Drama films & How they attract audiences

Due to the fact we are making an independent film opening I need to focus on doing research into Independent drama film openings which have been made in the past. Most drama films have a main character who is normally dealing with an illness or has a close family member or friend who is dealing with an illness. The film normally follows this character on their quest to deal with this problem and either overcome it or their journey to the outcome of the illness/problem.

Drama films tend to be very realistic and very relatable for most member of the audience, meaning that they draw in a large audience, most people go to watch drama film as they have either experienced what is happening in the film or know someone who has, audiences tend to find a sense of relief and pressure in watching drama films as it shows them that they aren't alone in their issues and that someone has previously experienced it as drama films tend to be based of true or similar real life events, This is an example of The Uses and Gratification Theory.

Examples of films which will be similar to our drama opening are films such as My Sisters Keeper (2009), Titanic (1997) and The Notebook (2004). All of these films attract an audience by having appealing relationships which people can relate to such as romantic relationships, family bonds and friendships. My Sisters Keeper attracts an audience by featuring cancer, a disease which a lot of people will be able to relate to as it is a very common, serious disease. Also the fact that it affects a child as opposed to an adult means that it will be very emotional, the film throughout tests the bonds and relationship between a family and also features the tragedy of the ill girls boyfriend dying, which is followed by her death, this large amount of tragedy means the audience will be greatly effected and also interested in the film.

The Titanic (1997) is based on a true story which is a very famous part of history, this alone will draw in a very big audience and make a lot of people want to come and see it. Also the main plot of the film is the followings of a love story between a wealth woman and a less fortunate male, this will be relatable in some respect to people in the audience and is also another example of The Uses and Gratification Theory as some people will watch this film to get pleasure out of the love story. Also because the male dies at the end of the film, it adds an aspect of tragedy to the film.