Media Codes and
Conventions
What are codes?
CODES
are systems of signs which create
meaning and messages
e r !
m b
m e
Re
All media messages are
constructed using
CODES and
CONVENTIONS
Types of Code
Technical Symbolic Written
Technical Codes
• ways in which equipment is used to tell the
story.
TECHNICAL CODES
• CAMERA SHOTS
• CAMERA ANGLES
• CAMERA MOVEMENT
• LIGHTING AND EXPOSURE
CAMERA SHOTS
CAMERA SHOTS
• EXTREME LONG SHOT a.k.a Extreme Wide Shot
• - Covers a very wide area to show the
setting of a film.
CAMERA SHOTS
• EXTREME LONG SHOT a.k.a Extreme Wide Shot
• - Covers a very wide area to show the
setting of a film.
CAMERA SHOTS
• LONG SHOT
• - Covers a very wide area to show the setting
of a film. However, characters are already
visible.
CAMERA SHOTS
• LONG SHOT
• - Covers a very wide area to show the setting
of a film. However, characters are already
visible.
CAMERA SHOTS
• WIDE SHOT a.k.a. FULL SHOT
- Full body
- Emphasizes action
- Setting is
also visible
CAMERA SHOTS
• WIDE SHOT a.k.a. FULL SHOT
- Full body
- Emphasizes action
- Setting is
also visible
CAMERA SHOTS
• MEDIUM SHOT
- Head to Waist
- Emphasizes
conversation among
characters
CAMERA SHOTS
• MEDIUM SHOT
- Head to Waist
- Emphasizes
conversation among
characters
CAMERA SHOTS
• MEDIUM CLOSE UP SHOT
- Head to Chest
- Emphasizes
conversation and so
as facial expressions.
CAMERA SHOTS
• CLOSE UP SHOT
- Focus on FACE.
- Emphasizes reactions,
Facial expressions
Emotions
CAMERA SHOTS
• EXTREME CLOSE UP SHOT
- Focus on Specific
body parts.
- Emphasizes reactions,
Facial expressions
Emotions
Conveys important
messages
Camera Angles
Low Angle
• Low angles help
give a sense of
of
powerlessness
within the
action of a
scene.
High Angle
• High angles make the
object photographed
seem smaller and less
significant (or scary).
Bird’s Eye View
• Emphasizes the setting
• Above than the human’s
head level.
Canted Angle
• The camera is tilted
which suggests
imbalance and
transition (very
popular in horror
movies).
Worm’s Eye View
• Foot level until
above
someone’s/somethi
ng’s head level.
CAMERA ANGLES
Types of Code
Technical Symbolic Written
Symbolic Codes
• show what is beneath the surface of what we
see (objects, setting, body language, clothing,
color, etc. )
• an artistic method of revealing ideas or truth
through the use of the story , colors, sounds,
objects, and anyting.
Romance
Love
Affection
Anger
Stop
Ready
Go
Freedom
Types of Code
Technical Symbolic Written
Written Codes
• use of language style and textual layout to
films, pictures, and advertisements (headlines,
captions, speech bubbles, language style, etc. )
Written Codes