Task 2: Codes & Conventions - Short film

Codes and conventions of a Short Film:



Music - To nearly all of the films, music seemed to be a key part, whether it be an action or romantic by gradually making music faster and louder. In horrors, the music dips from being very fast to very slow and to create a scary effect toward the audience sudden sounds are very loud.

Camerawork - There tends to be a variety of camerawork in trailers to make things look more interesting, therefore many extreme long and close up shots were used with extreme high and low angle shots also used.

Acting - The main characters are always featured often and mainly are famous.

Costume - Tends to signify the wealth of someone or their style eg: in many trailers that are set in medieval times, the use of armour represents their power and age it was set in etc.

Editing - Scenes tend to start of being quite slow, but gradually as music becomes faster and more of the scene is revealed, attempting to grab the audiences attention, when scenes will either be in a random order or chronological as the story unfolds but leaving the ending out of it.



Brief Points

• Short films normally start with there being a situation that needs helping/solving.
• Usually only show a few (main characters) because there isn't enough time get to know the secondary ones.
• Most short films are very low budget, normally because Hollywood films don't tend to create them and most short film companies aren't part of one of the 6 conglomerates.
• The directors/editors usually aren't famous in short films so not alot of focus is on their names or at the start say introducing...
• Tend to only last around 3 to 10mins.
• Narrative enigmas are often used so the audience doesn't undersatnd fully the starting point, that sometimes is uncovered during the middle or end of the film.
• Short films in Britain are often shown or distributed by British companies eg: Working Title. These films aren't very promenant in the US.
• There is a lack of CGI (special effects) probably because of lack of money.
• Short films aren't really shown in main cinemas, mainly just at specific film festivals. The most famous is Cannes.
• Short films can also be documenteries and music videos.