Exam - Action Adventure answer guide


1: 
Here we can see the sub genre conventions of the ___________  action/adventure film.  This is because we can see evidence of ________ and ___________ in the following examples.   The characters involve the protagonist who is usually male, and they are particularly resourceful in their actions; such as_______,____________ and ____________________. 

The villain is clearly ______________, we can tell this by their actions, clothing and spoken words, which consist of______________  and _______________. 

The hero is isolated, vulnerable and (thriller conventions, insert others if not thriller)

The other characters comply with Propp’s theory, (which suggests there is usually a helper, a sidekick, an anti-hero, a Princess to be rescued).

2:
The use of non-diegetic sound creates the effect of ____________ and is used (when?)

The use of diegetic sound features (what?) and creates the effect of suspense/mystery/realism/contrasts with the previous soundtrack.

The camera involves:
HANDHELD to produce a realistic effect of actually being there,
POV – seeing it through their eyes
OTS – as if following them into the action
PAN – to show the whole scenario
CU – to show their fear/confusion/anger
TRACK – to follow their running and produce a sense of chase.

Mise en scene:

The clothing, hair, props are in keeping with the sub-genre – historical, action hero, pirate, explorer.  The props are suitable for this sub-genre – sci-fi, historical weapons, futuristic surroundings.  The lighting is candles (historical) bright high key (Sci-fi) or low key (night –time).

3: 
In terms of representation, we can see the age range as ___to ___ because the issues such as ___________ would appeal to a younger/older target audience.  It might appeal more to a  male/female audience due to the main protagonist being _______, or the issues being one of____________.

(Are they a stereotypical woman?  Are they a stereotypical male?  If not, how are they different?) With who do our sympathies lie?  Why?

What about ethnicity – is it represented?  Stereotypically?  Or not?  Is it Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity, Religion, Region?

Where is set (region?) is it UK accents or American accents?   Might it appeal to anyone else?  Why?



1. Explain two ways the characters and/or events in the extract fit the action adventure genre. Use examples from the extract [10] 

Candidates may discuss various features of the extract that fit the conventions of the 
action/adventure genre, for example: 

 The Captain and his crew are represented as underdog heroes pitted against a 
powerful enemy 
 The Captain is commanding and powerful 
 Conflict is represented by violence 
 Use of suspense followed by action 
 There is a set piece ‘preparing for action’ sequence 

Candidates may cite other films they have studied that share these elements as a means 
of establishing that they are generic conventions, but these citations should be very brief – 
answers should prioritise the use of textual evidence from the extract over description of 
other texts. 

Level 1 (0-2 marks) 
Describe some aspects of the text 
Shows minimal understanding of generic conventions 
Minimal or inaccurate use of terminology 
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar that 
obscure meaning. Writing may also lack legibility. 

Level 2 (3-5 marks) 
States at least one generic narrative feature 
Shows some understanding of generic conventions 
Offers some textual evidence 
Limited use of terminology 
Simple ideas expressed appropriately but possibly with some errors of spelling, 
punctuation and grammar that obscure meaning. 

Level 3 (6-7 marks) 
States two generic narrative features 
Shows sound understanding of appropriate generic conventions 
Offers sound textual evidence 
Some accurate use of terminology 
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and 
grammar do not obscure meaning. 

Level 4 (8-10 marks) 
Explain at least two generic narrative features 
Shows thorough understanding of appropriate generic conventions 
Ideas and arguments supported by evidence 
Precise and accurate use of terminology 
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of 
spelling, punctuation and grammar. 


2 Explain how each of the following is used to create effects that fit the action 
adventure genre: 
 soundtrack 
 camerawork 
 editing 
 mise-en-scène. 
Use examples from the extract. [20] 

Candidates should discuss at least one example of each of the bullet points, explaining 
how they create a specific effect. They may choose to discuss the same effect across the 
range of media language or pick different effects. 

They may, for example, discuss how each of the bullet points creates a sense of action by 
discussing: 
 the loud sound effects of the cannonballs hitting the deck 
 the tracking shots following the Captain down the deck 
 the fast cutting in the preparing for action sequence 
 the confined but densely populated setting. 

They may on the contrary, discuss how: 
 the decreasing soundtrack up to the relative quiet of the point of view shot looking 
through the telescope emphasizes the suspense of this sequence 
 the fast track from the Captain’s belt to his face connotes his hero status 
 the fast paced montage editing of the ‘beat to quarters’ sequence works with the 
close up shots and busy mise en scene to create a sense of action 
 the setting of a man of war in the fog connotes danger. 

Marks will be allocated, whichever approach is chosen, for accurate identification of media 
language, using terminology as appropriate, and clear explanation of connotative effect. 

Level 1 (0-5 marks) 
Attempts one or two bullet points 
Describes some aspects of the extract 
Minimal or inaccurate use of terminology 
Minimal or no understanding of connotative effect 
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar that 
obscure meaning. Writing may also lack legibility. 

Level 2 (6-11 marks) 
Attempts at least three bullet points 
Offers some textual evidence from the extract 
Limited use of terminology 
Some understanding of connotative effect 
Some simple ideas expressed appropriately but possibly with some errors of spelling, 
punctuation and grammar that obscure meaning. 

Level 3 (12-15 marks) 
Comprehensive range of examples (all bullet points covered) 
Offers sound textual evidence from the extract 
Some accurate use of terminology 
Sound understanding of connotative effect 
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and 
grammar do not obscure meaning. 

Level 4 (16-20 marks) 
Comprehensive range of examples 
Detailed analysis of textual evidence from the extract 
Precise and accurate use of terminology 
Thorough understanding of connotative effect 
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of 
spelling, punctuation and grammar. 


3 Discuss how people are represented in the extract. 
Use examples from the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer. [20] 

Candidates should recognise the stereotypical representation of violence or warfare 
as a male activity and the absence of women from the cast. 

Other representation issues they might discuss include: 
 unusually for a Hollywood film, the heroes are British 
 we are only shown the British point of view, not that of the enemy, who remain 
faceless 
 the representation of class and age – younger higher class officers command older 
lower class sailors (but the officers lack very upper class accents, perhaps to make 
them more accessible to audiences) 
 the inclusion of a black sailor in a mostly white cast – tokenism? 
 the inclusion of older characters among the heroes 
 the extract celebrates violence, duty, teamwork and military leadership. 

Level 1 (0-5 marks) 
Describes some aspects of the extract 
Shows minimal understanding of representation issues 
Offers minimal textual evidence from the extract 
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar that 
obscure meaning. Writing may also lack legibility. 

Level 2 (6-11 marks) 
Describes aspects of representation in the extract 
Shows some limited understanding of representation issues 
Offers some textual evidence from the extract 
Simple ideas expressed appropriately but possibly with some errors of spelling, 
punctuation and grammar that obscure meaning. 

Level 3 (12-15 marks) 
Discusses one or two issues of the representation of people in the extract 
Shows sound understanding of appropriate representation issues 
Offers textual evidence from the extract that exemplifies these issues 
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and 
grammar do not obscure meaning. 

Level 4 (16-20 marks) 
Discusses a range of issues of the representation of people in the extract, or discusses 
fewer issues in depth 
Shows thorough understanding of appropriate representation issues 
Offers a range of textual evidence from the extract that exemplifies these issues 
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of 
spelling, punctuation and grammar. 


4 Answer both parts of this question using comedy programmes you have studied. 

(a) Compare how and why two programmes were scheduled on different 
channels. [15] 

The question asks for a discussion of the relationship between institutional context and 
scheduling practices, on the one hand, and two texts the candidates have studied, on the 
other. Better answers will focus on how the texts fit the institutions and their scheduling. 
Weaker answers might focus solely on the texts, or might simply list facts about the 
institutions. 

Candidates should discuss: 
 whether the texts are scheduled on mass audience or niche audience 
channels/stations 
 the channels’ brand identity and marketing and programme mix 
 the days and times of transmission for the texts 
 how these time slots would attract the target audiences (preferably using evidence 
from the schedules, not unsubstantiated assertions) 

Candidates might touch on factors such as: 
 regulatory requirements (eg Public Service Broadcasting) 
 channel ethos and history (where relevant, eg the distinctiveness of the BBC or 
Channel 4) 

Level 1 (0-3 marks) 
Describes the scheduling of one or two comedies 
Minimal or inaccurate use of terminology 
Shows minimal knowledge of TV or radio channels and scheduling 
Minimal or no understanding of how channels use scheduling to reach audiences 
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar that 
obscure meaning. Writing may also lack legibility. 

Level 2 (4-8 marks) 
Accurately describes the scheduling of two comedies 
Limited use of terminology 
Shows some knowledge of TV or radio channels and scheduling 
Some understanding of how channels use scheduling to reach audiences 
Simple ideas expressed appropriately but possibly with some errors of spelling, 
punctuation and grammar that obscure meaning. 

Level 3 (9-11 marks) 
Describes and evaluates the scheduling of two comedies 
Some accurate use of terminology 
Shows sound knowledge of TV or radio channels and scheduling with some understanding 
of how programmes reflect institutional contexts 
Sound understanding of how channels use scheduling to reach audiences 
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and 
grammar do not obscure meaning. 

Level 4 (12-15 marks) 
Discusses the scheduling of two comedies 
Precise and accurate use of terminology 
Shows detailed knowledge of TV or radio channels and scheduling with understanding of 
how programmes reflect institutional contexts 
Thorough understanding of how channels use scheduling to reach audiences 
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of 
spelling, punctuation and grammar. 


(b) Compare the audience pleasures offered by two comedy programmes. [15] 
 Give examples from the programmes. 

Higher level answers will compare several pleasures offered by the texts with 
exemplification of these pleasures by reference to one or more episodes of the 
programmes. 
Middle level answers are likely to discuss fewer pleasures and more limited examples, 
probably from only one episode or part of an episode. 
Lower level answers are likely to describe the texts with little identification of pleasure 
beyond the text ‘being funny’. 

Level 1 (0-3 marks) 
Describes one or two texts 
Shows minimal knowledge of audience pleasures 
Minimal or no understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures 
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar that 
obscure meaning. Writing may also lack legibility. 

Level 2 (4-8 marks) 
Shows knowledge of one or two audience pleasures 
Basic understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures 
Some textual exemplification 
Some ideas expressed appropriately but possibly with some errors of spelling, punctuation 
and grammar that obscure meaning. 

 5B322 Mark Scheme January 2011 
 6
Level 3 (9-11 marks) 
Shows sound knowledge of different audience pleasures 
Sound understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures 
Relevant textual exemplification with some detail 
Some understanding of differences between programmes 
Ideas expressed with some clarity and fluency; errors of spelling, punctuation and 
grammar do not obscure meaning. 

Level 4 (12-15 marks) 
Shows detailed knowledge of audience pleasures 
Thorough understanding of how programmes offer audience pleasures 
Detailed and appropriate exemplification 
Thorough understanding of differences between programmes 
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well structured sentences with few, if any, errors of 

spelling, punctuation and grammar. 

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