GENRE CONVENTIONS: Media Language

Camera Shots

• Tilts- establishes power in one character or show a lack of.
• Close ups- show facial expressions (which helps create an atmosphere and mood) and also close ups of items to draw the audience's attention to it, acting as clues for them (one big factor as to why crime dramas are appealing is so they can try and work out the crime themselves- involvement).
• Point of view shots- to make the audience even more so feel as if they're part of the experience.
• Establishing shots- to set the scene.
• Over the shoulder shots- typically used in interrogation scenes, mixed with the tilts.

Editing

• Long takes- help build suspense and create tension.
• Shot reverse shot- common during an interrogation scene.
• Match on action- crime dramas typically contain action so as to keep the audience interested, and this type of editing makes the scene flow more nicely.

Mise-en-scene

• Police station
• Morgue
• Crime scene (these can vary)
• Urban settings
• Interrogation room
• Murder weapon (typically a gun or a knife)
• Forensic equipment (lab coats, scalpels etc)
• Police uniform
• Police cars
• Tags (to label evidence)
• Low lighting