Jocelyn's Media Studies Blog: Research - Technical Conventions for Teen Coming of Age Genre

To start filming the film opening, I have to understand the technological conventions of the teen coming of age genre. Here is the information I found:

Sound

Voiceovers are commonly used in coming-of-age teen films. The voice in the voiceover usually belongs to the main character/protagonist but can be any other character in the film. The soundtrack of a coming-of-age teen film features songs that are meant to convey a specific feeling to the audience and reflect the emotions or personalities of the characters. Dance/Pop music is included in scenes where the characters are happy and convey their carefree attitude about life. This is done to portray a euphoric feeling to the audience that the characters are feeling. Indie/Acoustic music is used during scenes where the characters are sad, wanting to add a deeper feeling to the feeling. Rock/Alternative music is often used to represent rebellion and excitement. Music included in the background of the scene is non-diegetic, but diegetic sounds are commonly used in scenes to immerse the audience in the setting. Diegetic sounds in coming-of-age teen movies are usually cars, radios, school bells, phones ringing, announcements, and talking/conversations in the school hallway. In the clip included below, the main character (Cher) gives an internal monologue/ voiceover that reflects her thoughts about her friend dating a guy in high school.

Cinematography

Coming of age teen films strive to make emotions the crucial point of the film because "coming of age" is a very personal, psychological, and moral growing experience. Close up shots are used to give the audience a clear view of the emotions on the character's face; they are specifically used to convey the growth and development of the character/characters and show the audience exactly what the character is feeling. Close ups of the main characters are one of the first shots shown in coming-of-age teen films. Push in camera movements are used to show the emotion of reply or reaction to something the character is seeing or heard. Two shots are used in coming-of-age teen movies, especially in films with themes involving relationships and virginity. The two shots show the audience the suggestion of the relationship between two characters and can also show the intimacy between the two characters. The screen grab below is from the film "Submarine", made in 2010, showing Oliver and Jordana kissing, showing the start of their romance and the intimacy between them.

Editing

Rhythm and pacing are used to hold the audience's attention and take their focus away from the editing of the film. Film makers' goal is to truly immerse the audience into the film and the acting and have them not noticed the editing. The film "Lady Bird" uses slow, reflective editing to show the main character's emotional journey. Cut away transitions are often used in coming-of-age teen films when the characters are in a scene with a big group of people. With cut aways, close-ups show the people and important objects in the scene. The video below is from the movie "The Breakfast Club", made in 1985. The context of the scene is John telling the rest of the group about his family life and does it through a demonstration. In the beginning of this clip, cut aways and close ups are used to show the reaction of the characters to John's "performance" and their emotions when they ask him questions and Andrew say that he doesn't believe John. A close up is also used to show John's cigarette burns, an important "object" or feature, from his father.

Mise en scene

   The fashion of a character in a coming-of-age teen movie says a lot to the audience about their development throughout the film. For example, in the film "Mean Girls", made in 2004, Cady (the protagonist) wears loose fitting and neutral color clothing. Later in the film, when she gets a makeover from "The Plastics", she becomes more feminine and stylish as she spends more time with “The Plastics.” By the end of the movie, when the main conflict of the movie is resolved, she is back to her casual style but with a hint of the girly and trendy she had previously. The change in her style subtly shows the reader Cady's progression as a character and how she changes as a person; this is common in other films. This is seen through the "makeover" trope in the coming teen movies. The makeover signifies the character gaining confidence and growing more as a character.

   Blocking is a tool used in performance that establishes power dynamics and relationships between characters. The positioning of characters/actors can communicate dominance, submission, intimacy, or isolation without dialogue. The shifting of these positions throughout the movies can reflect the changes within the relationships between the characters. This is seen in The Godfather (1972) when Michael ascends the new head of the family. Blocking can also be used to display intimacy or distance between characters. The distance between the characters mirrors their intimacy. This is shown in the movie "Lost in Translation", made in 2003. The blocking in the movie highlights the emotional distance they feel in their lives despite the connection they feel with each other. When the blocking shifts to them being closer together, it shows the audience the growing relationship and intimacy between them.

   The acting in a coming-of-age teen movie is essential to making the audience understand that the characters are teenagers, giving the movie a sense of authenticity. A way that film makers do this is casting child actors to play the role or getting an actor that conveys the emotions of a teenager convincingly. One film that casts child actors to play children is "Good Boys", made in 2019. The characters have a touch of innocence in their performance that produces scenes memorable to the audience. Films focused on growing up have a certain awkwardly sweet feeling. The difference in adults trying to portray teenagers is that their acting is based on an intense version of how a teenager would act. Actors in coming-of-age teen movies are meant to look effortless and organic while conveying the body language, subtle or dynamic gestures, of a teen/tween.