Codes and conventions Action Codes

Codes and conventions Action

Codes: Technical (camera shots & techniques)

Action thriller films often have a low lighting on the ‘evil’ characters to show the audience that these characters are the villains as showing them in a lower lighting reflects how little purity and sanity they have left. They have shadows on their face making them dark and mysterious portraying their inner thoughts an intensions through the characters physical appearance. Action thrillers have fast paced cuts between shots to keep the viewer engaged during the heat of the action also this makes the viewer feel a part of what’s about to happen. Action thriller's also have extreme close up shots of the characters faces to show their expression and their emotion when all the action and tense moments are happening.

Symbolic Codes

The characters often have blood or dirt on their body also ripped or dirty close to show the viewer that they have been close to the action and drama or due to crisis haven’t been able to return home to clean themselves up. The characters often start with clean, immaculate clothes and end the film with their clothes being scruffy and torn, which is a symbol for their situation – which usually can be quite desperate until the ‘job’ is done or their issue solved.

Written and Audio Codes

Action thrillers have fast paced and dramatic music to help emphasise the tense moments to create suspense and to match the action, this also builds excitement for the audience as they are enticed by the pace of the music as they remain hooked on the protagonists action packed triumph. Action thrillers often have music to suit the characters personality, e.g. when a villain enters the frame the viewer would hear dark music symbolising the character is ‘evil’ and vice versa when the main protagonist is on scene there will be up-beat or heroic music.

Diegetic: inside the film meaning all characters in the film are a part of this type of dialogue/music/noises - dialogue, action noises.

Non-diegetic: outside of the film only meant for the audiences ears genuinely – soundtrack, voice-over or sounded added into the film during the editing process.

KEY PARTS OF THE ACTION GENRE

- The films are usually 12-15 certificate to maximise youth’s chance of watching and enjoying action films.

- Can often be part of hybrid genres such as Sci Fi/Adventure/Romance to create more drama.

- Mostly made and distributed by major Hollywood film companies.

- Have high production value including CGI and other affects.

-fast pace editing is a key part to action films as they create suspense and tension.

- Predictable chain of events – cause and effect.

- Dramatic non-diegetic sound as this also adds to the tension and suspense of the film.

- More narrative action codes, like enigma codes as it allows the audience to engage and connect more also participate in solving the characters puzzles and dilemmas.

- Clear binary oppositions – good versus evil which is very typical of an action film because they’re clear right and wrong aspects.

- Audience identification/expectations.

- Romantic sub-plot usually the protagonist meets some form of partner usually of the opposite sex and will sacrifice anything to save and protect them, humorous dialogue – also the partner may be funny e.g. crime fighting partners usually policeman/detectives.

- Relationships with new technology (youth audiences).

- Use of close up.