Codes And Conventions Of an Action Crime Thriller

Our film trailer idea will be a hybrid genre which will consist of codes and conventions from an action film, thriller film and a crime film. From researching the codes and conventions of these genres we will then take codes and conventions and try and use them within our film.

Action Film Codes & Conventions:

·         12/15 certificate, maximising youth audiences

·         Often hybridised with other genres

·         Major Hollywood studio produced and distributed

·         High production values including CGI FX. Fast paced editing

·         Classic Hollywood 3 act narrative structure

·         Predictable chain of events – cause and effect

·         Single stranded, linear, closed narrative

·         Dramatic non-diegetic sound

·         More narrative action codes than enigma codes

·         Clear binary oppositions

·         Star Marketing: Audience identification/expectations – typical actors associated with the genre

·         Relationships with new technology (youth audiences)

·         Use of close up/Insert shots/High Key Lighting

·         Dominant representation of gender

Thriller Film Codes & Conventions:

·   12/18 certificate

•       Often hybridised with other genres
•       A mixed production genre independent as well as some Hollywood studio production
•       Some use of CGI FX, fast editing as well of use of slow mo
•        Usually have twist (not always complying to the typical Hollywood 3 narrative structure)
•        Predictable chain of events- however have twists within
•       Star Marketing: Audience identification/expectations – typical actors associated with the genre
•       Common chase scenes etc

       ·    Dominant representation of gender: male/female action hero

       ·    Use of montage editing to show fast paced parts of the film

       ·    Low key lighting – creating moodiness

       ·    Typical use of urban locations – cities etc

Crime Film Codes & Conventions:

·         12-18 12/15 certificate, maximising  audiences

·         Typically kept as just the specific genre however can be hybridised with genres such as dramas

·         Commonly Hollywood however Crime genres have been made Independently

·         Very little CGI – use practical effects within actual scenes to make it seem more realistic

·         Commonly use the Hollywood 3 act narrative

·         Predictable chain of events – with some character twists

·         A mixture of Star marketing, however sometimes includes actors on the rise

·         Low key lighting to fit in with the scenes  as well as to isolate the characters

·         Normally includes either a robbery or murder – with relation to the police

·         Other crimes focus on Inspectors – E.g Sherlock Holmes