to study, incorporate and explore, along with some top tips to create a romantic feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Historical Romance<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Clark<\/a>
Gone with the Wind<\/a> is one of the most famous historical romance films of all time. (Image via AMC)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tracing back through literature, many of the central themes of the romantic film genre appear in historical romance novels (also called “Epic” romance) by the likes of Sir Walter Scott<\/a>, Honor\u00e9 de Balzac<\/a>, and Jane Austen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seen in stage plays, operas and all the way to modern film, these vast and epic historical tales have continued to hold romance as the main element of the stories, with notable examples including Gone with the Wind<\/a><\/em>, Titanic<\/em><\/a>, Doctor Zhivago<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> and the several iterations of Little Women<\/em><\/a> (most recently brought to life by the brilliant Greta Gerwig<\/a> in 2019.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research is key if you want to create an accurate historical romance. The era is normally an integral part of the storyline, so make sure you have read up on your history! This means that the time period will reflect how characters interact with each other and how the romance will unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hit up thrift stores for historical clothing and costumes that accurately depict your characters. Your script and story will depend on your chosen location and your ability to re-build a bygone era. We’ve explored this topic in depth and even have some low budget solutions for shooting a period piece<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re on a budget, sticking to two or three different simple locations will help keep costs down. Adding a diffusor lens will typically allow you to diffuse and alter light if you wish to create a hazy look, which could complement your chosen historical era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good news! You can get diffusor lenses that are budget-friendly. Check out our article on diffusion filters<\/a> to see if they could be a good fit for the mood you’re trying to set with your cinematography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Color correction is also key to recreating a certain ear’s look. So, you can try out some free LUTs<\/a> or even make custom grades using color grading software and plugins<\/a>. Even some of the built-in features of popular NLEs will help you set the tone of your period-piece romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Regency Romance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bridgerton<\/a> is one of Netflix’s most popular Regency Romance shows. (Image via Evening Standard)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most popular genres at the moment is Regency Romance, set in the period of the British Regency (1811-1820) or early 19th Century. Bridgerton has catapulted the Regency era onto our 21st-century screens, making it Netflix’s most successful English language show on an opening weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Recency Romance subgenre is known for its vibrant colors, elaborate garments, and charismatic characters. These factors all contribute to audiences falling quite literally in love with the romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one wishes to create a regency-inspired romance, one needs to pay attention to the aesthetics and business of the short, flamboyant rise of the upper class. Head to an area dripping in beauty with lots of greenery and fairy-tale-like surroundings. Gardens and parks (permission permitting) are good places to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can’t make it to London, you can use stock footage<\/a> to effortlessly provide your audience with establishing shots of stellar gardens, castles, and British countryside visuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styling your interior is also key. A gorgeous chaise lounge adorned with lace and perched on an intricate rug can help create a romantic vibe with a touch of (upper) class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image via MR.Yanukit<\/a><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Don’t forget to focus on color. Makeup with bold feminine hues will create a strong sense of female empowerment, along with vibrant and eclectic gowns<\/a>. Pick colors that represent personalities and compliment your flirtatious script, and allow the love to flow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the same tips for the Historical Romance genre apply. Whether you choose Regency or another historical era to create your romance short, remember that Regency romances focus more on the dialogue and action to carry the storyline. Historical Romances tend to use the era as an integral part of the plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Romantic Drama<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Casablanca<\/a> is a classic example of the romantic drama with complex themes. (Image via Warner Bros.)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The romantic drama is one of the two prime subgenres of romance (the other being the romantic comedy, which we’ll discuss below). Romantic dramas are a more complex subgenre. Romantic dramas dive deeper into the conflicting emotions of romance and relationships, dealing with other issues like tribulations, death, separation, infidelity, and the introduction of love triangles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some famous romantic dramas include cinema classics like Casablanca<\/a><\/em>, The English Patient<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> and Marriage Story<\/a><\/em>, all of which complicate the eventual resolutions of their romantic dramas with the two stars ending up together (or apart) at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a romantic drama is all about the writing, so you’ll need a decent script to convey the characters’ emotions. If the script is good, you are onto a winner. Our tip for creating a compelling romantic drama is to pour your heart into the writing<\/a>, specifically the dialogue<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your script is solid, there are limitless ways your film could play out. Some scripts will require multiple locations, while some can be shoot in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with any production, the more locations you decide to work with can make your film become more and more expensive. Check out these tips for finding low to no-budget locations<\/a>. Romance dramas tend to be shot in a very straightforward fashion without much need for effects of special camera moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Romantic Comedy<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It Happened One Night<\/a> is one of the original romantic comedy breakouts. (Image via Columbia Pictures.)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the other side of the genre, we have the highly popular subgenre known as the romantic comedy. Filmmakers and audiences alike discovered early on that laughter and love make great on-screen partners. So, rom-com quickly became one of the most popular film genres, launching the careers of many talented actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Classics in this genre include Clark Gable<\/a> and Claudette Colbert<\/a> in It Happened One Night<\/em> to Marilyn Monroe<\/a>, Tony Curtis<\/a>, and Jack Lemmon<\/a> in Some Like It Hot<\/em><\/a>. Modern day examples include Kristen Wiig <\/a>and Chris O’Dowd<\/a> in Bridesmaids<\/em><\/a>, Constance Wu<\/a> and Henry Golding<\/a> in Crazy Rich Asians<\/em><\/a>, and the all-time-greatest full of stars, Love Actually<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n