Media codes and conventions

(Kal Visuals, n.d.)

Whats a Code?

Technical and symbolic tools are used to construct meaning in media forms and products. Media codes may include the use of camera, acting, mise en scene, editing, lighting, sound, typography, colour, visual composition, text and graphics and paper stock for print.

Whats a Convention?

Codes

C - Camera

A - Acting

M - Mise en scene

E - Editing

L - Lighting

S - Sound

(VCAA, 2023)

Media conventions are rules or generally accepted ways of constructing meaning or organising media products. Conventions may refer to:

  • conventions of media forms and products: the rules and common practices for constructing and organising media forms and products

  • genre conventions: the rules that define genres are subject to debate and change, revealing cultural assumptions about the significance of media products; the type of audiences who consume media products; and practices of the media industries

  • narrative conventions: common narrative structures, such as character, character arcs and three-act structures.

Its common practice to use the mnemonic C.A.M.E.L.S to remember codes specfic to film:

(VCAA, 2023)

All descriptions from (ScriptClickCreate, 2024)

CAMERA

Camera techniques and qualities refer to how the camera is used to record the narrative. Below is a list of camera techniques used in film.

Film Format:

Camera also includes the format used for filming - 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, IMAX, Black & White, Colour, Video, Animation and Photography.

Camera Angle:

  • Low angle: camera is low looking up at the subject

  • High angle: camera is up high and looking down upon the subject

  • Tilted camera: camera is not square and is on an angle

  • Neutral: camera is neutral to the subject - not looking up or down

Camera Movement:

  • Panning: camera moving from left to right OR right to left

  • Hand Held: camera is held by hand and seems rough

  • Zooming: camera zooms in or out for dramatic effect

  • Tilting: camera moving from up to down OR down to up

Mis en SCENE

Mise en Scene is a french term that translates to 'staged'. It refers to everything we see within the frame. This includes: the set, costume, colour, props and overall lighting. It also refers to how these items are places within the frame. Nothing is there by accident.

Mise en Scene can help the audience piece together the story. It sometimes gives us clues as to where the story is going to go, as well as the genre of the film.

Lighting

Warm: Lighting that has warm yellow/orange tones.

Cool: Lighting that has cool green/blue tones.

High Key: When a scene is well lit and casts minimal shadows (if it was bright lighting we wouldn't see anything - sunglasses needed).

Low: When lighting is low and casts lots of shadows (if it was dark lighting we wouldn't see anything).

Naturalistic: This is the term to use when the lighting looks natural.

Hard: Lighting that creates harsh shadows

Soft: Lighting that is diffused, this can be achieved with soft boxes. 

Sound

Most sound is added during post-production. REMEMBER: All sound has been put there for a reason - it isn't an accident that you can hear crickets in the background or cars going past. There are two different types of sounds that you need to know:

DIgetic Sound: These are sounds that occur within the film world. This includes; characters talking to each other the sound of car breaks before the accident.

Non - Digetic Sound: These are sounds that are added, that the characters wouldn't hear. This includes; music, score, narrator commentary and sound effects added for dramatic effect.

Conventions

In this segment, Charlie Brooker points out the conventions of television news.

(Caudullo and Kelly, 2020)

(Wood, 2021, as cited in Caudullo and Kelly, 2020)

A convention is a generally accepted way of organising a text. Something that is common and consistent of the genre, text, or form.

Media forms, media products, genres and narratives all have their own conventions.

For example :

  • Television news conventions 

  • Journalist 

  • Weather report 

  • Sports report 
    Interviews 

  • News anchors 

If you need some further clarification on Codes and Conventions, here is an excellent overarching resource

(Caudullo and Kelly, 2020)

(ScriptClickCreate, 2024)

Acting

Facial Expressions: Facial expressions help the audience read the characters' emotions. Look at the actors eyes and what they are telling you. this is a clue to the emotions they are expressing to the audience

Body Language/Stance: How the actor is standing and the body language used can show the audience the characters feelings or thoughts. Are they standing tall? Are their arms crossed? Another key aspect to remember is that this actor was instructed by the director during the making of this film.

Body Shape: Each actor was hired to play a role based on the ideal body shape needed to portray that particular character. This can involve gaining / losing weight or becoming very fit. A clear example is Christian Bale dropping almost 30kg to play the role of Trevor Reznik in The Machinist (Anderson, 2004), and then gaining 20kg for his role in American Hustle (Russell, 2013).

Voice/Accent: How an actor uses their voice can give the audience a quick insight into their character's background and culture. It is very common for an actor to have a voice coach to assist them in mastering an accent. Have a think about your favourite actor and how many roles they have undertaken that required a different accent

EDITING

Decreased Time - (Collpased / Sped Up)
This includes scenes in films such as montages - we see a lot of quick shots of something that might have occurred in the story world over months and we the audience see it in a matter of minutes

Increased Time- (Expanded / Slowed Down)
This is when time is slowed down. This give the audience a moment to stop and take in what has just happened. This is a common edit technique when something dramatic had just happened.

Common editing types/terminology:

  • Cut: this is one of the most common edits, cuts from one shot to another. If a sequence has lots and lots of cuts this can be referred to as quick cuts.

  • Jump Cut : this technique is used when the subject is in motion and the camera stays in the same position. A subject is in motion and we the audience see the subject 'jump' forward.

  • Fade: there are a few fades. Fade in: Screen is black/white and slowly the image begins to appear. Fade out: Screen has the image and slowly begins to disappear into black or white.

  • Dissolve: Similar to a fade but instead of fading to black or white - the screen dissolves from one scene to another.

  • Wipe: The screen wipes from one side to another.

  • Split Screen: The screen has multiple frames in view.

  • Cross Cutting: multiple events are occurring at the same time and the edits keep cutting between these multiple scenes.

MediaKnite Codes and Conventions Booklet:

(ScriptClickCreate, 2024)

(BBC, 2010)

(MediaKnite, 2024)

(Kemp, 2021)

(Png Tree, n.d.)

References:

BBC. (2010). Charlie Brooker's How to Report the News - Newswipe - BBC Four. [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI

Caudullo, E. & Kelly, M. (2020). Codes and Conventions. Art Design Education VCE. https://artdesigneducation.wixsite.com/vcestudies/copy-of-media-production-process

Kemp, J. (2021). VCE MEDIA // codes + conventions. [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCWTIskzY4

Kal Visuals. (n.d.). Video Production. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/@kalvisuals

PNG Tree. (n.d.). Booklet Image. https://pngtree.com/free-png-vectors/booklet                                                    

Script Click Create. (2024). Media Conventions. https://scriptclickcreate.weebly.com/conventions.html 

Script Click Create. (2024). Media Codes. https://scriptclickcreate.weebly.com/codes.html