Action Adventure Codes And Conventions/Profile

Action Adventure codes and conventions/profile

Action adventure films are generally marketed with a 12/15 age certificate, with their biggest target audience ranging from 18-24. Their target audience is firstly aimed at young, aspirational males with 57% of their viewers being men and the remaining 43% being women. The action adventure genre includes films that have tremendous impact, continuous high energy, lots of physical stunts and activity, possibly extended chase scenes, races, rescues, battles, martial arts, mountains and mountaineering, destructive disasters (floods, explosions, natural disasters, fires, etc.), fights, escapes, non-stop  motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing, and adventurous heroes - all designed for pure audience escapism and a break from reality with the action sequences at the core of the film. Although action adventure films are expensive to make and often command a high production budget, they are by far the most successful genre with 52% of the 50 most successful box office films of all time, containing action, and 56% containing adventure. Due to the target audience being primarily male, action adventures reflect this as they contain a large amount of violence, weaponry and danger which appeals more to men than women. The use of expensive cars and locations reflects that this genre is more typically male, as well as the regular use of attractive women who are made to look vulnerable and dependent on men. The use of editing, location, plot and cast is effectively used in action adventures to appeal to the male gender as they are enticed and engaged by what the genre can offer. Less stereotypically, many females are often interested by action, violence and danger in these types of films and enjoy the fictional excitement the genre produces.

Typical action adventure films revolve around the theme good vs evil, although it is not necessarily always obvious. There is always the good protagonist(s) who is usually sent to embark on a quest/journey/mission. This usually involves the traditional story structure of  a normal state of being that is broken by the need to find something or someone, and therefore embark upon the almost impossible, but usually just manageable (with a few consequences along the way) journey. Inevitably, this means there is also always an antagonist(s) who is key to the genre to try and stop the almost impossible journey from succeeding – leading to the action/adventure that enables a sense of escapism exist. The contrast between the protagonist’s and antagonist’s aims usually produce a succession of chase sequences, each more spectacular and seemingly impossible than the last. Along the way, sidekicks will be lost or die and evil will win small battles. More often than not these battles will involve the capture of a female sidekick or love interest, turning the protagonist into a hero who risks his life to rescue the ‘damsel in distress’. Alternatively the protagonist may be captured but will escape from the clutches of evil using their intelligence and physical strength. Whatever the situation, against all odds the damsel will be rescued and the protagonist(s) will win, completing their quest/journey/mission.

The protagonist is usually a physically attractive male but in recent years female characters have sometimes taken on this role, either on their own (Lara Croft for example) or alongside a conventional male hero. The antagonist is not so attractive and can be portrayed as “foreign”, lower class, or disabled in some way. Minor characters are often introduced in the form of ‘helpers’ who get caught up in the action and help or protect the protagonist(s) in some way. Locations tend to be exotic and unusual meaning characters often have to fight against landscape/architecture/climate, as well as evil forces. All of the action adventure conventions are put in place to provide a diversion from the audiences’ everyday lives. Audiences are allowed/enabled to identify with the hero and accompany them on their quest/journey/adventure

Action adventures usually contain a dramatic, often orchestral, non-diegetic soundtrack and a mix of diegetic and non-diegetic sound are used to accompany or emphasise the action, helping to build tension and distract the audience from their everyday life. Diegetic sounds are often dubbed in order to emphasise events or actions such as gun shots, making them more effective and realistic. The editing is often fast paced and tends to have straight cut editing rather than transitions, which tend to be used to indicate the end of action sequences or movement from one time/place to another. Action adventures emphasises the variety of camera angles and positions used to add a sense of wonder and excitement, but also to keep the pace fast and keep the audience distracted. Close ups are also used to emphasise characters emotions or objects such as weaponry which help to drive the narrative forward. Cross cuts tend to be used to allow the viewer to experience both the point of view of good and evil. This helps the audience to identify the characters and highlight the danger the protagonist is in, building suspense and tension.