This document defines key concepts in mise-en-scene and analyzes examples. Mise-en-scene includes everything visible on screen (props, costumes, lighting, locations, etc.). Costumes in examples portray characters as good/evil or poor/wealthy. Lighting sets moods like mystery or intimidation. Props suggested for a police interrogation include a gun, mug, chairs, and handcuffs. Blocking refers to actor positioning, and performance to acting elements like expression.

1. Mise-en-scene
Verisimilitude = the appearance of being true or real.
What does mise-en-scene mean?
Everything in the scene / In the frame.
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
Props
Lighting
Costume
Sound/ Fx or colour
Location
Blocking/Performance
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
Colour of red on the inside
of the coat shows the
sacrificeand grotesque way
she has itbut the white on
the outside shoes how she
wants to be portrayed and
pure.
The colour of the predominant
black and dark colours used
shows she is simply evil and all
evil. Her skin is also and an olive
green to show an evil witch or
magical effect. However her red
lipstick shows her feminine side
and also another sin of lust.
The colour ofwhiteshines
throughout thecostume
showing she is good pure.All
suggests she is a protagonist
and pure. Thesparkles also
emphasis a magicalaspect to
the character and further shows
her as pure. Purpleshows
importanceas itis associated
with royalaty
These costumes show a casual but sort of cheap
clothing that has the appearance of perhaps a poor
sense to these characters the bins in the background
emphasise this. However, this is not one of the
costumes involved. They are quite scruffy and all
wearing similar clothing, One of them seems to be
wearing a hat with black clothing m also his positioning
suggest he is a protagonist.
These charactersare
smart,perhaps
outdoorsyastheyare
wearingcoatsand one
wearinga scarf. Perhaps
theyare constantly
active and alwaysdoing
thingsor protectedin
some wayas theircoats
are extralayersperhaps
theyare protectedas
theyworkwiththe
police.

2. Mise-en-scene
Verisimilitude = the appearance of being true or real.
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.
Option 1
Props needed:
Gun, Coffee/ Mug, Chairs, Handcuffs.
How would actors be directed to use them:
They would usually use them as an action for example if it was a mug they might
be instructed to drink it or if it was a gun hold it maybe get it out during the
interrogation (Bad Cop)
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:
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
In this shot Low key lightingis used to portray
the characters to in an intimidatingfashion or
perhaps to present a serious tone to the
scene. The characters arealso used to show
importance by blockingand a brightlighting
on the characters whereas on the foreground
it is much darker creatingan underlying
mysterious tone used to add to the serious
feel.
In this shot the contrastbetween the
characters is obviousas oneis lighter than
the other one but the other one is standing
this may show how one may have more
power as he is standingbuthe may not be
pure or on the good sideand evil.Whereas
the woman may have less power as sheis
sittingdown but she will bepurer of heart