Axis of Action

The evidence

Playback

37 film scenes, each a clear example of one code or convention — with a worked reading and discussion questions. Start with the sample, or tune to a code.

Showing 10 of 37

Scene Jaws (1975) ▶
Jaws

Second Shark Attack

cameraworkdolly zoomediting
Scene Psycho (1960) ▶
Psycho

Shower Scene

editingcameraworkaudio
Scene Jurassic Park (1993) ▶
Jurassic Park

The T-Rex Attack

audiosoundsound effects
Scene The Departed (2006) ▶
The Departed

Chase Scene

mise en scenecolourlighting
Scene WALL·E (2008) ▶
WALL·E

Green Plant

mise en scenevisual compositioncolour
Scene The Shining (1980) ▶
The Shining

The Staircase

acting
Scene Blade Runner 2049 (2017) ▶
Blade Runner 2049

Vegas

colour
Scene The Castle (1997) ▶
The Castle

It's the Vibe

spoken languagedialogueregister
Scene The Matrix (1999) ▶
The Matrix

Opening Sequence

opening sequencestory conventionsnarrative structure
Scene Star Wars (1977) ▶
Star Wars

The Trench Run

genre conventionsscience fiction
Scene Argo (2012) ▶
Argo

The Tarmac

story conventionsnarrative structuretension
Scene Blade Runner (1982) ▶
Blade Runner

Time to Die

closing sequencecharactercolour
Scene Donnie Darko (2001) ▶
Donnie Darko

School Intro

cameraworkediting
Scene Election (1999) ▶
Election

You Rang?

editingrhythmic editingcamerawork
Scene Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) ▶
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Anyone? Anyone?

cameraworkshot size
Scene Home Alone (1990) ▶
Home Alone

The Traps

genre conventionsslapstickcomedy
Scene Jaws (1975) ▶
Jaws

First Attack

audiocameraworkopening sequence
Scene Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) ▶
Mad Max: Fury Road

Furious Intro

opening sequencestory conventionssetting
Scene Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) ▶
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Doomed Friendship

cameraworklens choicefisheye lens
Scene Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) ▶
Mission: Impossible – Fallout

The Bathroom Fight

editingcamerawork
Scene North by Northwest (1959) ▶
North by Northwest

The Cropduster

settingcamerawork
Scene Psycho (1960) ▶
Psycho

Parlour Room

cameraworkcamera anglemise en scene
Scene Rear Window (1954) ▶
Rear Window

Opening Sequence

cameraworkcamera movementopening sequence
Scene Schindler's List (1993) ▶
Schindler's List

The Girl in the Red Coat

mise en scenecolour
Scene Se7en (1995) ▶
Se7en

What's in the Box?

cameraworkshot size
Scene Sherlock (2010) ▶
Sherlock

A Study in Pink

editingparallel editingstructuring of time
Scene Slumdog Millionaire (2008) ▶
Slumdog Millionaire

Closing Sequence

closing sequencestructuring of timeediting
Scene Strangers on a Train (1951) ▶
Strangers on a Train

Tennis Match Cross-Cut

editingparallel editing
Scene The Breakfast Club (1985) ▶
The Breakfast Club

Crackin' Skulls

cameraworkcamera angle
Scene The Godfather (1972) ▶
The Godfather

Horse Head

cameraworkcamera movement
Scene The Godfather (1972) ▶
The Godfather

Restaurant Kill

audiodiegetic soundsound effects
Scene The Hurt Locker (2008) ▶
The Hurt Locker

Bomb Sequence

cameraworkcamera movement
Scene The Mask (1994) ▶
The Mask

Coco Bongo

colourmise en scene
Scene The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) ▶
The Royal Tenenbaums

Bus Scene

cameraworkcamera movementdolly zoom
Scene The Silence of the Lambs (1991) ▶
The Silence of the Lambs

Flower Delivery

editingparallel editing
Scene The Usual Suspects (1995) ▶
The Usual Suspects

Line Up

mise en scenecostumeacting
Scene Vertigo (1958) ▶
Vertigo

Bookshop Scene

lightingexposurecamerawork