Codes and
Conventions of Action Genre:
· 12/15 certificate,
maximising youth audiences
· Often hybridised with
Sci Fi/Adventure/Romance
· Major Hollywood studio
produced and distributed
· High production values
including CGI FX. Fast paced editing
· Classic Hollywood 3 act
narrative structure
· Predictable chain of
events – cause and effect
· Single stranded,
linear, closed narrative
· Dramatic non-diegetic
sound
· More narrative action
codes than enigma codes
· Clear binary
oppositions
· Star Marketing: Audience
identification/expectations
(Cruise/Pitt/Willis/Thurman/Jolie/Stallone/Craig/SchwarzeneggeDi Caprio…).
Generic Typecasting and Secondary Persona apply
· Romantic sub-plot,
Humorous dialogue
· Relationships with new
technology (youth audiences)
· Use of close up/Insert
shots/High Key Lighting
· Dominant representation
of gender: male/female action hero. Mulvey’s male gaze and contemporary female
gaze can apply
· Propp’s theories
applicable
· Uses and Gratifications
theory can be mapped onto Action Films
Which of these conventions apply to the Expendables trailer?
12/15
certificate
The age rating for
this movie is 15, showing it’s target audience is aimed at adolescents. The 15
rating connotes that the movie may contain bad language and violence which
younger viewers may find distressing but the target audience will enjoy.
However, even though the film is a 15 the trailer is suitable for all ages as
it shows in the establishing shot a message from filmratings.com to ensure that
the following media is appropriate for all ages. This will mean that even
though there is an age restriction the film can still appeal to all ages and be
advertised in a larger variety of medias.
Major
Hollywood studio produced and distributed
The company Lionsgate distributes the film, and
this is recognized just before the action in the trailer starts there is the
logo and representation of the company. Lionsgate typically produce films of
the same genre as The Expendables, action films, it is a well-known and
respected company with high standards and audiences will want to watch the
film, as they know that this company produces high quality films.
High
production Values including CGI FX. Fast paced editing:
Action films such as this one are expected to
have a lot of high production value as their needs to be use of explosives and
weapons. This is shown in the trailer and after the first 30 seconds the use of
computerised effects are shown with a lot of weapons being used, highlighting
the action genre immediately. The trailer uses faced paced editing, following
the typical conventions of the action genre, and this is done to show a lot of
action however not reveal too much, it is also done as you will not want to
look away in case you miss something- hooking in the audience.
Predictable
chain of events – cause and effect
The voiceover in the trailer helps to
understand the events happening as the editing is to quick to follow a
narrative; this reflects Todorov’s theory. It is also to identify the anti-heroes
and the protagonists so this then means there will be some disruption as shown
in the trailer, fighting and explosions.
Dramatic
non-diegetic sound
There is use of a voiceover throughout the
trailer is non-diegetic, which helps to develop the storyline along with some
slow music and creates and edgy era to the story. There is also music towards
the end of the trailer, which is the theme song and it makes the trailer
interesting. There are also diegetic sounds such as gunshots and explosions
that add to the drama of the action genre.
More
narrative action codes than enigma codes
The typical action genre does not include
much enigma, and this trailer follows that convention. The trailer is simple
and talked through by the voiceover, which does not leave any enigma, just the
brief storyline.
Clear binary
oppositions
 |
| Damsel in distress |
Binary opposites are shown within the trailer
as it follows Levi Strauss’ binary opposites theory of good vs evil. They have
used the modern day problem of terrorism and made the protagonists look like
anti-heros due to their use of weapons in the trailer and them looking un
official (not in army uniform), however it becomes clear by watching the
trailer this is not the case and that the role of the enemy (the anti-heros)
who are an army are actually a gang that have captured a women and the
protagonists are trying to rescue. The use of binary opposites gives realism to
the trailer as the audience can feel connected to the film and this also gains
excitement to watch the actual film.
 |
| The anti-heros |
 |
| Two of the five hero's |
This is an iconic film with high production
values and therefore this means that there are also a number of iconic actors
included. This can be seen from the trailer, as they are all protagonists.
Having iconic stars appeals to a larger audience as these actors may be known
for being in good films and also have a fan base which means people will be excited
to see the film. Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone who stared in Rocky is an icon as well as
Arnold Schwarzenegger who is known for being in the film Terminator is also an
icon and this makes the expectations of the film much vaster as well as the
target audience.
Romantic
sub-plot and humorous dialogue
In the trailer there is some humor as there
is comedy between the group when they say they are a group of ‘4 and a half
men,’ and there is also comedy within the romantic sub-plot as the male
character and female. There is a lot of humorous dialogue between the
characters and this is shown through the trailer and is bait to the audience as
the action is relaxed to an extent.
Relationships
with new technology (youth audiences)
Use of close
up/Insert shots/High Key Lighting
Dominant
representation of gender: male
There is only one female shown in the trailer
and she is shown to be the ‘damsel in distress’ as she is vulnerable and gets
captured. This means that the male gender is so dominant as they are shown to
be strong and brave as they are on a mission to rescue this woman, overall the males are shown to be the hero’s and definitely
dominant.
Mulvey’s male gaze and
contemporary female gaze can apply
The only female in The trailer is
used as a ‘sex symbol’ as the film is aimed at a male target audience.
Propp’s
theories applicable
Propp’s theory is applicable however it is
opposed in some ways, as there is more than one hero and more than one
anti-hero. The villians are shown to be capturing the damsel in distress and
this gives the scope of 5 hero’s that the audience can enjoy watching rescue
her.
Uses and
Gratifications theory can be mapped onto Action Films
The trailer shows a lot of escapism from the
real world, as a lot of this does not happen in the real world. There are
explosives and gunshots that meet the uses and gratification theory.
