Codes and Conventions:

Heroic character:

Westerns:

The sorts of things you’d expect to see in a western film would be the obvious... the cowboys, deserts, guns, horses, tumble weeds etc. These are all used for a reason, that reason being that if you saw these things in a movie you’d immediately know and class it as the specific genre. Westerns usually have codes of honour, the law or personal, direct and private justice.



Villian male character:



Mise en scene: Each character has certain codes for example, you could easily tell the difference between a good and bad character, as the use of colour gives of the characters specific role, for example, the heroic character is usual handsome and wears a white hat is usually clean shaven, wear practical light coloured work clothes, where as the villains are usually bearded or unshaven which gives the impression they are uncivilised and dirty, they wear typical cowboy outfits and are dressed in dark colours (black hat) which increases and heightens the evil and sinister connection for the audience. The lighting is very bright to connote the temperature, and the use of tumble weeds gives the impression of loneliness, and dryness. They are usually set in lonely isolated forts, ranch houses or small frontier towns. 

 Close up of character before fight scene.



long shot of heroic character



Camera shots and editing: there are usually tracking shots to track the characters riding on the horses, to create excitement and acceleration. Extreme close up of the characters eyes, guns and fingers using crosscutting with the opposition to create tension, show there expressions and suspense. Also the use of a extreme long shot from the oppositions point of view looking down a empty pathway to see their enemy, which again creates tension and suspense.

Sound- the main soundtrack is usually dramatic old fashioned instrumental music to suit the western theme and to give excitement or tension to a scene. Also the villain character is usually introduced with sinister music, to create tension and suspense and to connote the characters role.

Sci- fi:

Space setting

Science fiction films usually are set or themed around futuristic places or things, such as space, space craft, aliens, special powers or ‘end of the world’ situations where an average person gets chosen to be the hero of the moment and has to somewhat save the world or a group of people, who tends to make a big impact to the world etc. Usually fighting again villains who could be people or inhuman beings (aliens) who are set out to destroy ‘the world’. Films such as the matrix, star wars and war of the worlds are all sci-fi films that all contain these codes and conventions.



Neo as an ordinnary character

Mise-en-scene:  the main male characters in sci-fi films are usually very handsome and ordinary, yet have a major job to do or mission, for example Keanu reeves in the matrix, is an ordinary guy who gets chosen to play a massive part in ‘saving the world’ and the same with Tom cruise in war of the worlds, also with Hugh Jackman in X-men. These actors are specifically chosen to play the male heroic character as they are handsome and well known actors. The women in sci-fi films are unlike any other genre, they are strong, and fully capable to look after themselves, for example trinity in

matrix, and the female characters in x-men.  


Neo as the male heroic character, out to save the matrix world



The clothing worn is usually very futuristic, edgy, and usually black and tightly fitted to show their masculine figures. Props usually consist of futuristic “alien-like” (lazers etc). Scenes are usually set in again futuristic places, such as space, space craft etc to connote that they are isolated and different to any human being, usuallybecause they have special powers or a different appearance.               

 

Black leather suits(show strength

their masculinity.

Slow motion (dodging bullets)






Avatar - CGI  ( Computer generated images)

 

Camera shots/movements and editing: in science fictions films, camera angles can help establish unreal landscapes, situations and characters. Shots such as high angle and establish the location of the specific scene, which informs the audience to understand the wider/larger world in which the movie is set in (outer space) before using close ups to establish the different characters and smaller scenes. Shots like the Dutch angle (oblique) are slightly skewed and are tilted at a specific angle to convey strangeness, awkwardness to make the shots more edgy which can create a characters point of view or highlight the strange derangements of the character or action. Also the use of slow motion shots, “dodging bullets, weapons etc) are used to captivate the audience and to add more focus to the characters movement, which again adds tension and excitement to the shot. Also crosscutting and hand held camera movements and steady/smooth hand held camera shots are used. Tracking shots are used to involve the audience by following characters movements across a scene, which is useful in a fight or battle scenes where a lot of actions proceeds. Also the use of CGI is commonly used in science fiction films, to again add to the strangeness, un-humanlike scenes and characters.

Sound: the sound used in science fiction are usually high pitched, creepy and futuristic themed, the use of non-diegetic sound is used to create more of an atmosphere to create more excitement, for example the sharp noise of a bullet etc.

Action adventure:

The main codes and conventions for the action adventure genre is guns, explosions, chases ( car, helicopter, plane, foot and boat chases), fights ( martial arts, punch ups, shoot outs) heroic stunts and acts, a bombshell love interest between a strong male hero and a beautiful female (damsel in distress), the plot based on good vs evil, where the evil character tends to be stronger and better and has a master plan ( determined to destroy the world, steal money/treasure or to kill the hero character) which is the catalyst for the hero’s adventure. There’s usually a ticking clock scenario which creates and increases suspense and tensions. Comedy moments with the hero and the hero’s buddy/companion (captain jack sparrow and will turner “Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom”. Action adventure films – Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, The Dark Knight, Iron man, Spider Man, Incredible Hulk, Lord of the Rings, Rambo, Tropic Thunder etc.

Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his Companion Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)

Frodo Baggins ( Elijiah Wood) and companion Samwise-Gamgee (Sean Astin)

Mise-en-scene: Characters in action adventure films have to have a specific look to play a specific character, for example the hero is usually a strong, handsome, well known as an actor, caring etc, such as Orlando Bloom, Robert Downey Jr, Christian Bale, Tobey Maquir, Russell Crowe, and Mark Walberg etc who usually wear a superhero costume of outfit to show there masculinity.

        

Whereas the villain characters are sometimes foreign, older than hero character, not as attractive, usually wears long dark coats/cloaks etc, and sometimes have a scar on their face etc, to give a sense of violence etc for example The joker “ Heath Ledger”.to view more famous villain characters who have the “Scarred’ look go to link: www.listal.com/list/scarred-and-dangerous-gemmali

 The women in action adventure films are usually very vulnerable who tend to get held hostage in revenge to the hero character who usually is ‘in love’ with the female who are very attractive who tend to end up being a heroic character for example “ Mary Jane in the Spiderman films”. Action adventure films are either set on a deserted island or Caribbean, out of the ordinary, tropical, forest areas or in a busy American street/city. Lighting is used to symbolise the good from the evil, the use of weather to suggest characters feeling or mood.



Spiderman saving (damsel in distress) with "American street/city setting in the background"

Tropical rain forest setting, with dark lighting to suggest unease or danger in the scene.



Establishing shot to show scene (arena) and situation (fighting)

Camera movement/shots and editing: in action adventure films cameras are used to compliment what the audience are seeing, which creates the specific atmosphere that the director specifically wants. Establishing shot is used at the beginning if the scene to inform the audience of the scene and situation.



Close up of evil character to show
emotion.



Close ups are used to show emotion, usually on hero’s face when villain has done something to spite them ( kidnapped there love interest etc) the point of view and tracking shot is used in chase scenes to involved the audience to add excitement as it makes the audience feel like they are involved in the chase scene also. High angle vs Low angle is used to give a character a certain sense, which could be if look up a sense of power ( usually done with villain ) or a sense of vulnerability ( usually to hero or female character) which would be where the camera is looking down on to the characters. The editing is usually very fast paced to give excitement which involves the audience.


Low angle shot to show power and importance in characters.



Sound: a mix of diegetic and non-diegetic sound would be used in action adventure movies to emphasise the specific action scenes, to make things greater than they are. Orchestral music is usually played during action scenes and depending on what’s happening the music would be greater and louder to give more excitement to the scene.