Week 1: Genre Research

Genre Research: Drama   

 

Camera Shots, Angles, Movements, Focus & Framing 

In the opening scene of It Ends with Us, directed by Justin Baldoni, the camera focuses closely on Lily. There are many close-up shots of her face, which help us understand her emotions. The background is often blurry (shallow focus), which makes Lily stand out and shows that she feels alone. The camera moves slowly with gentle tracking shots, creating a calm and serious mood. Most of the shots place Lily in the center of the frame, showing that the story is about her journey. Wide shots of the city also appear, making the setting feel big and showing that Lily is starting a new chapter in her life. 

Editing Techniques 

The editing in the first five minutes is slow and smooth. There are not many fast cuts. This slower pace makes the mood feel emotional and thoughtful. The scenes flow naturally using continuity editing, so everything makes sense and feels realistic. The calm editing style helps set up the romantic drama genre and lets the audience focus on Lily’s feelings instead of action. 

Sound Techniques 

Soft background music (non-diegetic sound) plays during the opening, which makes the scene feel emotional and reflective. Music helps us feel what Lily is feeling, as when she's feeling down/sad they use slow classical music or when she is feeling happy, they use high tempo music. There are also natural sounds like city noise and footsteps (diegetic sound), which make the scene feel real. The sound is not loud or dramatic; it is gentle, which matches the serious and emotional tone. 

Mise-en-Scène (Lighting, Costume, Setting, Props) 

The lighting is soft and natural, which creates a warm but slightly sad feeling. Lily’s clothes are simple and realistic, showing that she is a normal, relatable person. Her makeup looks natural, which adds to the realistic style of the film. The city setting represents change and new beginnings. The overall look of the scene feels calm and emotional, which matches the themes of love, growth, and difficult relationships. 

Production & Distribution Information 

It Ends with Us is based on the novel by Colleen Hoover. The film stars Blake Lively as Lily and was directed by Justin Baldoni. It was produced by Columbia Pictures and Wayfarer Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The budget was about $25 million, and the movie made over $300 million worldwide, showing that it was very successful. 

Opening Credits 

The opening credits use simple and clean fonts. The text is usually light-colored and placed neatly on the screen. The style is not flashy or animated, which matches the serious and emotional genre of the film. The soft colors and simple design show that the story will focus on relationships and feelings. 

Awards/Nominations & Why I Chose This Film 

The film received a lot of attention because it is based on a very popular book. It became successful at the box office and sparked many conversations online. I chose this film because it mixes romance with serious topics about relationships and personal strength. This makes it a good example for analyzing camera work, sound, editing, and other technical elements in a modern romantic drama.