Codes and conventions are tools like music, script, costumes, and camera angles that filmmakers use to help audiences understand characters and their roles in the story. How these tools are used, or conventions, can influence whether audiences like or dislike characters and comprehend their importance. For example, if a character is shown entering a building at night with threatening music, audiences may view them as a thief, but if they are in bright light with pleasant music, they may seem like a regular employee working late. Audio, symbolic, and technical codes also provide clues through dialogue, imagery, camera work, and more.

1. Codes and Conventions

2. • In order to create a feature film, tools (known as
codes) of the filmmaking trade, such as music,
script, costumes, camera angles and framing, are
used. These are only a few examples of film
codes. It is the way that these are used (which is
known as conventions) that helps us understand
which characters are playing each role in the
story. Indeed, the exact way directors use these
tools can encourage us to like or dislike a
character and also help us to understand how
important each character is in the story.

3. • For example, if a character in a film was seen
entering an office building in the dark shadows of
the night and threatening music was heard at the
same time, then we would probably think that
the character was either a thief or criminal of
some sort. Yet if the lighting was changed so that
the character was not seen in shadows but in
bright light, and pleasant music was heard, then
we would probably believe this character was a
person who worked in that building. Maybe he or
she was doing some overtime to meet a deadline
of some sort.

4. • Audio codes:- These are what we hear when watching
the film, so the dialogue, the music in the
background, the folly music etc.
• Symbolic codes:- These are what we see when
watching the film. If we see a charter dressed in
black, then we could assume some form of dark and
enigmatic feel to them. If we see symbols such as an
owl, that could represent the night hunter and
foreshadow the killer approaching in the night. Also
spotting a crow could represent death.
• Technical codes:- These are the codes that include
camera angles, lighting and shot duration.