GENRE-ACTION

GENRE- Action

GENRE CONVENTIONS- Action films usually feature high energy, physical stunts and chases with rapid pacing, often created from fast editing. Action films tend to be full of adventure and often includes multiple locations. Characters within these films are generally two dimensional and have copious stereotypes. Action films are designed for escapism and can also feature fantastical action. Spy films also fit into this genre as well as superhero films, material arts films and disaster films.

INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS (PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES)- Showing action/reaction shots help audiences build anticipation for what's about to happen next in the film, even if it's only built up within the moment between the two shots. Additionally, instead of slowing down footage down in order to be able to see punches and kicks, a typical action hero may need the few frames before impacts sped up in order to make them seem more hard-hitting. Furthermore, action producers cut frames out of an impact. Instead of slowing down the frames, they just cut frames out all together to make them more intense. Producers also add filters to sound effects because It's not enough to drag and drop sound effects into a timeline to sell the illusion that people are getting fought on screen. Because of this, producers add some filters to them to make them sound as though they were recorded on location, otherwise it won't be convincing.

INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS (HOW IS GENRE MARKETED)- When marketers try to put out an action genre out, they try to incorporate something remarkable to the film, such as big oversized props and publicity stunts that seem entertaining to the public eye. Letting viewers experience the story of the film is also another way action films are marketed. For example, The Hunger Games had one of the biggest digital marketing campaigns of the decade. The most innovative aspect of their strategy was their ‘Virtual Hunger Games’, where users could join a district and compete against other districts, just like in the film. This virtual game allowed viewers to experience what the characters in the film experienced while engaging with other fans of the film. Also, most action films include actors that correspond to the overall “action theme” because they star in only/mostly fun action movies, like Tom Cruz. Posting a picture of his face on a big picture, with everyone already familiarized with him can let the target audience know that it will be a good movie with a good actor starring in it.

FILM SAMPLE #1- The Avengers. The Avengers demonstrates a perfect representation of the action genre because of its fast paced action packed scenes. There are a lot of high energy and jump cuts while the avengers are all fighting crime. This includes fast paced cuts throughout the film to show that there is a lot of commotion and violence going on. There is fiction-like action when each avenger brings out their superpowers to the person or group they are fighting with which makes the audience “jump out of their seats” for almost every scene presented.

FILM SAMPLE #2- The Terminator. The Terminator presents a futuristic approach to the world. There is a cyborg assassin disguised as a real human being entering 2029 in order to kill someone. There are many abrupt scenes in this film such as explosions, bombs, and an abundance of reckless car crashes from many fast-paced car chases. Additionally, there are a lot of physical stunts and actions that the Terminator incorporates into his daily regimes in order to focus on killing the person that he was ordered to assassinate.

ACTION GENRE EXAMPLES: Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Mission Impossible, Venom.