Western Film Codes

Camera angles:

Over the shoulder- see part of one’s reactions as they look directly at each other or made so the audience feels they are part of the townspeople watching.

Very long shot-to view challenger from a distance as if we were one of the townspeople in the movie, also to add mystery to the character or to make it seem as if he had suddenly appeared.

Walking room-show where they are riding, walking or running to.

Extreme close up-add tension, see reaction in face.

Medium long shot-watch body actions, such as drawing guns, while still being able to view the face.

Low angle shot-shown when someone has won and looking down over someone who has lost a fight or to show superiority.

High angle shot-to show when someone has been defeated or to show low level of superiority.

Lighting:

Outside scenes: natural light or made to seem like natural light

Scene for mainly duelling and travelling.

Bar/saloon: dark and dusty or smoky with light shining from windows and doors.

Scene for bar room brawls, building characters or showing relationships with others.

Symbolic:

Cowboy hats-colour determines good or bad characters

Wooden houses- set in the past, not a modern film.

Guns- going to be shootouts and deaths.

Horses- set in the past, riding around town.

Sandy towns- set in the old west in the desert.

Exposure:

Unfocussed: something in the distance that is important but is unknown.

Focussed on subject: something small and significant, other areas are faded so we are not distracted.

Faded/shaky: for looking through the eyes of a drunk or disorientated person in pain.

Written codes:

Speech- American accent. Snappy insults. Mistakes in villain’s dialogue.

Dustaposition:

Flowers next to a gun- show that the cowboy has a feminine side or has a feminine person close to him.