Mise-en-scene refers to everything visible within the frame of a shot that contributes to the audience's understanding, including lighting, costumes, props, sets/locations, blocking/performance, and color. The document discusses these six key elements of mise-en-scene and provides examples to illustrate how each element is used to convey meaning and create mood. Props, costumes, blocking/performance, lighting, and location/set are analyzed in short examples and questions to demonstrate their role in visual storytelling.

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
It means “placed in scene” and was first used in theatre and is referred to the way
the director organises the stage. Within media its used to describe everything that
can be seen in one shot .
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
Lighting
Costume
Props
Set/location
Blockingandperformance
Colour
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Red Purple Black blue white
Danger power evil water purity
passion wealth darkness bright innocent
love royalty night sky
anger happiness
death
romance

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:
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
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
Costumes include hair, make-up and clothes and help create an identity for the
character. Costumes can help the audience get to know a characters personality
and possibly their situations. The family in the picture all look very different which
could allude to them either being adopted or having different dads. None of their
clothes are braded which could imply their money situation. In the second picture
Sherlock and Watson are wearing what look like posh , higher end clothes making
them look very professional.

3. Mise-en-scene
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
Lighting:
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
High key lighting – ensures even light across a scene with little or no shadows or
dark areas
Low-key lighting - lighting allows for high contrast between the light and dark within
the frame with shadow often being used for dramatic effect
Ambient lighting – the scene have been lit with available light