CODES & CONVENTIONS

What are codes & Conventions? Codes are used to help created a meaning from the use of

signs from systems. They can also be split into two different groups: technical and symbolic.

- Symbolic shows us what’s below being shown like the setting of a scene to help the audience know what genre it is.

- Technical is the way equipment is used to tell the story in media text for example: the brightness of the film.

Conventions are the normal ways of accepting the ways of something that’s going on. There are conventions in anything produced through the media, such as the same camera shots and work, but conventions are also genre specific

Sound Soundtrack – Recorded sound element of

a film. Theme music/ tune – a recurrent melody

in the film. Sound affects – Sounds other than

dialogue or music made artificially. Ambient sound – buzz and/ or

surrounding sounds. Dialogue – sound.

Camera A huge range and variety of camera movements are used to

create videos and shots such as:- Tilt is when the cameras lens moves up or down constantly in

line. For example nodding to someone to agree with someone is tilting.

- Panning is moving the camera lens to one side or another. For example if you shake your head to disagree with someone, this is panning.

- Zoom is one of the most familiar camera angles to people as it can be used with most mobile phones now and is also used within the media. Its used to help make the subject of the frame appear to be closer or further, bigger or smaller for example it helps make people appear to be bigger than others in films when they aren’t in actual fact.

Mise-en-scene Mise-en-scene is very important as it helps put the storyline into

more depth and makes the music video become a lot more realistic and look more sophisticated.

The main parts of mise-en-scene which are used and developed into the storyline through the media are: Hair and makeup, colour, location, costume, lighting and props. These +are all very important that they are used properly as it takes all of these features to work and make the editing that’s also being used look more professional and realistic.

- Hair & makeup

Editing Each shot that is created needed to be edited in

so accurately and efficiently so it sinks in smoothly with the music making the video look more professional and sophisticated.

The amount you record is a lot more than how much you put into the clip as the editing cuts out most of the work that you create because it has to be so perfect and on point with the work that you’re creating.

Codes: The little boy is alone throwing rocks into the water showing that he is bored and has nothing else to do.

Conventions: He has a thick jumper on showing that it’s cold.

Codes: He is moving around singing on the streets not getting paid for it showing that he’s doing it because loves music and not because he wants to make money.

Conventions: The camera shows a lot of people around him telling us as an audience that he is a great musician and that a lot of people like to watch and listen to his music.

Codes: He is playing the guitar on his own in a public area showing that he loves music and wants other people to appreciate like him by listening to him.

Conventions: He is wearing just a T-shirt showing that the weather is quite nice and isn’t cold.

Codes: They’re all together performing together showing that they’re close mates who like to perform with each other.

Conventions: All wearing white set in a light toned room with a lot of lighting showing that they’re really confident and kind people.