Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene

Mise en scene by definition is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a frame or shot.

 

This is made up of 5 key things.

1. Settings and Props: This is not just the background it can be very effective in conveying a genre for example and car chase through a city would be more exciting than on a country road. Settings can portray genre's before the film starts for instance a shot of the World form outerspace is most likely to be a Sci-fi film.

2. Costume, Hair and Make up: These important elements make a person's character exaggerated and emphasised. This is important as it gives the audience direction. THe costume also gives an idea of where the film is set and what era.

3.Facial expressions and body language: This factor links to hair, costume and make up as it provides an enhancement of the characters in the films. The body languuage of an actor can give off how he is feeling. An example of this is how someone can be looking down nd cry and the audince will know this person is upset however if they are walking confidently and smiling the audience will be aware of there happiness. However this element of Mise en Scene can be used ironically for example a villain in a horror film looking happy. The audience will think he is joyful and is the protaganist however when they see his wrongdoing's they will only be disgusted even further.

4. Lighting and colour: There are two main types of lighting used in film. High and low key lighting. Low key lighting will create a sense of darkness around the shot as if something sinister is about to happen. This is used mainly in horror films or to show an antagonist. On the other hand high key lighting makes the shot look brighter and the character within happier and more absorbing. A lack of shadow in these frames mean that the audience becomes more comfortable and therefore prefer this type of shot. others.

5. Positioning of characters and objects within a frame: The last element is hugely important as it gives an idea of the relationship between characters, because if they are close to one another it will shpw to the audience that they are comfortable and that they are friendlt towards each other. The positioning also concentrates your focus as the centre of the screen is where the audience's eyes are drawn. The size of the characters shows to the audience how powerful they are. For instance if they are taller and bigger than the other people it will give them more power before the actors are even introduced. This is widely used in superhero films to give the heroes strength above other people.