Code Convention Booklet - MEDIA

SETTINGThe time (time period) and place in which the film's story occurs,including all of the other additional factors, including climate (season),landscape, people, social structures and economic factors, customs,moral attitudes, and codes of behaviour.Setting is a vital part of the story telling within the narrative. It providesanswers and understanding to the audience. How a Director revealsthe setting is crucial when discussing this story element. For example; Isthere a train station on screen revealing the name of the city. Or doesthe Director choose to shoot the opening scene in a bustling, cold,windy, Manhattan city street in peak hour. Providing evidence to theaudience that this film text will be set in New York in Winter.The media language to include when discussing setting are as follows: Time period Location Climate / Season Landscape / City / Country / Sea / Land / Desert Culture / People Social and Economical status Moral attitudes or codes of behaviour15

MISE-EN-SCENEMise En Scene refers to the composition of everything visually within thephysical boundaries of the shot / frame. The way in which figures andelements are moved around within a frame can provide many effects.Mise-en-scène also includes the positioning and movement of actors on theset, which is called blocking. Mise En scene can also be described as a look orstyle of a film (for example gothic), a mood or atmosphere in a whole film oran individual scene (for example a threatening feeling).Mise en scene refers to the visual elements in a frame including:Set designThe look and the feel of the set can help establish audience expectationsabout the film. Set design is the setting of a scene, the objects (props) and thedecor. Props are often to use to provide clues to the audience aboutcharacters and storylines. Sometimes props reappear from scene to scenereminding the audience of it significance. Sometimes these props canbecome motifs in the narrative.Set design can be used to amplify character emotion or the dominantmood of a film, or to establish aspects of the character.LightingThe intensity, direction, and quality of lighting have a major effect on theway an image is perceived, including mood, time of day or night, seasonor atmosphere.Space & Shot SelectionThe representation of space affects the reading of a film. When acharacter fills a frame the audience can usually be assured that they area major character central or important to the narrative. Equal spacegiven to two actors within a frame would indicate equal importance inthe scene to these characters. Cramming the frame can have aclaustrophobic effectCostume & Make-UpCostume simply refers to the clothes that characters wear. Using certain colorsor designs, costumes in narrative cinema is used to signify characters or tomake clear distinctions between characters. Costume often gives importantinformation about characters, including their background, profession,attitudes, personalities, their state of mind or their role in the narrative. Forexample black or dark clothing often suggest evil (antagonist) while white orlight clothing suggests goodness (protagonist). Change in costume canrepresent an evolution of a character.16

EDITINGEditing creates the illusion that a film is unfolding naturally, without theintervention of the film-maker. Good editing is invisible with seamlessconnecting shots that create the illusion of continuity of time and space.There are numerous editing techniques:Cut – where one shot is cut to the next. Sudden cuts can produce surprise,horror, and disruption.Fade - where the image disappears into black and generally represents a brieflapse of timeDissolve - where a fade coincides with the gradual superimposition of a newimage and generally represents a longer lapse of timeWipe - where one image replaces another proceeded by a divisional linemoving across the screenThe fade, dissolve and wipe can be used to indicate the passing or expansionof time. The longer the edit techniques are can indicate more or less timepassed.Shot-reverse shot – is used to represent a conversation. The characters speakto each other appearing on opposite sides of successive frames, each lookingin the direction of the other. This is shot over a continuous sound track andedited together.Graphic match – shots are edited together in relation to how they visuallycorrespond with each other. Visual relationships are significant butvisual/aural relationships in editing are also very important this includes theoverlapping sound from one shot to the next with an image depicting thedialogue spoken.Crosscutting – is cutting back and forth between scenes linking stories orevents together or indicating events happening simultaneously.Timing - can be used to enhance the energy of the action, or to slow it down.Action sequences can take on greater drama if cuts occur within moments ofhigh action. For example if a car is about to crash, the viewer may see severalsuccessive and separate views of the same moment. A cut in a moment ofrelative steadiness can slow down action. A character deep in thought maybe shot from several positions in order to expand the moment and instillsignificance into it.Rhythm of editing is important. Many films have a rhythm throughout theirduration. The pacing and rhythm of the editing can dramatically affect singlescenes. Editing can increase or decrease the pace of the film. Quick edits isediting brief shots together before cutting to the next shot while slow editsallow shots to continue for a long time before the cut to the next shot.The filmmaker may choose to construct a steady rhythm by making all theshots approximately the same length. An accelerating rhythm may arise fromsuccessively shorter shots; a spasmodic, irregular rhythm may be produced bya combination of shots of widely different lengths.17

LIGHTINGLighting can define the space within a frame, separate foreground frombackground, create textures, mold and shape, reveal or conceal. Lightingcan be expressive – setting a mood or a look in a film. An entire film can belit in an expressive way. Thrillers or Film Noir is often dark and gloomy with lowkey lighting.Features of lighting: Intensity Source Direction ColourThe colour of lighting can determine the mood of a scene. Red light canemphasise danger or warmth; blue light can emphasise mystery or coolness.The intensity is how bright the light and how much of it is directed on a specificarea, character or object. Low key lighting exploits shadows creating a senseof threat or suggests romance, mystery or danger. For example if a face isonly partly lit with a shaft of light reflecting from the eye the effect is sinister.High key is lighting that is bright and can suggest happiness or be reassuring toaudiences that all is well. Low key lighting is usually expressive while high keylighting is realistic.Lighting can be used to emphasise particular elements, objects characters oractions within a frame. Framing with light can draw the audience’s attentionto one feature while obscuring others.The texture of light refers to how hard or soft the light is. Hard light createsclearly defined shadows and crisp textures and edges. Soft light createsdiffused illumination, blurs contours and gentler contrasts between light andshade.The direction of light can have an impact on a scene. For example backlighting from behind an object or character creates a silhouette so theaudience can only see the outline of an object or character or under lightingwhere the light is positioned below the object or character both these canproduce an ominous effect.Three-point lightingIn standard three-point lighting there are three main positions for the lights: Key light – the hardest and brightest, focused to one side of subject Fill light – softer, more diffuse light that is placed to the other side Backlight – placed behind the subjectDay for nightA lighting technique that involves shooting in the daytime to make it looklike moon light night.18

SOUNDSound falls into three categories:DialogueMusicSound effectsSound is important in a film’s narrative; it can provide powerful emotionalaccompaniment to a film’s high points; it enhances realism by reproducingthe sounds one would associate with the actions and events depicted visually,draw attention to a particular aspect of a shot, enhances audienceexpectations of what might occur and sound can be used as a transitionaldevice in editing with dialogue, music or sound effects carrying over from onescene to the next.In the moving image sound can come from only on of two sources. Either itcomes from inside the story or it is happening outside the story:Diegetic sound – Sound from within the story is called diegetic sound becauseit happens within the diegesis (the world of the story). This means that thecharacters and the audience must be able to hear the sound. Usually theaudience can see the source of the sound. Diegetic sound comes from theon-screen action that we observe and that the characters participate in.Nondiegetic sound – does not emanate from the story space. This is sound thatis imported to the on-screen action. Non-diegetic sound may contribute to thestory or it may build atmosphere or enhance the emotional power of thescene, but its source isn’t seen on screen. If the characters can’t hear it, it isnon-diegetic. Voice-overs and narration are non-diegetic sound.MUSICMusic in films is usually non-realistic and the audience rarely sees its source inthe frame. It is used to amplify the mood or atmosphere and conveys theemotional significance of a scene. Reference can be made to its:tempo/beat - how fast or slow the music isstyle – classical, rock, jazzvolume – how loud or soft the music is or whether the volume changes. Forexample when dramatic events occurs the volume of the music may increase.Adjectives to describe ingSpellbindingEnchanting19

DIALOGUEThrough dialogue important information can be revealed about the storylines and/orcharacters. Often a significant line of dialogue in the text can convey importantinformation about the narrative. It can provide a prediction of what may occur, helpidentify themes and assist in establishing or explaining a characters motivations oractions.NarrationConventionally the narrator of a film is usually the protagonist also audiences havethe tendency to believe that if a character narrates a film then the narrative is fromthat character’s point of view.SOUND EFFECTSSounds are added to improve the realism or impact of a scene or event.FOLEYAny kind of natural sound caused by movement or nature, which can be recorded ina studio. Any other sounds of this nature EG; the sound of engine of a car, which cannot be recorded in a studio are called sound effects. These are also added to thesoundtrack.SCOREThe musical component of a movie's soundtrack, usually composed specifically forthe film by a film composer; the background music in a film, usually speciallycomposed for the film; may be orchestral, synthesized, or performed by a small groupof musicians; also refers to the act of writing music for a filmAlso particular soundtrack has the ability to convey the emotional significance of ascene by helping the audience to identify with the character’s emotions. Music can‘feel’ for the audience by indicating when a powerful moment is occurring.Music can be used ironically by deliberately accompanying an imageinappropriately. For example a happy, upbeat song contrasted with a violent eventto make the violence seem more perverse.20

SPECIAL EFFECTSSpecial effects (often abbreviated as SFX, SPFX, or simply FX) are illusionsor visual tricks used in the film, television, theatre, videogame and simulator industries to simulate the imagined events ina story or virtual world.Special effects are traditionally divided into the categories of opticaleffects and mechanical effects. With the emergence of digital film-makinga distinction between special effects and visual effects has grown, withthe latter referring to digital post-production while "special effects"referring to mechanical and optical effects.Mechanical effects (also called practical or physical effects) are usuallyaccomplished during the live-action shooting. This includes the use ofmechanized props, scenery, scalemodels, animatronics, pyrotechnics andatmospheric effects: creating physical wind, rain, fog, snow, clouds,making a car appear to drive by itself and blowing up a building, etc.Mechanical effects are also often incorporated into set design andmakeup. For example, a set may be built with break-away doors or wallsto enhance a fight scene, or prosthetic makeup can be used to make anactor look like a non-human creature.Optical effects (also called photographic effects) are techniques in whichimages or film frames are created photographically, either "in-camera"using multiple exposure, mattes or the Schüfftan process or in postproduction using an optical printer. An optical effect might be used toplace actors or sets against a different background.Since the 1990s, computer-generated imagery (CGI) has come to theforefront of special effects technologies. It gives filmmakers greatercontrol, and allows many effects to be accomplished more safely andconvincingly and—as technology improves—at lower costs. As a result,many optical and mechanical effects techniques have been supersededby CGI.21

TYPOGRAPHYAn important design convention of print is typographical style.Typefaces communicate a variety of meaning for the audience.Typography organises text and creates meaning. It does this throughhierarchy, the use of fonts to emphasise some content over others.Hierarchy helps readers scan a document and understand therelationship between different sections.The best typography is aesthetically pleasing, invites readers into apublication and encourages them to continue reading while notdrawing attention to it-self. (Nelson Media, Jo Flack)It is important when exploring your concepts and ideas for your mediaproducts that you investigate the typography selected by the creatorand understand what meaning you are receiving by the choice oftypeface.Print production terms:Serif: a slight projection or decorative flourish finishing of aletter in certain typefaces.Sans Serif: Typefaces without serifs.Copy: The written material that will appear on your printproduct.Typesetting: The process of arranging and laying out copy.22

COLOURColour has a huge impact psychologically on audience both in printand the moving image. This media code is often referred to as theexplicit convention when reading any media publication or watchinga media text. Colour is often an element that a creator will rely on toconvey ideological meaning for the audience.Colour grading as an editing technique has a psychological effect onan audience’s reading of a narrative. By manipulating colour, thecreator suggests a preferred reading of the text. For example; Goldentones of Westerns and Grey wash tones for colder environments andlarge cities.In film colour is used to set the tone of the scene before any of theactors have even muttered a word of dialogue. Red denotes passion,power, love and danger. Pink signifies femininity, innocence, andbeauty. Yellow is associated with joy, naivety, and insanity. Bluesymbolises isolation and calmness.23

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VISUAL COMPOSITIONVisual composition specifically refers to the placement andrelationship of all the elements within the shot. For instance,two characters within the same shot can be shown as beingdistant in their relationship with each other if there is a largespace or object between them.Alternatively two characters who are in close proximity canbe shown to the audience as being in a relationship. Likewisea character can be represented as being powerful orauthoritarian if they are sitting at an office desk.Hierarchy between characters and objects is used tosuggest various things. Some artists rely heavily on visualcomposition to please the audience and ensure theyreceive the hidden messages they intended.The term composition means 'putting together' and canapply to any work of art from music to writing tophotography that is arranged using conscious thought. In thevisual arts, composition is often used interchangeably withvarious terms such as design, form, visual ordering, or formalstructure, depending on the context. In graphic design forpress and desktop publishing, composition is commonlyreferred to as page layout.25

TEXT & GRAPHICSText and Graphics are essential for representation andnarrative understanding. Typefaces are selected to ensuretheir typography is clean, consistent and easy to read.We all know that an image is worth a thousand words.Graphics make impact instantly. It is the creators job toensure that the appropriate images reinforce theappropriate message to the audience.The masthead, or title of your publication, is probably themost distinctive and important element of your printpublications cover. Magazines and Print publications willoften experiment with font type, size and weight and spacebetween the letters until they end up with something that ispleasing on the eye.Things to discuss when referring to text and graphics: Styles Fonts Body Text Masthead Space Visual composition Colour Hierarchy26

MEDIACONVENTIONSNarrative conventions are usually implied – that is, theyexist in the minds of the audience rather than beingexplicitly seen in the narrative. They are how audienceboth constructs and makes sense of the narrative.27

STORY PRINCIPLESTHE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STORY & PLOTWhile the terms ‘story’ and ‘plot’ are often used interchangeably, it isimportant to consider the differences between them. The story includes all the events of the narrative – those madeknown to the audience, and those inferred but notnecessarily revealed. The plot comprises only those events in a narrative text thatare revealed to the audience, including any added nondiegetic material such as special effects.Nelson MediaMULTIPLE STORYLINESMost narratives comprise multiple storylines or story arcs. These storylinesmay run parallel to, comment on, or intersect with the main storyline.They are designed to add depth and colour to the narrative bycomplicating the lives of characters, adding to the range of narrativepossibilities, illustrating a moral dilemma, providing a false lead,contrasting characters, situations or ideas or to provide relief to adistressing point.Concurrent storylines - where storylines run parallel to each otherInterrelated or interconnected storyl

Page 15 Setting Page 16 Mise-En-Scene Page 17 Editing Page 18 Lighting Page 19 & 20 Sound Page 21 Special Effects Page 22 Typography Page 23 & 24 Colour Page 25 Visual Composition Page 26 Text and Graphics Page 27 Media Conventions Heading Page 28 Story Principles Page 29 Opening, Development, Closure