mise en scene notes and worksheet

1. Mise-en-scene Madeleine Parker 12N
The blacksmart suits imply
theyare workingfor a
business. The coats and
scarf implyit is a coldtype
of year. The blue scarf and
red waist coat implythey
have power and influence.
Appear to be from a high
socialclass, well dressed
and groomedimplies
wealth. Posh door behind
them impliestheylive in a
well-known/established
part of the countrywhich
is also wealthy.
What does mise-en-scene mean?
It is French and it means everything in the scene e.g. prop, costume, setting,
colours…
 Sound(diegeticandnon-diegetic)
 Semiotics(the studyof signs)
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
1. lighting
2. costume
3. Props
4. Set/location
5. Colour
6. Blockingandperformance
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
Red connotes blood, deathandevil.
Black dress connotes to the
character havinganevil/dark core.
The white outside connotesto
looking innocent on the outside
contrasted withdarkand evil on the
inside. The black andwhite hair
implies the is very2 faced
Green skinimpliesthat she is envious
and jealous ofothers. The purple
shows she has some type ofpower
and royaltyover others, the black
coat implies she has an evilness/
darknessto her. The horns show she
is fierce andreadyto attack/ fight
back like ananimal.
The crown shows she is royal and
has some power, the white shows
her innocence andpurity, the pale
blue shows she is a soft gentle and
kind character. The white around
her implies she is magical or
something magical has happenedto
her. The blackbehindher implies
she hashad a bad/ dark past.
Cheap andmatching clothing impliespoverty. The big
coats implythat the weather is coldsoit is probably
set inwinter time. Theyare all matching insome way
which implies theyare all family. The girl on the left
seems fashionable comparedto the rest of the family
bywhat she is wearing. Appear from a lowsocial
class, like a ‘typical Britishbenefits /estate family’.

2. Mise-en-scene Madeleine Parker 12N
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:
Rose/ bunch of flowers, expensive jewelry, candles/ red lighting, posh table cloths,
plates and cutlery
How would actors be directed to use them:
Rose/ bunch of flowers- given to the lady by the man as she sits down for her
meal.
Expensive jewelry- worn by the woman to show wealth and high social class and
that she is well groomed.
Candles/ red lighting- lit on the table to create a romantic ambience in the room
Posh table cloths, plates and cutlery- Implies wealth within the couple and they
can afford to eat at a posh restaurant and it is romantic because the man wants to
treat the woman to an expensive meal / he wants the best for her.
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
Romantic restaurant with candles and flowers
Gold implies wealth
Secluded table implies intimacy
Red undertones create a romantic setting
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.
In the Downton abbey picture the 2 most important
people are in the foreground of the image and in
focus. The most important person is facing the
camera making her more important than the other
lady. The butler in the background is out of focus
which shows he is not very important, he is of a
lower class and status and he isn’t a relevant character in this scene. The butler is
very formal and well dressed and of good stature and the lady on the sofa is more
relaxed because she is in her home and the lady in red seems anxious and
worried and she is leaning on the sofa showing she needs support at this time also
that she is tired. She is also looking down on the other lady showing she is of
higher status and importance than her.

3. Mise-en-scene Madeleine Parker 12N
To create a dark, scary
and tense atmosphere
To create a light,airyandprofessional
atmosphere forthe workplace
Lighting:
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
Props from House
 Gun
 Hat
 Walking stick
 Medical equipment
 Go kart
 Paper airplane
 Boom box
 Glasses
 Ball
 Coffee
 Knives
 Drugs
He seems like quite a crazy person/ wild. He seems quite childish because he
goes go karting, throws paper airplanes and plays with basket balls in his office
at work. Seems careless and unprofessional, he uses a gun at work and uses
needles and knives on patients quite carelessly and ruthlessly , he is also on
drugs and drinks a lot of coffee which implies a drug and caffeine addiction.
Location
Location 1) I would shoot a fantasy film here because it looks like something out of
a story book.
Location2) I would shoot a historical film because it looks like quite an old setting
with old style buildings.
Location 3) I would shoot a sci-fi/ post-apocalyptic film here because it looks like
something out of an apocalypse or out of this world.
I, Robot – Blocking and performance
 The robot is in front of the girl when he saves her which shows he is a
character of importance
 Camera shots keep him in the centre of the shot and closer to the camera
than other characters when he is talking to them showing he is more
important

4. Mise-en-scene Madeleine Parker 12N
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