Mise en Scene notes

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
Everything you see on the screen
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
 Colour
 Costume
 Props
 Set/ Location
 Performance and Blocking
 Lighting
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
The red dresssymbolisesthe
deathof the dogswhile the
blackshowsdanger.Her two
tonesof hair representsa
splitpersonality.
The crow can symbolise
deathand the darkness
of herdresshighlights
cleardanger.A
stereotypical villainin
the Disneyworld.
The white showsthat
she ispure andthis
showsthat she isa
stereotypical princess.
That these charactersare a lowerclass
and couldpossiblyliveinacouncil
house as the clothingreflectsalow
income.
These characters
have important
rolesanda high
social standing
by whattheyare
wearing. The
dark clothing
highlightsthat
theyare
anonymous.

2. Mise-en-scene
Props:
Option 1 - You have to provide props for a tense police interview between two
officers and one suspected murderer. Decide what props you would incorporate and
how the actors should be directed to use them.
Props needed:
Police uniform, Batons, Handcuffs, Spotlight, Gun, Photographs of victim, evidence
bags, Victims handbag, table, chairs.
How would actors be directed to use them:
The police officers would be wearing the police uniform while the murderer would be
handcuffed. The gun would be visible on the police officer but put away. The
spotlight would be shining into the suspected murderers face while the evidence bag
is on the table.
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
Blocking/Performance:
 Blocking refers to the positioning and movement of actors within the frame,
both in relation to each other and in relation to the camera (which represents
us, the audience)
 Performance covers all aspects of the actual acting – gesture, expression,
accent etc
Lighting:
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
Low lightinghasadramatic but
almosthorror effectwhere drama
has struckby the way the lightis
beingcast onthe actors. The mood
has beensetbythe light.
Highlightinghasa vibrantdramatic
effectasthisshowsa more uplifting
scene.The lightingisambientwhich
givesa natural effect.