GCSE Media Exam: Action Adventure Films Terminology Sheet

Q1: Genre
Term
Genre

Definition
A type / form of media texts that
has specific conventions.

Conventions

The typical / common features of a

media text that identifies it as
belonging to a specific genre.

Sub-genre

A secondary type / form of media

text that relates to the main genre
but has a set of specific
conventions.
A film that mixes two or more
genres / sub-genres together.
Certain signs/codes/conventions
that reoccur in every genre. An
audience recognise these signs in
that particular genre.

Hybrid
Generic
Signifiers

Example / Effect
Audiences quickly learn to identity
features of a genre and make
preferences based on generic
conventions.
Conventions can be shown through
camerawork, editing, sound and miseen-scene. Example: conventions of a
music video lots of close ups, fast
paced editing in time to the music,
live performance.
Genre = action adventure
Sub-genres = thriller, quest,
swashbuckler
Could mix a quest and sci-fi together
Car chase in an action film

Q2: Media Language: Camerawork

Term
Establishing
shots
long shots

Definition
A long shot or extreme long shot
used at the beginning of a film
sequence
A shot where the complete subject
is shown in an environment

mid shots

A shot of the subject from the

waist up

close ups

A shot of an important part of the

subject

extreme close
up
low angle shot

A very close shot of an important

part of the subject
A shot looking up at the subject

high angle
shot
canted angle
aerial shots
tracking shot
steadicam

A shot looking down at the subject

Camera angle is not straight / level
but at a diagonal angle to the
subject
A shot taken from a plane /
helicopter / looking down on the
scene
A shot where the camera moves
along with the action
Steadicam is a brand of camera

Example / Effect
Creates a sense of place / setting for
the action of the film
Shows the subject in their
environment; gives a sense of
setting / relationship with the setting
Focus on subjects body language and
some of the setting; can be a two shot
(two actors in shot) this shows the
characters relationship
Draws audiences attention to
important detail or reveals emotions /
reactions of a character
Very dramatic; can be uncomfortable
for viewer.
Creates sense of subject being
powerful, in authority; viewer feels
weak / powerless.
Creates sense of subject being weak /
powerless and viewer being powerful.
Creates a sense of chaos /
surrealism , out of the ordinary
setting.
Gives a sense of the size and scale of
the setting
Gives a sense of involvement with the
action; sense of speed
Gives a sense of movement and

Hand-held
camera

stabilizing mount that

mechanically isolates it from the
operator's movement. It allows for
a smooth shot, even when moving
quickly over an uneven surface.
A shot taken from a boom looking
down on the scene
An unsteady shot taken with a
hand held camera

Point-of-view
shots

Camera shot is from perspective of

a character

Shallow focus

Shallow focus is a technique

incorporating a small depth of
field. In shallow focus one is in
focus while the rest is out of focus.

crane shots

focus pulls

Where the camera changes its

focus from one object in the shot
to another object

involvement with the action

Gives a sense of the size and scale of

the setting
Creates sense of viewer being present
in scene; often used for 1st person
views
Viewer sees the scene through the
eyes of a character; creates a sense
of empathy / sympathy with the
character
Shallow focus is typically used to
emphasize the importance of one
object / character over another part of
the shot e.g. another character,
object or background which is out of
focus.
Can show a change in importance of
an object / character or a relationship
between two objects / characters

Q2 Media Language: Editing

Term
Shot/reverse
shot

Non-continuity
editing
Crosscutting

Fast-paced
editing
Transitions:
dissolve, wipe,
fade

Post-production
effects.

Definition
Where shots moves between two
characters often an over the
should shot is used to shot one
character talking to another; this
shot is then reversed to the
second character
When the shots edited together
are not chronological (not in time
sequence); often a montage
(series of images)
Where the shots cut between two
or more narratives (storylines)
taking place in different locations
at the same time
When shots are on screen for a
short amount of time
Dissolve = one shot fades into
another
Wipe = one shot is wiped over by
another
Fade = a shot fades / in or out to a
black or white screen
Any visual effects e.g. changes in
colour, CGI

Example / Effect
Shows a conversation between two
characters; effective at showing
characters reactions to what is being
said.
Can create a sense of chaos, action or
confusion
Builds tension / excitement

Builds tension / excitement

Can indicate the passing of time, a
flashback, a change of location or
time.

Creates drama / excitement

Q2: Media Language: Sound

Term
Music

Definition
Any instrumental / vocal sound

Example / Effect
Used to create atmosphere / tension

heard
Synchronous
sound

Synchronous sound: Synchronous

sound includes all noises whose
origins can be seen on-screen: in a
"two-shot" conversation between two
lovers you simultaneously see their
lips flapping and hear the words they
speak. In a bar room brawl you see
and hear the chair crash over the
cowboy's head

can complement the narrative or go

against it.
This creates a realistic scene that the
audience feel a part of. Focus on
what synchronous sound we hear and
why it is important.

Asynchronous
sound

Asynchronous sound is any noise

whose origin you can't see: that
gunshot in the dark that almost hits
the hero; the train whistle off-screen
signifying that the two lovers must
break their embrace as one leaves;
the anvil whose rush of air we hear
just before we see it hit the Coyote;
and the love song that swells as the
lovers kiss.

This creates drama / tension as it can

suggest forthcoming events / danger.

Diegetic sound

Sound that is heard on the set.

Non-diegetic
sound

Sound that is added during editing

e.g. sound effects, music, voice
overs
Sound that is added during editing
e.g. tyre squeals in a car chase
Sound bridges can lead in or out of
a scene. They can occur at the
beginning of one scene when the
sound from the previous scene
carries over briefly before the
sound from the new scene begins.
Alternatively, they can occur at
the end of a scene, when the
sound from the next scene is
heard before the image appears
on the screen.
A spoken voice added during
editing

This creates a realistic scene that the

audience feel a part of.
This can add to the realism and / or
drama of a scene by enhancing the
sounds we hear.
Adds to atmosphere of the film.

Sound effects
Sound bridge

Voice over

Acts as a continuity device can link

scenes

Can provide a commentary on the

action, act as a character
commenting on a scene ( a character
commenting on scenes from their
past)

Q2: Mise-en-scene
Term
Lighting
(especially lowkey lighting)
Location/set

Definition
The amount of light used in the
scene; also the direction of the
light. Low key lighting = darker
scene; high key lighting = brighter
scene
Where the scene takes place.

Costume and
make-up

The clothes and appearance of the

actors; can create special effects.

Example / Effect
Creates atmosphere; can highlight
important objects in the scene.

Can give messages about the plot or

character.
Can say a lot about a characters role,
status, wealth, importance, etc

Props
Casting and
performance
style
Blocking (the
composition of
elements within
the shot).

Important object in the shot.

What sort of person is chosen to
play a specific role in the film; how
they play that role through their
speech and actions.
Where the actors are positioned in
the shot how close or far away
from the camera they are; who /
what they stand near.

Can say a lot about a characters role,

status, wealth, importance, etc
Can say a lot about a characters role,
status, wealth, importance, etc
Can say a lot about a characters role,
status, wealth, importance, etc

Q3: Representation

Term
Representatio
n

Stereotyping

Definition
The way a type of person / group
is presented in the media how
they look, behave, etc and the
messages the audience gets about
them
A simplified representation of a
group or type of person.

Example / Effect
Can tell us about how specific groups
are supposed to look / behave, what
they are supposed to do. Can give
positive / negative impressions.
Can give positive / negative
impressions of a specific group.