The Codes and Conventions of Crime and Action sub genres

The conventions of a film are what is usually used within a film, its what the audience expects to see for them to understand. For example at the opening scene of a film there are usually cresits and the film title, There is ususally an establishing shot of the location of the film. Codes are the signs used within a film to establish what type of genre and sub genre it is based on. Codes and conventions address the viewer on what type of film it is by using particular shot types, sound tracks and use of characters.

There are many conventions used within a crime sub genre. One type of convention is the use of a villain character, as well as a good character. It would ususally conatain a bad character steeling valuables and the good guys would try to stop them. Another type is the location establishment, this would be within a bank or safe where the valuables would be kept. Mise en scene is used as the type of props and costumes used would be guns, usually dark clothing for the bad character and a cop type cstume for the good character. This relates to the crime aspect as people commiting crimes would be likely to own weapons and destory anything or one who gets in their way.

Codes for instance like the use of camera work, there may be close ups of the characters to show their emossion as well as long shots to establish the location as well as what the characters are doing, if the bad character was trying to crack a safe we would have a long shot to show where they are and a close up of the safe and the characters face to show what is going on. Other types of codes are the use of the characters body lanuage, this allows us to see how the character is feeling for instance if they are walking up and down or figating it shows they are nervous and anxious about something. Music is also a type of code as fast paced music allows us to feel the suspence the character is feeling and makes us more engaged within the film. Codes and conventions work together to produce a film, without them the film wouldnt be as interesting or have a message to it.

A good example of a thriller and crime genre film is The Dark Knight. Throughout the film there are several uses of codes and conventions.  convention of this film is that the bank robbers are all wearing black costumes, showing that they're bad. The use of the joker masks is also important as criminals usually try to hide their identity so they wont be caught. We can also see them holding guns, this is usual as crminainls arent affraid to kill someone as long as they get what they want, in this case is money. Codes used within the robbery is the body language of the victims withn the bank, they are stiing on the floor with their hands up. This informs the viewer that they are terrififed of the robbers as they have weapons on their person. The body lanugage helps the audience to engage within the film and understand how the victims feel. Another code used is the camera work, we see a mid shot of one of the criminals breaking into the safe as it then shows us a shot of a victim being hit with a gun, to remind us that the general public is in danger. Another convertion is the fact that one of the good guys fights back, but trying to shoot the villains. This is something we'd expect to see within a crime film as it makes it more exciting to watch. The use of fast paced music create sespens and tension as the good guy fights back, making the audience feel on edge waiting for something bad to happen. Another convention is the use of the amount being stolen, many crime films are based aroung a large amount of valuables being stolen. Finally the real villain is revealed allowing the audience to understand that the man in the mask is the joker, and that he is the main villain within the film.