Concentration: Film Studies

Title of Project: Crossover Teen Drama Movies: The Changing Characterization of Teenage Girls in Contemporary American Movies Title of Production: Inside-out screenplay

Inspiration Behind the Project:
In contemporary American teen movies, there is a tendency for teenage girls to be portrayed as lost, depressed or not capable of taking their lives under control. However, so-called “crossover teen drama movies” have provided an alternative view by combining several different genres in one movie, developing more complex characters and story lines.
The bright characterization of a strong female lead character in a contemporary crossover teen drama movie is Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series (USA, 2012, director Gary Ross) that represents a fighter, a teen girl in charge of her own life even when it seems almost impossible. Katniss Everdeen is an outstanding example of how powerful, independent and at the same time caring and loving a lead female character in a contemporary American crossover teen drama could be.