Action Adventure Question 1

Objectives: To understand the qualities of

effective exam answers for question 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMuokmg
5muc
Mad Max Fury Road
In this clip Max is helping Furiosa, who has
stolen a rig from Immortan Joe in order to get
his five wives (who he has forced into breeding
with him) away from him and to safety.
Max
Furiosa (the woman with the shaved head)

Action Film Conventions

Explosions
Stunts
Weapons **
Gadgets
Chase sequences - car, plane,
boat, foot
Dangerous setting
Ticking clock scenario
Exotic setting
Fight sequences
fights, battles, war (or
preparation for)
captures
rescues
escapes
discoveries
dangerous settings
hero outnumbered
orSession
in peril
Action
Adventure Revision

Characters
heroes and villains (good vs
evil)
damsels in distress (the
weak woman who needs
saving)
the love interest
stereotypical strong male
protagonist (the main
character or main good guy)
powerful/evil antagonist (the
main bad guy)
spies
explorers
warriors
sidekick (the one who helps
the protagonist)

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective

Exam Format
You will be shown the action
film extract four times at the
start of the exam. There will be
breaks to update your notes.
Follow the instructions
onscreen.
You answer 3 questions on
Action Adventure.
You should spend 45 minutes
answering the Action Adventure
questions.
Dont forget to leave
yourself 30 minutes to do
the TV Comedy section.
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 1 Characters & Events

1 Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract.
[10]
What do you need to do to achieve a Level 4 on this question?

Clearly state two genre conventions

Explain the effect of the conventions
Support the points with examples from the extract
Use terminology

How long should you spend on this question in the exam?

5 minutes
What terminology can you use?
Antagonist, protagonist, genre, convention, iconography
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Exemplar Answer
One convention used in terms of the narrative in the extract is that the
hero is outnumbered and is therefore the underdog in the situation. The
protagonist (Nic) is in a shoot-out with several antagonists who all seem to
be heavily armed. Because he is up against so many villains it
emphasizes his victory in the end and creates a sense of threat and
danger in the scene.
Another way the extract fits the genre of action adventure is by featuring
a conventional heroic protagonist. He is prepared, arriving on a horse and
heavily armed. He is confident and brave, chewing gum and staying calm
throughout the shoot-out. He is able to think quickly, as he manages to
shoot the tyres on the lorry which causes the barrels to roll off, and has
hyperbolic skills, as he never misses when he shoots. This gives the
audience a sense of excitement and hope that good will win over evil.
One character who fits the action adventure genre
is
as he is a conventional..
We see this when..(specific example) and it makes the audience feel
Another convention used in the extract is(dangerous setting, a ticking
clock scenario etc).
When..(specific example) the audience feels. because.

Question 1 Characters & Events

1 Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract.
[10]
Watch the extract and focus on answering Question 1.
How are the characters and events conventional for an action film?

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 1 Characters & Events

1 Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract.
[10]
Bullet point your answer to Question 1.

Identify two conventions in relation to characters and/or events

Given a specific example
Explain the effect of the convention
Use terminology

Quickly peer assess the work of the person next to you. Have they
managed to do the three things above?

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 1 Characters & Events

1 Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract.
[10]
One character who fits the action adventure genre
is
as he is a conventional..
We see this when..(specific example) and it makes the audience
feel
Another convention used in the extract is(dangerous setting, a
ticking
clock scenario etc).
When..(specific example) the audience feels. because.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 1 Characters & Events

1 Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract.
[10]
Read through the exemplar answer what has the student done well?
Clearly identified conventions of characters and events (hero,
villain)
Use detailed examples from the extract
Used some terminology
Better if:
More terminology
A little more explanation of the effect of convention on audience

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 2 Technical Areas

Camerawork
Tracking
Pan
Tilt
Zoom
Point of View Shot
Handheld camera
Close-up
Long shot
High angle
Low angle
Mise-en-scene
Costume
Setting
Props
Make-up
Action Adventure Revision Session

Sound
Diegetic
Non-diegetic
Sound effects
Dialogue
Editing
Cutting
Cross-cutting
Shot/reverse shot
Eyeline match
Fast paced/slow paced
editing
Slow motion
What key terms can you
remember for each technical
area?

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Action Adventure Effects:

tension, drama,
excitement, worry, threat,
danger, heroism, bravery,
spectacle, adrenaline,
wonder
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 2 Technical Areas

2 Explain how each of the following is used to create effects that fit the
action adventure genre:

Soundtrack
Camerawork
Editing
Mise-en-scene

Use examples from the extract

[20]
What do you need to do to achieve a Level 4 on this question?
At least one specific example from each technical area
Detailed analysis of the effect of each example
Precise and accurate use of terminology
How long should you spend on this question?
20 minutes
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 2 Technical Areas

2 Explain how each of the following is used to create effects that fit the
action adventure genre:

Soundtrack
Camerawork
Editing
Mise-en-scene

Use examples from the extract

[20]
Watch the extract again and focus on Question 2. Try to identify two
specific examples for each technical area that you can explain the effect
of.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

2) Explain how each of the following is used to create effects

that fit the action adventure genre:
Soundtrack

At the beginning of the clip when the CIA agent

is talking to Bourne there are a number of
silences. At this point the non-diegetic sound of
a heavy, bass note drum beat is heard followed
by an eerie wind type sound. This suggests
that Bourne is going to do something (possibly
dangerous) but as the audience we dont know
what or when. This creates lots of tension
during the first part of the clip.
During this clip.. is used when This
suggests... making the audience feel..

Question 2 Technical Areas

2 Explain how each of the following is used to create effects that fit the
action adventure genre:

Soundtrack
Camerawork
Editing
Mise-en-scene

Use examples from the extract

[20]
What examples did you identify for each of the technical areas?
Bullet-point your answer to Question 2.
Two specific examples for each technical area
Effect of example
Terminology
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 2 Technical Areas

What the examiner was looking for:
Candidates should discuss at least one example of each of the bullet
points, explaining
how they create a specific effect. They may choose to discuss the same
effect across the
range of media language or pick different effects.
They may, for example, discuss how each of the bullet points creates a
sense of spectacle
by discussing:
the use of eerie music with a sound effect of rocks moving leading to
ecstatic music
as the light fills the chamber
the crane shot at the beginning of the extract
the montage of shots of the temple collapsing cross cut with people
running away
the large set with golden, low key lighting.
They may on the contrary, discuss:
how the exaggerated sound effect as Lara fire her gun connotes its
Action Adventure Revision Session
power
Objectives:
how the To
consistent
use of
a Dutch
tiltand
creates
a sense
of both
revise the action
adventure
topic,
understand
the qualities
of unease
effective
exam
andanswers.
excitement

Question 2 Technical Areas

Read through the exemplar answer. What has the student done well?
Examples from all four technical areas
Good use of terminology
Generally good explanation of the effect of the example
Better if:
Explanation of the effect of every example

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Robin Hood on the white horse

Marion the woman with long hair
Friar Tuck locks the French in with the bees
Will Scarlett Jumps from roof to roof
Little John throws the sword to Robin Hood
Godfrey kills Walter Loxley
Walter Loxley the old man
Belvedere the one who attacks Marion

Question 3 Representation

Stereotypes
Gender
Ethnicity
Age
Nationality
How representations are constructed.
Values of the extract.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 3 Representation
Most main characters (protagonists and antagonists) in action films are
male. Stereotypically conflict and violence are seen as male activities.
Male characters tend to be represented in stereotypical ways as
aggressive, brave, strong, violent.
Female characters also represented in stereotypical ways more
emotional, often need to be rescued.
Protagonists usually white, athletic, American males.
Some black action heroes.
Antagonists often scarred less attractive/appealing.
Antagonists sometimes different ethnicity or nationality often using
negative stereotypes about that ethnicity/nationality.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 3 Representation
In this question you can also talk about the values of the extract what
beliefs and values are shown to be good, and which ones are shown to be
bad, e.g.:

Antagonist often shown to willing to hurt/kill innocent civilians.

Protagonists shown to try to save innocent people.
Antagonists shown to be cowardly.
Protagonists shown to be brave, resourceful, skilled.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 3 Representation
3 Discuss how people are represented in the extract. Use examples
from the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
[20]
What do you need to do to achieve a Level 4 on this question?
Include detailed discussion of representation using the terms stereotype or
anti-stereotype
Show clear understanding of representation
Use a range of examples from the extract to support the points you make
How long should you spend on this question?
20 minutes
This question could ask you to discuss the representation of the events,
e.g. war, conflict. In this case you should link this to the representation of
the
characters involved.
Action Adventure Revision Session
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question 3 Representation
3 Discuss how people are represented in the extract. Use examples
from the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
[20]
Watch the extract again and focus on representation.
What points can you make about the representation of the characters
and the use of stereotypes or anti-stereotypes?
Bullet-point six points you can make about representation in the extract.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Antagonists:
French, different nationality therefore a stereotype for an action
adventure film.
Stereotypical evil antagonists (which contrasts the good of the
protagonists against them). Kill innocent people Godfrey kills Walter
Loxley who is a blind old man stabs him in the back provokes Loxley
to fight him by being proud of killing his son. They ride into the village
cutting down innocent unarmed people with their swords. Then they lock
the villagers in a barn of some sort and set it on fire.
Godfrey is very stereotypical in that he has a scar, wears black, rides a
black horse. Many of the French antagonists are on dark coloured horses
and wearing dark clothes.
Savage behaviour stealing, raping, getting drunk and killing.
Encouraged by their leaders.
Godfrey is stereotypically cowardly. We are shown a shot of Robin on his
white horse coming to save the day (heroic music playing). Then
crosscuts to shot of Godfrey telling his men to defend their positions and
then running away.
The music when the antagonists are attacking the village and stealing
etc is discordant the chords dont go together and it sounds bad.
Protagonists:
Stereotypically most of the main protagonists including the hero Robin,
are male and good at fighting, involved in conflict. All protagonists are

Social Class
Peasants represented stereotypically as scared lots of screaming,
handheld medium and long shots of peasants, sometimes in amongst
them during the chaotic scenes. Emphasises lack of control and panicky
behaviour.
The behaviour of the peasants is juxtaposed with the calm, thoughtful
behaviour of Lady Marion who is of a higher social class.
When locked in the barn which is on fire one peasants is sensible and
holds her baby at the window so she can breathe showing protective
behaviour (admirable) and resilience.
Once Robin Hood arrives the peasants end up being stereotypically
English by rallying round, helping each other and fighting back.

Question 3 Representation
People are represented very differently in this extract as Jason Bourne is represented
as a dominant male stereotypical of a strong male character in this genre as Marie
asks him whether she can use the bathroom. It also portrays him as very impatient
and dismissive as he hangs up the phone and doesnt really listen to Marie. They
also show him in dark clothes illustrating his low mood and also to show darkness to
his personality. Whereas Marie is shown as a stereotypical woman; she is obsessed
about her vanity looking in the mirror and adjusting her hair but this also reveals her
very normal personality and how she does the usual things people do whereas
Bourne has a bag full of money and fake passports showing the difference between
their lives as Bournes is far from normality. The extract also shows Bourne as a very
neat and thorough person as in his flat all the books are in order and the camera
shows a shot of him taking his pen lid off the notebook is already there. Whereas
Maria first drops her shoes on the floor and leaves them there clearly an untidy
person which is a-typical as in most situations women are usually the more tidy
people. Each character has a very different personality which is reflected by their
actions in the extract and also by the camera angles as many shots of Bourne are
long shots showing his rigid stance as he awaits the news whereas Maria is shown
through low angle and mid shots showing the laidback style of her personality.

The French people are shown as insignificant even though it is their country when
Bourne phones the hotel, they are given no identity just shown as information
bearers. The characters present in this clip all have another side which is not shown.
They are all dressed in Black and are not given much depth and you do not know a
lot about their past. Male and females are shown to always become close in
desperate situations. Females are shown as the companion or sidekick as she is
helping him to find his past and not
doing it for him. Bourne is the male here as he is muscley in size and in perfect
condition, even though he lost his memory, he is over coming that and finding the
truth. People are all shown as complex characters often with othersides that they are
not always willing to show. Each of the characters (Marie and Jason) seem to be
slowly unravelling their otherside. Marie is suspicious and although presented as a
sidekick she seems to have another side and towards the end of the clip she seems
to have a split personality which Jason finds out. Therefore Bourne is shown as
cleverer and brainier than her and that the female race is no match for males as
they can see through their act.

Question 3 Representation
3 Discuss how people are represented in the extract. Use examples
from the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
[20]
Detailed discussion of stereotypes
Detailed examples from the extract
Discusses of stereotypes of gender and nationality
.. are represented stereotypically in the clip. Usually in
action films.. are shown as. This is the case in this clip
because we see which suggests.. When .
the music is.This suggests that A shot it
used when.. This makes.appear as.

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective
exam answers.

Question

Focus

To do well

How many
minutes?

Action Adventure Revision Session

Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, and understand the qualities of effective exam answers.

Questio
n

Focus

To do well

How many
minutes?

Characters/events

2 conventions in
relation to
characters and
events
Terminology
Examples from
the extract

Camerawork, sound,
editing, mise-en-scene

Examples from
each technical
area
Explanation of
the effect each
example
Terminology

20

Representation and
stereotypes

Detailed
20
discussion of
representation
Discuss
Action Adventure Revision Session
stereotypes
Objectives: To revise the action adventure topic, andUse
understand
the qualities of effective exam answers.
of examples