Technical Codes
What camera shot frames a character from the chin up?
Close Up
Which symbolic code includes the clothing worn by characters?
Costume
Name one famous parody film.
Scary Movie, Spaceballs, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, etc.
What is the name for a sudden frightening moment designed to shock audiences?
Jump scare
What document plans every camera shot before filming?
A storyboard or three column script
Which camera angle makes the subject appear weak or vulnerable?
High-angle
Why might a filmmaker dress a villain in black?
To symbolise power, mystery, evil or death.
What is the purpose of a parody?
To imitate something for humour or satire.
Name one common setting used in horror films.
Abandoned house, forest, cemetery, asylum, isolated location etc.
What is the highest point of tension in a story?
Climax
What camera movement follows a subject as they move through a scene?
Tracking shot (or Dolly shot)
What does the acronym "Mise-en-scène" refer to?
Everything placed within the frame, including setting, costume, props, lighting, composition and performance.
True or False: A parody requires audiences to recognise the original text.
True
What type of music builds tension before a scare?
Non-diegetic suspense music
A broken mirror might symbolise what?
Bad luck, fractured identity or psychological instability.
What editing transition briefly overlaps two images?
Dissolve
Red commonly symbolises what?
Danger, love, anger, violence, passion
Parodies exaggerate which aspects of another text?
Its conventions, clichés or stereotypes.
Which camera movement often imitates a monster stalking its victim?
POV shot (or Steadicam/tracking shot)
What is the opening of a narrative called?
Exposition
What sound exists within the world of the film and can be heard by the characters?
Diegetic sound
Why is setting considered a symbolic code?
It communicates meaning, mood, themes and context.
Explain how parody relies on audience expectations.
Audiences recognise familiar conventions, allowing the parody to subvert or exaggerate them for comedic effect.
Why is silence often more effective than loud music in horror?
It creates tension and anticipation before a scare
Or
It draws the audience in and makes them pay attention
Explain the difference between denotation and connotation.
Denotation is the literal meaning; connotation is the implied or symbolic meaning.