Mise-En-Scene

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene is French for all the elements that make up a scene. It communicates essential information to the audience.

The elements of Mise-en-scene include:Setting and PropsCostumes, Hair and MakeupFacial expression and Body languageLighting and Colour

SETTING AND PROPSSetting and props are used to capture the ambience of the film and creating a sense of atmosphere for the audience, sets include all that the viewer visualizes and indicates the time and place apart from the costumes.

Usually the director or producer chooses the location of the film or the setting gets built. Design concepts are created to fit the mood that the film’s trying to achieve.

Although setting acts as a container for action, setting could be as important as the characters itself, being a location for even physical action to occur.

Props are used to help tell the story and bring realism or fiction depending on what genre. Without props, actors and actresses would look like there is an absence of realism.

Kung Fu Panda – Jade Palace: Set in the valley of peace. The uplifting edges of the palace displays ancient Chinese architecture, the audience understands that the film is set in china. The clouds near the bottom of the frame conveys the high altitude of the setting, also the mountains suggest that the area is not developed. Set in a village unlike a city, a province style location.

Star Wars – Light saber: This prop resembles a Sci-Fi developed sword. “Saber” meaning cavalry sword and the word “light” placed at the beginning of the term, it is used as a weapon in space. The colour of the laser suggests the moral manner of a character, blue and red, separating the good and bad.

COSTUMES, HAIR AND MAKEUPThis helps interpret the personality of a character and determine

aspects of their personality, job and social status to the audience. Costume can also hint at a character development to the audience. As any portion of the costume may be considered as a prop.

They also helps communicate when the event is taking place, either in the past, present or future. These aspects especially helps communicate the genre of the movie that it is trying to achieve.

Costumes, hair and makeup also make characters unique from one another, so they stand out towards the audience. It can also immediately show what society or culture the film revolves around. The director’s selection and combination of costume, hair and makeup give him visual control of effective film making.Captain Jack Sparrow: The character uses eye liner to show

that he is seductive and tries to appeal towards a female audience. Sparrow wears a pirate hat to identify he is a captain. His long, untidy hairstyle suggests that he is unhygienic and the unique goatee design separates him from other characters in the film. His outfit is a good representation of fashion during pirate ages as it shows untidiness and lack of responsibility since they were not style conscious.Dracula: His pale makeup represent his absence of mortality and emphasizes his cold bloodedness. Dracula’s fangs are presented as intimidating towards the audience and frightens his victims. The blood displayed around his mouth shows that he is a vampire. The dark cloak symbolizes darkness and death. The old laced styled cloak and grey hair suggests that he is very aged compared to the other characters within the film.

LIGHTING AND COLOURLighting is used to enhance the objects and characters in a frame. Emphasizing on a characters facial expression and also shows the audience what the director wants them to visualize. This is very practical compared to changing the shot or cropping during the editing sessionsLighter and darker areas within the frame help create the overall composition of each shot, guiding our attention.Color is also used to help create a mood and enhances the theme of the film. Much like filters of today, color can be changed during the editing sessions of a film.

Shutter Island: the technique used in the image is called low key lighting, it is used by the director to isolate a subject. The shadows in the frame is enhanced and the background is unseen. This moves the focus from the audience onto Leonardo Di Caprio’s character and enhances the expression on his face whilst reducing attention to the background. This could be preparing for a jump scare. Low key lighting is used commonly in horror films to create visual tension for the audience between the subject and background.Sin City: This is a film noir, a term which means black film in French. This coloring technique is used to enhance the shadows since this is a crime/mystery genre. The film suggests to the audience that there is no happiness by showing minimal color. Although sin city have kept the use of red. Red symbolizes seduction, anger or passion. The characteristics of the woman is hinted at to the audience by wearing the red dress.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE

Like setting and costume, facial expression and body language are used by the director to help develop the film.

The audience interprets how the characters react in certain situation. Looking at posture and emotions are shown to help develop the type of characteristics they have. Intentions

The director has artistic power because the actors in the film act as vehicles of expression. The audience are able to see the appropriateness of the character in a setting and their behavior or interaction with various characters. Even the intentions of the characters become more clear as the movie unfolds and their expressions become more defined.

Heath Ledger’s Joker: The posture of the joker shows the shoulders placed forward giving the audience the impression that he is intimidating. When someone leans forward, your tendency is to lean back. Also his clenched fist emphasizes the intensity in his character, symbolizing strength and power. He has his head down and eyes forward, the head down suggests that he is concentrated and he’s determined to reach his objective although the eyes give an uncomfortable aspect to the audience. Many movie villains use this threatening posture to strike fear into the audience.Gerard Butler’s Leonidas: King Leonidas is shown screaming, he is doing it to release and frustration but also it is a sign of aggression. The audience literally visualizes the rage in his eyes, his eyes are opened wide, keeping his eyelids raised high. Leonidas’ eyes are angles forward and his nose is wrinkling in disgust. His shoulder is held back with his sword as if he was ready to strike and stays defensive. Leonidas’ muscles tense up his muscles showing his ferocity to his enemy, showing the audience that he is fearless even when death is near.