Codes and Conventions of Romantic Comedies

The genre of movies "Romantic Comedies" have a wide range of codes and conventions that usually appear in them, these codes and conventions define the romantic comedy genre.

Camera

The opening shot of most romantic comedies is an establishing shot of the location it is shot in, the camera is usually fixed and steady. The first shot is usually followed by a close up to introduce the main characters in the movie.

Editing

There isn't many instances of editing in romantic comedies, however there can be a cross cut to another main character of the movie, or from an establishing shot of the setting to a long shot of a characters home.

Sound

Romantic comedies almost always begin with a non diegetic soundtrack or score, it will usually be a strings instrument or a jazzy piece of music, it will be upbeat and light hearted. The diegetic sound will usually be quiet or muted until the shot changes to a shot of a character. Dialogue or a voice over will usually be used to introduce them.

Mise en Scéne

The mise en scéne of romantic comedies differs depending on where it was set. Those set in England play on stereotypes of British middle class people, however those set in America usually feature the stereotypes of a suburban person, or a businessperson. The lighting is usually mid key or high key, which gives a light hearted feel to the movie.