The document discusses the film technique of mise-en-scene, which refers to everything within the frame of a shot that has been deliberately arranged by the director. It outlines several key elements of mise-en-scene including settings and props, costume/makeup, lighting, positioning of characters, and facial expressions/body language. The document provides examples of how these elements are used to convey meaning, establish time period/setting, develop characters, and influence the audience's emotional response. Directors manipulate elements of mise-en-scene to intentionally create specific atmospheres and thematic messages through their films.

1. FILM ANALYSIS -’. MISE EN SCENE
NEVER FORGET! ! NOTHING YOU SEE IS EVER ACCIDENTAL IN A FRAME!!!

2. Session Aims
• 1. By the end of this session you will understand the meaning of Mis en
scene.
• 2. You will be able to breakdown the names of the elements of ‘Mis en
scene’ shown in this presentation and identify some examples of each.
• 3. You will understand why composers use Mis en scene in their filming
and why it is used in a specific way and nothing accidentally ‘gets in there’.
• 4. You will be able to analyse various film clips to uncover how elements of
‘Mise en scene’ create a certain atmosphere, portray ‘characterisation’
and evoke thematic concerns.

3. ‘Mise en scene’-
A French term meaning - ‘to put into the picture’ or otherwise known as
‘everything that is put into a picture or in front of a camera’.
Elements of Mise en scene –
- Settings and Props
- Costume, hair and make up
- Colour
- Lighting
- Positioning of characters and props within the
frame
- Facial Expressions and Body language

4. Settings & Props
• Are especially arranged by the director to create a certain environment.
To enable conflict (of whatever type) and to unveil characters' motives and personalities while
also raising an audience's expectation of the genre of the film . (E.g. science fiction films have certain
settings and props like perhaps flying cars or futuristic outfits or hairstyles like the video clip below.) Double click on the
‘hi’ or if watching the slideshow the video will load in a few seconds.
Q. What image or personality
difference does this clip bring
out between the 2 main
characters?
Q .Identify what aspects of
Mise en scene show these
differences and how?
Q. What time period is this image portrayed to be in? Identify specific elements of Mise
en scene that convey this. (Many times most or all the elements of mise en scene are
in the same frame so it is okay to mention other elements like the ones below when
answering this or any other question.)

5. Costume, (Style and quality of
clothing), Hair & Make Up
• 1. Costume, (their style and quality) and hair and make up
often portray, whether genuine or not, a character's social or economic
status, and aspects of their personality.
2 .This also conveys what time period the film or play is set in - (the past, the
present or the future) and the beliefs or cultural ideals that society were centred
around at that time. ‘Retro’ clothing and lack of technical props such as cell
phones or tablets would probably be clues that the film setting was fairly old.

6. de
Colour
•Colour has many connotations/symbols or connections with other
meanings. Eg. The colour red is often used to depict heat – the heat of
passion/romance - anger, love, hate or war with its bloodshed.
•
•In contrast to red, a scene with really dull grey or black background
colours could represent a polluted environment or a war zone. It could
also give the viewer a feeling of ‘loss of hope’, or ‘despair’. (See the video
clip at the end of ‘the café bomb blast’.)
•Please note however that colours may have different connotations
according to different cultures. E.g white in some nationalities, like the
Chinese may mean ‘death’ and not ‘purity’ as Westerners often believe it
means. It is important to be aware of which culture the film is based on.

7. Lighting
• To highlight important characters or objects within the frame
• To make characters look mysterious by shading sections of the face & body
• To reflect a character’s mental state/hidden emotions (i.e. bright =
happy, dark = disturbed
LOW NATURAL KEY UPPER FRONT
BACKGROUND LIGHTING ON THE
LIGHT CREATES LADY’S TURNED
SHADOWS AND FACE & GOWN AND
CAUSES MAN’S FOREHEAD
VIEWERS’FOCUS SHOULDERS &
TO BE ON THE FOREARMS
CHARACTERS. HIGHLIGHT
PHYSICAL
INTIMACY
FILLER LIGHTS WITH
LITTLE OTHER LIGHT
PRESENT CAUSE THE
INSIDE SETTING TO
APPEAR MYSTERIOUS
AND CAVE LIKE –
OUTSIDE NATURAL LIGHT WHICH IS REFLECTIING ALSO
LIGHTER THAN THE INSIDE, CREATES THE COOL
AN EERIE AND UNCOMFORTABLE EMOTIONALLY
ATMOSPHERE INSIDE THE DETACHED MOOD
DWELLING, CAUSING VIEWERS TO OF THE MALE
FEEL TENSE AND CURIOUS. TOWARDS THE GIRL.

8. OBVIOUS (OR HIGH KEY) LIGHTING:
•More filler lights are used. Lighting is natural and realistic to our eyes
•Produces brightly lit sets or a sunny day (right)
High key lighting on the main character draws attention to her coy
expression, glowing face and well manicured nails. The addition of filler
and natural daylight throughout the whole classroom could portray the
character’s optimistic mood and a feeling of a comfortable classroom
environment.

9. TYPES OF LIGHTING
• SUBTLE (OR LOW KEY) LIGHTING:
• Created by using only the key & back lights
• Produces sharp contrasts of light and dark areas
• Deep, distinct shadows/silhouettes are formed
• Example: Horror Films or 1950 ‘black noir detective crime films’.
Q. How does the distance of the two characters and the smoky dimly lit room
make you feel? Q. What atmosphere does it create? What type of tension is
created and why? Join all the previous questions together by referring to distance,
dim lighting and vision and tension and you should be able to answer in a more
complete way.

10. Positioning of characters/objects
within the frame-
1. A film maker can use positioning of characters or props including film
angles to indicate the nature of relationships between characters. These
could be healthy or unhealthy relationships, intimate or ‘cool’
relationships.
2. It can also be used to draw attention to certain characters. To give some
background information to the movie still below, character #1 has fallen
off a high building and the other character #2 has grabbed him.
Q. Based on the ascendant position of character #2 along with bright high key lighting on
him, who would you infer has the dominance in this relationship? Character 1 or 2? How is
character #1 presented in this relationship and what elements of Mise en scene show this
and how? Be specific.

11. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS & BODY LANGUAGE
Facial Expressions provide a clear indicator of how someone is feeling. These can convey a
character's mental or emotional state of mind towards themself, their family, other
peers, authority figures or society in general in any one of those combinations.
Note the distance
Turned away and between their bodies
down ward looking and faces
eyes
Awkward angle of
Folded arms neck in an effort to
engage with the
lady.
If someone is smiling widely, we would assume that they are happy but we may get a different
impression if the setting was isolated and a threatening music track was playing in the
background!
Body Language may also indicate how a character feels towards another character and the
state of their relationship.
* Please note however that composers can present characters a certain way to trick viewers
into believing a stereotype. Be careful here! Things are not always as they seem with
costume and body language. Eg. For those who know the play of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the
eternal question is …was Hamlet really as crazy as his costume, behaviour and language led
everyone around him in the royal court to believe? (This question is not expected to be
answered )
• Body Language may also indicate how a character feels towards another character or may reflect the state of their relationship

12. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS & BODY LANGUAGE
CONTINUED
Q. What is the emotion that these characters feel for each other?
Q. Which elements of Mise en scene show this emotion (name three) and how do
the elements work together to convey the emotion that’s shown? Be specific .
Remember that as long as you can prove your interpretation with
examples, techniques and explanations your perspective is absolutely valid.

13. Why is Mis en scene important in
films?
• To portray certain settings in order to uncover truths or sources of
conflicts among characters and/or their environment in order to cause
viewers to consider similar issues in their own environment.
Note –The
Note- The
inclusion in piled up
the frame of
takeaway
rubbish on the
coffee. side walk.
As you look at
What does
the video of that indicate
this scene
(next
about the
slide), think economic
about various
mise en scene
climate?
elements such
as props that
make this film
futuristic yet
contemporary
in terms of Q . Write down what you think happened and what aspects of mis en
themes.
scene make this shot look so realistic.

14. Look at Mis en scene elements
throughout this video clip.
Name 5 elements of Mise en scene that you have learned throughout this clip and
how each element contributes to your feeling of what the setting is, the economic
and social climate, the atmosphere and any thematic concerns the composer may be
raising. Don’t forget the ‘how’ . (Describe the film techniques and their effects etc in
your answer)