Action films have traditionally been aimed at ages 13 to the
mid-30s; it’s generally aimed at mainly males. This is because males of this
age range generally are more interested and enjoy fast paced plot with lots of
action filled scenes that include explosions and fight scenes. This genre
attracts men, as they like to imagine themselves as the main character.
This table shows the amount of people that watched The
Mechanic in the theatre; this shows us that action films are most popular among
males in their teens and early 30s, which suggests that this genre appeals to
them because of the stereotypical male protagonist who is masculine and strong.
Most of the viewers are in lower middle class, which suggests that they watch
it to escape the reality.
The success of the James Bond series in the 1960s and 70s
made it a popular concept of the modern day action film. Earlier Bond films
included features such as quick cutting, car chases, fistfights and the
complicated action sequences. However the trend today includes Asian martial
arts elements, such as Kung Fu and Karate can be found in non-Asian action
films due to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Action films lean to the common codes and convection of an action genre
e.g. explosions and plenty of gunfire, such as lethal weapon.
Beginning of the 60s they action films began to include
violence and sexual elements which appealed to a wider audience. Then in the
70s the kung Fu genre became popular due to Bruce Lee four martial arts film
that included intense fights. Edwin S.Porter’s western action film “The Great
Train Robbery 1903” which was a classic and has remained very significant to
the history of cinematic. Action genre expanded in 80’s and 90s due to the
growth of special effects and the demands for the action genre to include more
violence and shorter plots. The most profitable film series according to the
Guinness World Records was James Bond and it’s the longest running series now. By
the end of 80s the action genre was featured in every genre due to its
popularity. In the 90s there was a development in CGI which often had a higher
budget as it created new settings, the competition was high as all film companies
wanted to entertain the audiences.
The
genre includes a lot of physical stunts, activities, explosions and extended chases,
which is designed to please their audiences as they escape reality.Action includes a capable and masculine hero or
a heroin that subverts the female stereotype however females can be objectified
and are typically a damsel in distress who support and hinder the protagonist.
The plot is likely to include the protagonist struggling against life
threatening situations, an evil villain and being chased in various ways Victory
is normally achieved at the end through huge physical efforts and violence by
the protagonist.
The
Advancements in CGI have made it easier to create the action sequences and
other visual effects that normally requires professional stunt group. The
audiences look out for the special effects as it makes the film unique and
they’re able to escape reality. This genre takes the certificate of either 12
or 15 to optimize their audience; the film is can often include
elements of be other genres.
The Action Sub Genre:
Action comedy includes both action and comedy; it’s
usually based on mismatched partners or in an unlikely setting.
Action thriller features elements of action, adventure
and thriller, it include car chases, explosions etc.
Action drama combines action genre with serious themes,
character and emotion.
This
two shot which is shown in quite dark lighting with small white lighting on the
globe which both the male and female protagonist point at, this shows the
audience a bit of there past and how they were brought up together. The dark
lighting with a small part of white lighting represents that their friendship
is going to develop further as they grow older. They’re not separable because
of how strong there friendship as they did everything together. The camera then
cuts to the next shot where it shows another bit of text introducing the names
of the male and female protagonist names. Having there the Rosie's names in
bold and is placed first as it shows the significance because the audience will
see their love story from her perspective. Then there is a text suggesting that
there is a problem with them being best friends which may suggest their
friendship stops them from revealing their feeling as they may hesitate because
it may affect their long term friendship. A brief long shot shows that they’re
at a beach with their friends then a over the should shot shows the female
protagonist sneaking a peak at her love interest, there is a voiceover “he
asked me to the dance, to this Alex doesn’t approve as he’s surprised then he
insults Rosie’s love interest.
The
camera then cuts to a scene where both the protagonist are getting ready for a
party as Rosie asks for Alex's advice about her appearance. The camera blurs
out Rosie as the camera focuses on Alex, as it focus on his expression as it
suggests he gives his advice and answer to Rosie question, by doing this she’s
reassured and it boosts her self confidence. However Alex just tilts his head,
suggesting that it looks like Rosie is trying too hard to impress someone.
Their costume looks like they are going somewhere more formal, as Alex is
wearing a suit, which may show they maybe going to a ball/party. The camera
then cuts showing another title saying "Have been best friends"
suggests that they have known each for a while and have built a strong
connection which is unbreakable due to the length of time they have been
together. The camera then cuts to a close up however it blurs out the female
protagonist and focuses on the Alex's expression, showing his protective side as
he begins to ask whether she’s dressed up for ball or just to attract men. By
his expression he seems concerned implying that he’s somehow jealous, and his
jealousy has been shown through his dialogue as he stutters, as he’s scared of
her noticing that he may have started to develop feeling for her.
A long
shot establishes the setting which the party takes place, it looks like a large
house where a lot of people are gathered. In the next few scenes we’re able to
see them partying and enjoying themselves, there is diegetic music playing as everyone
is dancing. Then in the next frame it shows the audience that it’s based on a
best-selling novel implying that it was a successful film and has an
established audience. The lighting is a quite bright however it’s becoming
darker outside implying that something may happened the protagonist, which could
affect on there friendship. There is a medium shot of the female protagonists
running across the corridor in a hurry and asks where the male protagonist is,
we can see that she’s panicking as she gets on the elevator quickly. The camera
switches to Alex who is with another female and rejects Rosie’s who’s asking
for his help. Then in the next scene shows Rosie is involved with another male
character as they have an intimate moment where something unexpected occurred,
the audience can see that this is a flashback. The camera returns back to Rosie
as the elevator door open, we can see that she has safely returned to the
party. From her perspective we see Alex appear then their eyes lock then we see
Rosie’s rival appear by Alex’s side, suggesting that they’re going to go out in
the future. In the next frame a close up of Alex shows him opening a letter as
he’s appearance is messy, then it zooms out to an over the shoulder shot, we
can see that Alex got a scholarship, the lighting is bright suggesting that
it’s a good opportunity for Alex to further his career. However when asked if Rosie was going to join
him, Rosie’s smile fades indicating and foreshadowing that they’re going to
part ways due to this. In the next scene we’re informed that Rosie’s pregnant
then a text bubble appears “comes a story about love” which reassures the
audience that they’ll reunite in the future.
The
camera then cuts a high angle, establishing shot of a row of houses suggesting
there more middle/working class people, and see education as an important
thing. We the cut to a shot reverse shot in a coffee shop with the two
protagonist as the male protagonist shares some new about a scholarship, and we
are shown a over the shoulder shot of the female protagonist reading the
letter. The female protagonist expression seems surprised as this is something
that will change her friend's career, she then even mentions it, the camera
them cuts to a close to show the female protagonist expression as she knows
that he will be leaving soon, and suggests that she may have not heard from any
places she may have want to do to further her career, hearing this makes her
seem shock knowing that they will have to separate soon. The camera then fades
to another screen introducing more information about the film saying
"Happens at the wrong time" suggests that something big will happen
and will affect the male and female protagonist's friendship and may happen
very unexpectedly, as it may result in them separating.
A long
shot is used to show the leaving scene as the two protagonists hug, it shows
their last moments before they go their separate ways, this would make the
audience sympathies for them because they‘re able to relate. There is a sad
non-diegetic music that accompanies this scene.A medium shot shows that Rosie has ended up with a baby, which was
foreshadowed in the beginning of the trailer where she has sexual contact with
the male character she met at the party. Another text bubble appears “how life
gets in the way” this suggests that life is getting in between their
relationship as they cant proceed to a romantic level.
A long
shot is used to show the leaving scene as the two protagonists hug, it shows
their last moments before they go their separate ways, this would make the
audience sympathies for them because they‘re able to relate. There is a sad
non-diegetic music that accompanies this scene.A medium shot shows that Rosie has ended up with a baby, which was
foreshadowed in the beginning of the trailer where she has sexual contact with
the male character she met at the party. Another text bubble appears “how life
gets in the way” this suggests that life is getting in between their
relationship as they cant proceed to a romantic level.
In the
next scene Rosie is surprised as the female character she saw next to Alex is
now getting married to him, we’re able to see that Rosie is hiding her feeling
as she fakes her smile, the audience may understand this as they may have go
through similar events. Then a close up of Rosie shows her crying as there is
red lighting suggesting that she’s angry, there is a voice over suggesting that
it was Rosie who told the female character to go there as she thanks her. This
shows that it’s actually Rosie’s fault because instead expressing her feeling
towards him she gave it away to another girl. There is a long shot, which
establishes Rosie’s lifestyle, we can see that she live in a low class area;
there is a voice over of her friend who insults her by saying how bad her life
is.
The
next scene shoes camera both of them getting intimate where they both have an urge
to kiss and the camera fades to tease the audience. This shows part of a
convention of romance film trailer as it slowly begins to hint more slow
intimate scenes, building up to a relationship so the audience will have to
watch to find out more. The non-diegetic sound starts to fade as their last
moments together appear, there is also a voice over indicating that whenever
they began to get close there would always be separated. The trailer ends with
the title of the film, it’s in capitals and outlined in bold red which is a
convention of a romance film as color red connotes love which links to the
title.
Action films have traditionally been aimed at ages 13 to the
mid-30s; it’s generally aimed at mainly males. This is because males of this
age range generally are more interested and enjoy fast paced plot with lots of
action filled scenes that include explosions and fight scenes. This genre
attracts men, as they like to imagine themselves as the main character.
