This document outlines guidance for a student to summarize their research into the evolution of the action genre in film into five sentences and five paragraphs. The student is instructed to use their findings to influence the mode of address in their production of a DVD cover and film poster. They must refer to facts, figures, quotations, media theory, and explain any ways they subverted their research findings. The example provided summarizes the student's research findings on gender representation in action films and how they applied this to their print texts by reinforcing stereotypical gender roles and hegemonic masculinity.

1. • Summarise your research into five sentences (aim findings).
• Each sentence becomes your topic for five paragraphs.
• In each paragraph, explain exactly where you have applied these
findings and allowed them to influence your mode of address.
• Refer to facts and figures/quotations, where you can. Also refer
to media theory, if relevant.
• If you have subverted your research – you must explain why!
(Negative stereotypes perhaps?)
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2. My investigation explored if the action genre had evolved in relation to the two
texts James Bond, Goldfinger and The Bourne Identity. I created 1 DVD cover
and 1 film poster which were influenced by my findings.
Example

3. I discovered that the action genre is still male dominated and females are under
represented and often represented in stereotypical gender roles.
Representation
This influenced my production as I adhered to this type of gender representation
in my print texts. I ensured the male character dominated the poster and clearly
came across as the protagonist. I also constructed the male body language to be
strong and confident and female body language and facial expressions to be
vulnerable, worried or subtly seductive.
This supports the notion of hegemonic masculinity and reinforces a culture
where “men act and women appear” (Berger, 1972).

4. During my investigation I identified key iconography and mise en scene and
found mainstream action films has not evolved or challenged this formulaic
approach.
Iconography
These findings influenced and informed my production which enabled the
target audience to gain the preferred reading. I ensure I had the correct
iconography in my texts, such as…….these acted as signifiers that ensure an
audience could decode the text as I intended.

5. My research investigation discovered the action genre’s protagonists have
evolved from the classic Propp character role of the hero to the more
contemporary Film Noir influenced anti hero.
Character roles
I used my technical skills and knowledge to ensure my male model was lit with
low key lighting to help the character connote the anti hero role. Low key
lighting helps an audience decode this character type by paying homage to this
Noir convention.