Romantic Comedy Film Creative Direction for Chinese Audiences

Abstract

This research aims to find creative directions for romantic comedy films for Chinese audiences using data analysis methods. The significance of this study lies in the long-standing trade and diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. Currently, China has opened its film industry to both domestic and foreign operators, allowing for greater freedom in film production. Additionally, Chinese moviegoers have shown an increasing interest in Thai films, which highlights the relevance and importance of this research. In this study, the researcher focuses on the scope of romantic comedy films since they contain content that aligns with the screening regulations of the People's Republic of China compared to other genres. Romantic comedies are accessible to audiences of all ages, prompting the researcher to select this genre for analysis. The research will follow these steps: 1) Review relevant concepts and theories, including Narrative Structure Theory, Camera Angle Theory, Image Size Theory, and Camera Movement Theory. 2) Collect and screen a list of the most popular international films among Chinese audiences from popular movie-watching and reviewing websites, resulting in a total of 20 selected films. 3) Analyze and summarize the findings. 4) Present the research results and recommendations. The research findings indicate that most films utilize the "Save The Cat Beat Sheet" narrative structure. In analyzing the theory of image size, it was found that most opening scenes begin with long or extreme long shots, which can attract viewers from the very first sight. The first meeting and falling-in-love scenes typically use close shots, but not too close, while the first meeting scenes often utilize longer shots compared to the falling-in-love scenes. The final scenes generally employ techniques similar to those used in the opening. Regarding camera angles, most of the 20 selected films primarily use eye-level shots, followed by high-angle and low-angle shots. In terms of camera movement, there is a focus on naturalism, presenting images that resemble human perception in everyday life. There is no use of acrobatic camera movements typical of action, sci-fi, or fantasy films. Those interested can study further details from the main content of this article. Additionally, this research concludes with recommendations on precautions for film production that comply with the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, as well as advice on selecting scripts that align with the current preferences of Chinese audiences. It is expected that this information will be beneficial for those creating romantic comedy films for Chinese viewers.