"GENERAL" Codes and conventions of a Short Film (RESEARCH AND PLANNING)

Narrative 
- Simple narrative 
- Interesting and engaging 


Sound 
- Non diegetic sound is used either fast or slow paced instrumentals (music with no lyrics)
- There’s commonly either no dialogue or limited in short films – events and storylines told through camera and action or narration


Editing 
-Fast paced – matches non diegetic music 
- Match on action engages audience 
- Transitions commonly are straight cuts.


Camera 
- Close ups are dominant within short films as it increases engagement with audience 
- CU’s also help to carry a narrative so audience feel involved and helps to build on mood of the text 
- Tracking is also a technique commonly used to help the audience to understand the characters profile in a short period of time


Mise-en-scene 
- Setting is important
- Commonly set in locations which are ordinary to every day life E.g. – house, car park, town centres.


THIS IS THE GENERAL CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A FILM I BELIEVE SHORT FILMS ARE OPEN TEXT AND HAVE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AS IT IS NOT PRODUCED FOR A MASS AUDIENCE WITH EXPECTATIONS.