notes

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
 Everything in the scene
 (how it impacts the audience)
 Originate from theatre and the stage
 Semiotics of everything in the scene
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
 Colour
 Costume
 Props
 Set/location
 Blocking and performance
 Lighting
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Cruella is in a black dress with a white coat to symbolise how she is almost trying
to cover up and forge the fact that she is actually a horrible person by wearing the
white coat that symbolises purity. Hair colour split symbolises her two
personalities.
Maleficent is green to symbolism the envy she feels towards Arora and her beauty.
Her black clothes show her dark nature and intensions.
Cinderella is in a pale blue dress to symbolise her purity and beauty. Her pale skin
symbolises her innocents and beauty.

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.
Option 2 – You have to provide props for a romantic meal between two characters
on their first date. Decide what props you would incorporate and how the actors
should be directed to use them.
Props needed:
How would actors be directed to use them:
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
The hats and wellies and baggy unmatching
clothes show that these people don’t have
a lot of money and can’t afford nicer clothes.
Wellies are versatile shoes for all whether.
The location could demonstrate how they come
from a more chavy background.
Sherlock and Watson are
wearing more expensive
clothes and look more
serious and wealthy.
The location shows they are
more wealthy and privileged.

3. Mise-en-scene
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)
Where people are positioned can have a massive impact on how people are
viewed in a scene and their status.
 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 key: High key:
Dramatic brighter
Dark Happier
More open