C ode s

Prepared by
Ms. Janet Faeldog
C ONVE N
TIONS
2023 - 2024
 REM EM
BER
R E ME M B
ER !
All media messages are constructed using a particular set
1
of codes and conventions.
LE T ’S G E T
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c o n v a te m e a n i
g e t h e r c r e w a y s o f
to ep t e d
w h en p u t b li sh e d an d a c c
er a l ly e s t a
ar e g en
o m e th in g .
do i ng s
 TH E O RY O F

SEMIOTICS
It is the study of signs. According to Hall (1997)
media is always engaged in “signifying practices”,
which means there is a kind of symbolic work that
can be found in media texts.
 S Y M B O L IC

ACTION
We take symbolic action every now and then. Our
interactions with others are about using symbols to
express ourselves: we wave our hands to say good
bye, shake our heads to express disapproval, or clap
our hands to express delight.
 OF T H E
THE R A
A M M A CAM E
“ G R
R”
 Extreme Long Medium Long
shot Shot

Medium
Shot/Medium close
Shot
Shows a subject down to his or her chest or
waist.
Shows a group of people in interaction
Shot of, e.g., a large crowd scene or a view of with each other.
scenery as far as the horizon. Full Shot

Long shot A view of a figure’s

entire body in order
A view of a to show action and/or
a constellation group
situation or of characters.
setting from a
distance.
 A full-screen shot of a subject’s face, showing
the finest nuances of expressions.

Close Up

A shot of hand, eye, mouth, or object in

detail.

ExTreme Close-
up
POIN T O F VIEW
 Establishing Reaction Shot
Shot
Often used at the beginning Short shot of a character’s
of a scene to indicate the response to an action.
location or setting. It is
usually a long shot taken
from a neutral position.

Over-the-Shoulder
shot

POV or Point Of
View Shot
Insert Shot
Shows a scene from the perspective of a character or one Often used in dialogue scenes, a frontal view of a dialogue
person. Most newsreel footages are shown from the partner from the perspective of someone standing behind
perspective of the newspaper. and slightly to the side of the other partner, so that parts of A detail shot which quickly gives visual information
both can be seen. necessary to understand the meaning of a scene, for
example a newspaper page, or a physical detail.
Reverse-Angle A shot from the opposite perspective, e.g., after an over-
Shot the-shoulder shot.

The camera is not mounted on a

tripod and instead is held by the
cameraperson, resulting in less
stable shots.

Handheld
camera
 R A AN G L E S
CAM E
 Long or Shows people or
extreme long objects from
shot of the below, i.e., lower
ground from
than eye level.
the air.

Aerial/High angle/
Overhead shot Long angle/straight
on angle

Views a
Shows people
subject from
or objects
from above, the level of
higher than person’s eyes.
eye level.

Eye level/straight on
angle
High angle shot
 A M O V E M EN
CAM ER
T
 The camera follows along next
to or behind a moving object or
person.

Panning shot

The camera pans (moves horizontally) from left to right or vice versa
across the picture.
Tracking Shot

The camera tilts up (moves

The stationary camera
upwards) or tilts down (moves
approaches a subject by
downwards) around a vertical
‘zooming in’; or moves farther
line.
away by ‘zooming out’.

zoom
Tilt Shot
 LET’S
WORK
4 Pictures, 1 Story

Capture a moment in your daily life and

make a story by telling what are your
photos all about. Choose a camera shot in
every category and make a story out of it.
 L E T ’ S
PR A C T I V
,
E S HAL L
W E?
 5. It is the study of signs
a. Semiotics b. Semionism c. Semiosystem d. Semionics

• How does media messages are constructed? 6. Which of the following belongs to “The Grammar of the Camera”?
a. Using a particular set of representations and formats I. Long Shot II. Full Shot III. Aerial Shot IV. Mid Shot
b. Using a particular set of codes and conventions a. I & II b. I, III, & IV c. I, II, & IV d. II only
c. Using a particular set of genre and codes
d. All of the above 7. It is the view of a situation or setting from a distance.
a. Medium long shot b. Extreme long shot c. Full shot d. Long shot
2. These are systems of signs that when put together create meaning.
a. Codes b. Format c. Representations d. Conventions 8. Which of the following shots is not part of the “Point-Of-View”
a. Close up b. Reaction shot c. Insert d. Reverse-Angle shot
3. These are generally established and accepted ways of doing something.
a. Codes b. Format c. Representations d. Conventions 9. It is the full-screen shot of a subject’s face, showing the finest nuances of
expression.
4. What does “media is always engaged in signifying practices” means? a. Point-Of-View shot b. Medium shot c. Close-up d. Extreme Close-up
a. There is a kind of sign the can be found in media texts
b. There is a kind of symbolic work that can be found in media texts 10. In what element “Reaction Shot” belongs?
c. There are formats that need to be followed a. Camera Angles b. Camera Movement c. POV d. The Grammar of the Camera
d. None of the above
11. It is a shot that views a subject from the level of a person’s eyes.
a. Straight-on Angle b. POV shot c. Extreme Close-up d. none of the above
12. Adie is a film maker, and he wants to start his film by taking the shot from above that can show
people or objects. What kind of shot he should apply?
a. High Angle b. Eye level c. Close-up d. POV

13. To highlight a dialogue scene between two actors, what camera shot is the best to apply?
a. Reaction shot b. Over the shoulder shot c. Establishing shot d. Tracking shot

14. The camera moves upwards or downwards around a vertical line.

a. Panning b. Zoom c. Tracking d. Tilt

15. To quickly give visual information necessary to understand the meaning of a scene, what
camera shot best to apply?
a. Insert b. Zoom d. Tilt d. Panning
T H A N K
Y O U !