Codes and Conventions

Ciaran Emmett
Codes and Conventions

Codes and Conventions are small things in a film or TV genre which have meaning and helps to portray the
story.
Sport
Films that have a sports setting, event, or athlete that is central and predominant in the story. Sports films
may be fictional or non-fictional; and they are a hybrid sub-genre category, they often tend to be dramas or
comedy films and occasionally documentaries.
The first code and convention in sporting films there is always a sporting event (Image 1) and a sporting
athlete (Image 2), this is to display that the film is about sport and to make it more realistic as there is
usually well known athletes or sport events in these films which the viewer may know of and this may
persuade them to watch the film. There is also sporting narratives in sport films, these are usually
commentators commentating over the sport in order to portray the story to the viewer and keep them
informed on what is happening. Success is also a common code and convention in sport films as they
usually end in success for the athlete. (Image 3). Failure is also a code and convention in sport as in sport
films it usually shows a character that has nothing and keeps failing, however the athlete will finally become
successful and this makes it appeal more to the viewer as they have seen the athletes rise from failure to
success. Hollywood studios that produce Sport films also include the code and conventions of a utopian
view of the world which assumes that anyone who works hard and is determined will succeed.
Action
Action is one of the fiction-writing modes authors use to present fiction. Action includes movement, usually
dramatic as opposed to arbitrary movements such as standing up. The term is also used to describe an
exciting event or circumstance.
Action films have many codes and conventions such as weapons. This is used to represent violence and to
keep the viewer on their feet because it is action packed and unpredictable. (Image 4). Weapons also show
power and wealth because they are usually expensive to buy in real life. There are also lots of explosions to
highlight that there is lots going on and this creates an energetic feeling upon the viewer. The explosions
are usually in big well known buildings as this makes it seem realistic to the viewer and also shocks the
viewer that there has been an explosion in a famous infrastructure. Good vs. Evil is also a common code
and convention within the action genre as it gets the viewer involved as they often will pick a team, either
good or evil and this keeps the viewer engaged throughout the film. Usually the good team wins as this is
commonly the team the viewer prefers so this satisfies the reader. These films are also often set in big
cities as it makes the film more realistic as it is a real place and well known by many people so this helps to
engage the viewer. (Image 5).
Horror
Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the
audience's primal fears.
There are many different codes and conventions in horror films. For example there is a common use of
close ups, this is to display the characters emotion and to make it clear how the character is feeling to the
viewer. Also there is often an isolated location such as the woods, a forest, an abandoned building etc. this
is used to keep the viewer in suspense and unsure of what is going to happen next. (Image 6).
Furthermore, there is often an unseen antagonist, this is to strike fear into the viewer as there is a sense of
mystery which creates suspense for the viewer. Another code and convention is an unseen antagonist, this
adds mystery to the film and leaves the viewer in suspense. Low key lighting is also used in horror films as
dark colours are a connotation for death which relates to horror. The dark lighting creates a sinister effect
upon the viewer as it creates an unpredictable atmosphere for the viewer as it is dark and they cant really
see what will happen next.
Ciaran Emmett
Comedy
Comedy is a genre of film that uses humour as a driving force. The aim of a comedy film is to illicit laughter
from the audience through entertaining stories and characters
There are many different types of characters in comedy films. For example there are commonly idiotic
characters that are quite stupid and accident prone, this is to create humour for the viewer. Another type of
character is a smart character and they are sometimes socially awkward and sometimes say funny
sarcastic phrases, again this is to create humour for the viewer. Representation is also a common code and
convention of comedy films. This one of the most productive approach, analysis of character 'types' and
situations open up comedy films for student analysis. Comedy, like drama, depends on conflicts, in
particular between weak and strong characters. Most comedy comes from the success of the weak
defeating the powerful. The music used in comedies is happy upbeat music in order to set the tone and
create a happy and jokey atmosphere. It also makes sense to use this kind of music as sinister or slow
music would not set the scene very well for a comedy film.
Romance
Romance film is a genre wherein the plot revolves around the love between two protagonists.
Romance films are often aimed at a female audience as it is commonly the female audience who prefer
romance films. There is usually a boy meets girl scenario and this is very typical in a romance films as
most viewers watch this kind of film to see a happy ending between the two characters. (Image 7). Usually
the characters will go their separate ways in romance films due to an argument or disagreement but
afterwards the two will normally re unite. Sometimes a good looking, well-known actor will play the male
role as this makes the viewer want to watch the film in some cases. These films are usually set in an urban
environment such as a caf or a workplace, in which an encounter would be likely.
My Opening Scene
For my opening scene I will be using the sporting genre and I will be using the sport codes and
conventions. I will not be using a well-known sporting event as it would almost be impossible to gain access
to film at a quality football stadium. It would also be difficult to get lots of people in the stadium to make it
appear more realistic. Instead of a well-known sporting event I will be using a sporting location at
Beechwood Park football pitch as well as the Trinity Academy Halifax 3G football pitch as these are both
sporting locations which allows me to display that my film is about sport. I will also be using more than one
location to add a variation and to make the opening sequence more realistic as it would not be very realistic
if it was set in just one location I will not be using well known sport athletes for my opening scene so
instead I shall be using Jamie and I to act as sport athletes for this opening scene. I will use the code and
convention of success for the two athletes by portraying the two lifting trophies. The two athletes will start
off in Sunday league kits and towards the end of the opening scene they will be wearing professional
football team kits to highlight their rise to professional football and to emphasise their success. I shall also
use a commentator to portray the success as well as using the code and convention of sport narratives.
The commentator will commentate over the opening sequence to help describe what is happening to the
viewer. I will not be using well known commentators instead I will be using Lewis as the commentator as it
is still realistic because you do not usually see the commentator. I will not be using the code and convention
of failure as I do not have the time within the opening sequence to display the codes and conventions of
both success and failure so instead I will display success.
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Ciaran Emmett
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What are some common codes and conventions in sports films?

What are some common codes and conventions in action films?

Ciaran Emmett

Codes and Conventions

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