Mise-en-scene refers to everything presented to the viewer within the frame of a shot including props, lighting, costumes, blocking/performance, color, and set/location. There are 6 key areas of mise-en-scene: props, lighting, costume, blocking and performance, color, and set/location. Costumes, props, blocking/performance, and lighting can be used to convey meaning and create moods like innocence, evil, tension or romance.

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
Mises- en- scene means everything in the scene like the characters and the props.
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
 Props
 Lighting
 Costume
 Blocking and performance
 Colour
 Set/ location
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
Half white/half blackhair
indicatesamixed
personality.Whitecoat-
nice on outside butred
inside- anger,hatred.
Black dress- evil core.
Green- envy.
Black- evil
Purple- royal,powerful
Lightblue- innocent
Black/dark blue
background- foreshadows
dressisn’tpermanent.
Clothesindicate aworkingclassfamily
Possiblyyoungmother.Different
lookingkidssopossibledifferent
fathers
Upper class- shirt
scarf, coats
Uprightposture- very
composed.

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:
Table, chairs, clipboard, folder, recording device, handcuffs
How would actors be directed to use them:
Good cop bad cop- one with the clipboard the other with the folder with evidence.
The murder handcuffed to the table
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
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.
Lighting:
 High key lighting- bright light, little or no shadows. Not dramatic. Character
is good.
 Low key lighting- lots of contrast between light and dark for dramatic effect.
Character is evil or bad thing is occurring.
 Ambient- natural light from the sun
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
#
Low keylighting.Ominous-something
bad couldhappen.Characterswell lit-
goodguys butcouldbe facingbad
character
Highkeylighting.Ladyisgood- all inlight
but guyis half inlightandhalf in darkso
he couldbe untrustworthy.