Notes about the different elements of Mise-En-Scene.

1. Emma Mc Conologue
Theory – Mise En Scene
Mise-en-scene means‘placedinthe scene’inFrench;itmediait’susedtodescribe everythingthat’s
goingon inthe scene.
Mise-En-Scene isone offour differentelements:
- Cinematography
- Mise-En-Scene
- Editing
- Sound
Semioticsisthe studyof signs;the ideaisthat all communicationismade withcombinationsof
signs,e.g.codes.
Mise-En-Scene createdverisimilitude,whichreferstothe authenticityof the environmentcreated
on the screen.
The main elementsofMise-en-scene:
- Colour
- Lighting
- Costume
- Props
- Set/Location
- Blocking & Performance
Colour – Symbolicuse of colourcan appearin several places –the set,lighting,costumes/make-up
etc.It’s extremelyimportantasitcan be usedto show differentemotionsandhiddenmeanings
abouta character or a certainelementinthe scene.E.g.Redisa colourthat connotestodangerand
blood. Itcreatesagitationetc.
Costume – It’sconsideredinclothes,hairandmake-up.Costume isusedtocreate the characters’
identityandpersonalityandformsacultural code.Thishelpsthe audience tounderstandmore
aboutthe character,but to alsoforeshadow whatcouldbe happeninglateroninthe film;itprovides
cluesaboutpeople andcertainsituations.
Props – Propscan be any objectusedwithinthe frame,canbe usedto dressthe setor can be used
by the actors inthe frame.E.g.Doctor Who’sSonicScrewdriver.Props have symbolicsignificance
and can give subtle butsignificanthintsaboutthe characters’ moodor traits.Some mayalso
foreshadowwhathappenslaterinthe film.
Set/Location – Setsare usedto letthe audience know whattime periodthe filmwassetin.Setsare
usuallybuiltforfilming,andare mostlikelypartof a studiocomplex.The setshave tobe dressed
appropriately,whereveritmaybe.Most of the time,the directorandcast etc.will have toleave the
studiotofilminexistinglocationsthathave beenfoundassuitable;thisiscalledLocationShooting.
For example,Glasgow wasdressedtolooklike Philadelphiaforthe filmWorldWarZ.
Blocking & Performance – Blockingisthe positionandthe movementof differentactorsina frame,
inrelationtoeach otherand the camera; the actors at the front are usuallythe mostimportant,and
the characters at the back are generallylessimportant.Performance coversall aspectsof general
acting,e.g.gesturing,expression(emotions),accentetc.

2. Emma Mc Conologue
Lighting– There are differenttypesof lightingthatare usedinmedia:
- High-KeyLighting– it’sbright,andensuresthe lightisevenwithinthe frame,creatinglittle
or no shadowor dark areas.It doesn’treallyhave anydramaticeffect.
- Low-KeyLighting – It’s dark,creatinglotsof shadowsanddark areas.The lightinthis
situationisusuallyfocusedonaperson’sface or a significantprop,whichisusedfor
dramaticeffect.Itallowsforhighcontrastbetweendarkandlightinthe frame. (e.g.Horror
films)
- AmbientLighting– Whena scene isfilmedusingavailable (ortolooklike natural lighting),
makingitlookmore realisticthanmaybe High-KeyorLow-Keylighting.