Media Codes
What are media codes used for?
To create meaning in media.
Describe an establishing shot?
A shot taken from far away that shows a full scene.
What does "mise en scène" mean?
Everything you see in the frame.
What is a genre?
A type or category of media with similar features.
What is the name for the main character or "hero" of the story?
The protagonist.
Are cameras and editing, technical or symbolic codes?
Technical
What is diegetic sound?
Sound from inside the story that characters can hear.
What is included in mise en scene?
Lighting, costume, props, colour and setting.
What is a trope (or convention)?
A common idea or character we see often in media.
What do we call the bad guy or force that causes problems?
The antagonist.
What do we call the visual look of a scene—costumes, props, lighting and set?
Mise en scène.
What camera angle makes a character look powerful?
Low angle.
What does "blocking" refer to in film?
The placement of actors in the frame.
Give an example of a media stereotype.
Dumb blonde, nerd, tough guy, mean girl, etc.
What does “pre-production” refer to?
The first stage of making a film
What word do we use to describe written codes?
Typography
What’s the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound?
Diegetic = characters hear it
Non-diegetic = only audience hears it.
Name two things included in setting.
Time, place, environment, weather.
What does it mean to "subvert" a genre convention?
To break or challenge the usual expectations of a genre.
What do we call the process visually planning a scene using drawings?
Storyboarding.
Which code includes how the actor moves, speaks or uses body language?
Acting.
Name two camera movements.
Pan, zoom, tracking, dolly zoom.
How can colour create emotion in film?
Colours can show feelings: e.g. red = danger, blue = calm.
Name 3 common genre conventions in horror films.
Dark lighting, spooky setting, jump scares, monsters, haunted houses.
What is the job of a sound supervisor in a film group?
To organise music, sound effects and soundtrack.