Genre in our Opening

 The general genre of our movie opening is a romantic drama, also with elements of coming-of-age. We definitely achieve the mood and tone of a movie of such a genre through several different techniques and methods. Here's a few examples of how my group achieved this throughout our project.

For one, there is the romance element of this film. Obviously, this story centers around the love story between James and Betty. It is about how a boy can break a girl's heart, even if they are madly in love. James' constant attempts at winning Betty back shows his love for her and might be seen as romantic by many. I feel that if this was a full movie, Betty and James would get back together. This just shows how if love is really meant to be, it will find its way back to each other, despite several hardships. On a smaller scale, the relationship between August and James is also quite romantic. It shows the thrill of an illicit summer fling and also the pain of unrequited love. Love and romance is definitely a big theme in this opening. 

Next, there is the most obvious genre, which is drama. If there is one thing this film opening is, it's dramatic. From the intense piano music in a dark room to the over-the-top door slam, Betty and this opening are both pretty dramatic. Which makes sense, since the story centers on the greatest betrayal and heartbreak a teenager in love can go through. The intense arguing between James and August also displays how drama is a genre in the movie. Every single character is going through their own struggle, some dealing with it better than others. Desperation and pain from the protagonists gives the film its dramatic element. 

Finally, there is definitely some coming-of-age in this movie. All of these characters are still teenagers, which can be the most strange, confusing time in a person's life. All of the protagonists are going through their own story arcs, and learning from their experiences and mistakes. It's all part of growing up! For example, James made a horrible mistake due to immaturity and stupidity. He regrets his decisions and wants to do right by Betty. In Betty's case, she is going through a horrible sadness and pain. She must learn to navigate this and decide what is best for her. All of these are common traits seen in a coming-of-age movie.