In order for us to get a feel for this genre we looked back at previous films which we had watched to get a feel for the types of characters, miss-en-scene and the themes before focusing specifically on the opening sequence.
TYPICAL CONVENTIONS WITHIN A CHICK FLICK.
CHARACTER
The character- The Protagonist
Personality
 |
| Blonde protagonist, centre, close knit friendship group, well dressed, pink-dominant colour etc..... |
- popular
- feared
- followed
- popular boyfriend( possibly football team captain)
- close knit friendship group
- The possibility of her being a cheerleader
- rich
- lavish house
- Only child
- Fashionable
- designer labels
- Loud
- Self-centered.
Look
- Blonde
- Usually white
- 'Perfect' looking
- Skinny
- 'Perfect' smile
Within the Chick- flick genre- especially within school based films- there is often the challenging character/ the 'under dog' who threatens the popular girls perfect life. To the popular girl she is the enemy however to the audience she is often seen as the hero of the situation and after changing the social dynamics becomes the protagonist.
The character- The underdog
Personality
 |
| Underdog, less makeup, causal clothing etc... |
- Nice
- Sweet
- Charing
- Friendly
- Smart
- Less Sporty
- Perhaps considered the nerd
- Quieter than the protagonist
- Much smaller social group
- Less concerned with appearance
- Less well known with in the school
- Often has a crush with the popular girls boyfriend- out of her league
Looks
- Simpler looking
- Much more realistic appearance of modern teenagers
- Darker clothing
- Brown haired
- Still pretty
TYPICAL THEMES
 |
| Wild Child-Friendship Growing up Education Love Lies |
 |
| Education Power Appearance |
LOVE
POWER
LIES
TRUTH
FRIENDSHIP
APPEARANCE
EDUCATION
GROWING UP
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| School uniform- adapted to girls style school bags books make up etc.... |
TYPICAL MISE-EN SCENE
Signifiers of youth- school books, school bags etc...
school uniform
Modern Fashion sense- adopted for the character
Pink colours- stereotypical view of teen girls
TYPICAL EVENTS
 |
In Mean Girls 2 Jo(left) is new to
school with her controversial style
and opinions she changes the dynamic
of the school. However as she soon
becomes a spiting image of the
previous plastic she loses it all
before winning back her friends and
the boy.
|
- The protagonist is the popular girl of the school
- A New girl disrupts this
- Changes the balance of the school
- The New girl then looses control
- Often replicates the ways of the old popular girl
- However turns it around at the end
- Wins her love interest
- Often everyone is happy with there new character roles
RESULTS-After doing this research we established the basis for our chick flick- PRETTY POPULAR
However we did not just want to replicate the classic chick flick genre. We wanted to use conventions as a basis for our film so it was easily recognisable but use challenges to reinvent the classic genre.
Characters
Disruption- Scarlett entering and changing the make up of the school
New Equilibrium- Lauren finding her new place within school
This theory is relevant as it provides a basic storyline which you can adapt to suit the genre. Furthermore it recognises the idea that a 'new equilibrium' can be formed- which is what our storyline focuses on.
However we did not just want to replicate the classic chick flick genre. We wanted to use conventions as a basis for our film so it was easily recognisable but use challenges to reinvent the classic genre.
Characters
- We liked the typical appearance of the main characters as we felt that they are easily recognisable and the audience would be able to easily relate to them. However we wanted to change the twist within the film. Usually within this genre the bad girl loses out to the good girl- good triumphing evil. In our film we wanted bad to triumph good. In our film Lauren is the pretty popular girl. However unlike many other protagonists Lauren is genuinely friendly and kind. She is very modest with a group of friends and the perfect boyfriend.
- Lauren's status in the school however is quickly lowered as the new rebellious Scarlett joins. To many Scarlett appears kind and loving but Lauren knows that secretly she is attempting to ruin her life and role within the school.
- The focus of the film is the contrast between the two characters and how Scarlett manages to change the social structure within the school.
- The plot of the film focuses heavily on Todorvo's Narrative Theory.
- Todorvo's Narrative Theory is that there are 3 stages within a film-the equilibrium- when everything is 'normal, a disruption-something/one disturbs the normal routine-and new equilibrium- when a new normal is formed and the disruption has been acknowledge.
- How we applied this theory:
Disruption- Scarlett entering and changing the make up of the school
New Equilibrium- Lauren finding her new place within school
This theory is relevant as it provides a basic storyline which you can adapt to suit the genre. Furthermore it recognises the idea that a 'new equilibrium' can be formed- which is what our storyline focuses on.
STYLE OF OUR PIECE
Bright
Pink
Girly
Quick
Fast pace
Glossy
Block buster
St.Trinian's
FILM TITLE
The title of our film was very important as it was the first thing that attracts an audience. In order to decide on the title we looked at past titles from similar genres/styles.
- FAST GIRLS-Directed by Regan Hall
- A simple title
- Easily recognisable
- Set up themes of the film
- Allows room to easily market the film
- MEAN GIRLS
- Simple title
- Easily recognisable
- Suggest the on-running themes throughout the film
St.Trinian's
- Clear reference to the school which is used in the film
- Lacks interest- without the cover photo it subject
- Easy marketing- USP British boarding school, classic English Stereotypes
Because of our idea of contrast and spilt screen we originally wanted two contrasting titles. We then came up with Pear Shaped. We initially thought this would be a good title as it also brings up the idea of appearance but then discarded it as it distracted from the real theme of the film. We then came up with PRETTY POPULAR. we decided on this title as it involved to of the main elements of the film and allowed our audience to focus of the storyline. .
- Lacks insight into the film
OPENING SEQUENCES
In order to see what was conventional within an opening sequence we did research on previous chick flicks to see what was commonly included. From our research we found out that the title is usually placed at the end of the sequence, titles are placed evenly throughout the sequence, there is a select list of people who appear in the opening credits-such as director, main actors etc-enigmatic features and usually establishes the protagonist.
In order to fit with our genre we replicated many of these conventions.
Screen Shots from our opening sequence
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| TITLE AT THE END |
SET LIST OF PEOPLE WHOAPPEAR
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| ESTABLISHED PROTAGONIST |
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