Codes and Conventions

After film analysis and audience research, Adelle and myself decided to list and explain codes and conventions of a crime heist genre. This would then allow us to then conform to codes and conventions in our oown film opening which hopefully helps identifiy the genre to the audience easily.

Codes and Conventions of Crime Genre

Police - Police are usually associated with safety and the rightiuos hand of the law, therefore they usually factor within Crime films. Anything that is illegal becomes a police matter, a heist is illegal and therefore police would be a factor within a Crime-Heist film. Police would connotate to other things such as prison, security or higher police such as FBI.

Mystery and Secrecy - Usually within Crime or Crime Heist films there is a factor of the unknown. For example in 'Oceans Eleven' or 'The Hustle' the audience never knows every aspect of the job until the end where all is revealed and everything begins to make sense. Hidden factors stop the film being predictable and allows the audience to use their imagination.

The Double Cross - Sometimes within the mystery element to crime films, there is a double-cross. Where one of the team become greedy and try to steal all the money for themselves. This usually ends with failure and the double-crosser losing out all together.

Dark Clothing - usually worn by those engaging in the criminal acts, the dark clothing allows the criminals to go unseen. The dark clothing usually links in with the time of day which usually happens to be night.

Female role - There is almost always a female character which plays a huge influence to the main character. She must be beautiful, slim, have some connection with main character. This is usually the driving point for the main character. For example 'Oceans Eleven' the main character Danny Ocean is driven by his ex-wife who has left him for 'the mark'

Gambling - There is more often than not an element of gambling, this is more a  refelection on the characters thenselves, gives the impression of greed and shows that money is a drive for them. Gambling is also associated with 'Confidence Scemes' in which the participant cheats to get more money.

Alcohol - This is usually within a crime heist film as the type of drink the con artists drink is sophisticated and shows their class. For example in 'The Hustle' the team drink champagne after a job, in 'Oceans Eleven' the team are usually seen drinking whiskey. The expense and acquired taste shows the characters class and financial status.

Crime - There is always an element of crime within a crime-heist film because a 'Heist' is illegal. There is usually criminals and poeple associated with criminals within a crime-heist film aswel

Casino's - Casino's are usually a social place where people can have a good time, sometimes they are places to make money through 'cons' and heists. 'Oceans Eleven' sees the bank vault of a casino broken into and the contents stolen. 'The Hustle' usually 'cons' the dealer and cheats for money.

Loveable Rogue - In a crime-heist film the main character is almost always a Loveable Rogue. This is because we feel empathy for them, their motives are good but they are still a criminal. As the genre revolves around crime yet we are supposed to like the main character, this provides the audience with a loveable rogue.

Money - This is the goal for any criminal. Whether it's robbing a bank, selling drugs or mugging poeple on the street. Money is the cause for most crime, and plays the main part in any crime film. This is because money equals wealth and criminals are always looking for wealth and the exotic lifestyle.

Suits - Suits have connotations of wealth and smartness, they could also connotate to business which could mean illegal business when in a crime film. Smart dressed criminals give a different impression than stereotypical criminal dress which would be either standard clothing or dark clothing with balaclavas, because the style of crime is smart and more sophisticated than than that of the hard boiled criminal. The dress reflects and represents the style of crime and breaks the convention due to the fact the crime is different.

Technology - Within a crime film there is usually some sort of technology, for example security cameras and mobile phones. Technology keeps up with the modern lifestyle of the audience. In sophisticated crime films such as Oceans Eleven, the technology they use is high tech gadgets. Engages the audience which for crime films is an adult male.

Narrative based around main character - Usually within crime films there is a team or group of criminals. Within the group there is a predominant main character and the narrative of the story follows that of the main charcter. The story follows the characters role through the story and expand on a backstory, shows the emotion and feeling of the character.

Victim or Mark - There is always a victim or mark within a crime film. There has to be a victim to steal from or a mark to con otherwise there is no film. The victim or mark doesnt have to be a person, it could be an organisation or group of people. Without a mark or victim there is no crime to commit and if there is then the storyline will not be strong enough to make a film.

Wealth - There is always some value of wealth within a crime film, whether it be money, a lifestyle, object or a person. Wealth describes the financial stature of something or someone. Successful criminals appear to be wealthy with an exotic lifestyle and top of the range commodities. This offers an escapism for the audience as this is a lifestyle they cannot usually access.


Codes and Conventions of the main Character

Confident - The main character needs to confident as he is a con-man (Con - Confidence). Usually pretending to be somebopdy else in order to infiltrate areas to prepare the heist, therefore they will have to do a considerable amount of acting, which means they must confident.

Arrogant - There will be a certain level of arrogance with our main character because of his confidence. His wealthy lifestyle and upper-class living enhance his confidence and gives the impression of arrogance. The criminals in these films come across as over confident as they want the crimes to work.

Manipulative - The main character has to act to infiltrate restricted areas or information and therefore must be able to manipulate people to allow him to get what he wants. He needs to be clever with his mind in order to organise the con, his manipulative behaviour helps him do this.

Good-Looking - The main character is usually a good-looking male. Mickey from the Hustle and Danny Ocean from Oceans Eleven, are both good looking

Sophistication -

Greed - The main character is usually greedy. The goal of any crime they commit is for personal gain, either money or a woman. Usually there isn't a huge amount of consideration for anybody else, there is meanly a view to make more and more money.