1. 5 Elements of Mise-en-scene
1. Settings and Props
o very rarely just backgrounds
o used to influence an audience by building certain expectations
o studio set OR on location
 studio sets have a high degree of control by the filmmaker
 on location provides an authenticity or degree of realism
o props- objects in the setting which play a part in the action rather than just
being in the background
2. Costume, hair and make-up
o costumes-
 can reveal a character’s personality, social status, or job
 gives a sense of time- present, past, or future
 clues us into the part the character will play
o hair and make up
 early cinema used make up to highlight and exaggerate facial features
since black and white film could not register detail very well
3. Facial expression and body language
o a clear indicator of how someone is thinking or feeling
o small changes can send out totally different signals
o Eyes give particularly important signals- it is usual to follow the direction of their
sight
4. Lighting and color
o Low Key Lighting- creates a sharp contrast of light and dark areas
o High Key Lighting- filtered light is used and appears normal/realistic
o Create mood and atmosphere
 reds, blacks, and greens are regularly used
o Guides audience attention to key objects or gestures
o Shadows can build suspense
o absence of color or washed out color can have various connotations as well
5. Arrangement of elements in the frame
o Space
 Depth, proximity, size and proportions of the places and objects in a film
can be manipulated through camera placement and lenses, lighting, set
design, effectively determining mood or relationships between elements
 Onscreen / Offscreen Space (an image that is contained within the
borders of the screen/a suggested image that is left to be imagined by
the viewer—what the listener (not visually projected) is doing while the
speaker (projected onto the screen) in a telephone conversation talks
into the phone. The image created when the sound of a crash is heard
but the crash is not seen.
o Proximity
 foreground denotes importance
 may indicate relationship between people
 a fighting couple would be positioned towards opposite edges of
the frame to reflect the emotional distance

2. o Composition
 organization of objects, actors and space within the frame
o Angle Relationship of the camera to the subject
 High=weak, subordinated, controlled (when not used for maximum
wideness—to show mass or crowd size instead of weakness)
 Low=strong, subordinating, controlling
 Flat=value neutral; neither controlling nor controlled; factual, etc relative
value when juxtaposed to other angles: stronger than high angle and
weaker than low angle
 Tilt angle=when the camera angle is other than 90 degrees may suggest
character, action, conclusions, suspicions are not “right” (as in right
angled); perhaps not being presented accurately, or intended as stated
within the context of the action, etc
o Framing—Shot Distances [the closer the subject, the more potent, powerful,
able to create change; the farther away, the less potent, the weaker, less able
to create change]
 Extreme long shot: A panoramic view of an exterior location,
photographed from a great distance, often as far as a quarter mile away
-sometimes an establishing shot that sets context for later closer shots.
 Long shot: A broad view of objects or action of principle interest. This shot
allows general recognition of the subject at the expense of detail. Also
used as an establishing shot. Reveals the human full human figure, though
more in the middle- than fore- or background. (View from audience to
proscenium arch)
 Medium shot: A relatively close shot, usually revealing the human figure
from head to knees, feet to navel (bellybutton).
 Medium Close up: A relatively close shot, usually revealing the human
from head to waist, feet to thighs, or knees to navel (bellybutton).
 Close up: Reveals head and shoulder of human figure in central focus of
frame.
 Extreme Close up: Reveals a body part: a face, an eye, a pupil; a finger, a
fingernail, etc.
Elements Evidence Explanation
Setting & Props
Costume, hair, make up
Facial expression / Body language
Lighting and color
Camera shots and camera angles