action/comedy conventions

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Action/Comedy conventions George Griffiths

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Page 1: Action/comedy conventions

Action/Comedy conventionsGeorge Griffiths

Page 2: Action/comedy conventions

My Genre

The genre my group and I have selected is action/comedy. We have chosen action as it is not often done and we do not want to do a horror. We have chosen to add a comedic twist so we will be able to have fun filming it but also because in the surveys we were given, comedy is the most watched and well liked genre, with action being in the top 5. (see next blog post)This genre usually has many connotations throughout each film, from the characters to the themes and narrative.

Page 3: Action/comedy conventions

CharacterGeneric characters in action/comedy's are almost traditional action heroes.

Will Smith in ‘Bad Boys’ is a generic action/comedy star and helps the film conform to the genre. He and his partner offer a lot of comic relief throughout the film, much like any other action comedy.

Another generic Action/Comedy is ‘Hot Fuzz’ starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, both who are usually seen in comedy films with an action twist. The opening to this film is partly reminiscent to what we plan to do for our opening, with a voice over detailing some back story, but the pace of the opening is completely different.

Page 4: Action/comedy conventions

IconographyAction films usually have some sort of iconography (Gadgets in James Bond/spy films, Guns in films such as Mission impossible and Fast cars in films such as Fast and Furious) when combined with a comedy they keep most of these depending on the plot of the film. In ‘Hot Fuzz’ the film features guns and cars but no gadgets, this is because they are on the police force and not some secret agency. Action Comedies usually feature weapons and an over the top use of them e.g. Kill Bill

Page 5: Action/comedy conventions

James Bond’s phone that can control his car remotely, this is an example of gadgets in action films.

This is relatively close to the opening of Mission Impossible and shows two characters wielding guns, in a stance that suggests they are in the middle of a fight. This is an example of guns in action films.

Page 6: Action/comedy conventions

The use of swords in Kill Bill is very much over the top as the blood splatters much more than real life as well as the fact that they are using such weapons in modern day when most people expect films to feature guns and not swords.

The cars in ‘Fast and Furious’ are often very flashy and fast. This is used to show the dangerous and flashy lifestyle of the characters.

Page 7: Action/comedy conventions

Narrative

The opening to action/comedies usually has some sort of beginning narrative, explaining who the characters are and why they are there. In the opening to ‘Hot Fuzz’ it begins with a narration by the main character, played by Simon Pegg, as he explains how he got to be a police officer and what that has entailed. It is voiced over a clip of him walking towards the camera and when he mentions certain parts, it cuts to that doing a montage of his recent life. We intend to have a part narration over the top of certain parts of our opening, but we will have to look closely at the script we make to make sure that we get the comedic element correct.

Page 8: Action/comedy conventions

ThemesA theme that is strong in all action/comedy films is a ‘best friend’ mechanic between two characters. A good example is bad boys as the main characters, partners on the narcotic squad, often show how they help each other out as well as show there friendship through there dialogue.

The partnership/relationship between the main characters in Bad Boys is an example of the ‘best friend’ theme in Action/Comedies.Conventions you will probably find in

any action/comedy film of any era are:Time ticking downA race to kill/save somebodyBloodClose upsHigh emotion momentsCar chasesand a general fast paced feel throughout

Page 9: Action/comedy conventions

Sound

Throughout the majority of action/comedies there is a use of fast sounds during the action parts of the film, if there is a funny moment right before a scene change, there will sometimes be background non-diegetic music playing behind the dialogue and diegetic sound.

This music from ‘Hot Fuzz’ towards the end of the film is music that is meant to ‘get the audience going’ and the song itself connotes action.