Mise-en-scene refers to everything visible within a film frame, including setting, lighting, costume, props, blocking/performance, and color. It was originally a theatre term referring to how a director arranged elements on stage, and was later adopted by film studies to recognize the director's contributions beyond just following a script. Mise-en-scene aims to create a believable world for the story and can provide symbolic clues about characters, mood, and themes through deliberate design choices for these visual elements. It is often guided by the conventions of a particular genre to help establish meaning and identity within that genre.

1. AS Media
Film Language: Mise-en-scene
The term mise-en-scene, translated literally from the French, means ‘placed
in the scene’. It was first used in the theatre and referred to the way in which
a director arranged theatrical elements and events on stage.
Mise-en-scene was developed as a critical tool to allow the contribution of
directors working within the Hollywood studio system (the way the major
studios operated as ‘factories’ in the 1930s-50s) to be recognised. Prior to
this, directors were thought to have little or no control over a film, simply
following the shooting script supplied by the studio.
In film studies (also applicable to TV, ads, music videos etc) it is used to
describe everything that can be seen in a single shot, such as:
Setting ~ set design within a studio
or location outside of a studio
 Usually a matter of providing
credible space within which
action happens.
 A set will be constructed but
even a location will have
elements of construction.
 Setting can indicate time and
place.
 Setting can be symbolic and
express themes and
characters – there will be a
design concept.
Lighting ~ basic role is the
illumination of subjects
 Ambient lighting uses available
light such as daylight.
 Artificial lighting can be used to
create effects, eg; low key
lighting means shadows are
not eliminated which can add
to the overall visual effect and
can also add symbolic qualities
to the shot. High key lighting is
designed to eliminate shadows
and allow a full range of tones
to create an even and natural
appearance.
Costume ~ selection of costumes will
be deliberate, in keeping with their
character on the one hand and the
design concept for the text as a whole
 Costume can be considered to
include clothes, hair and make-
up.
 Creates an identity and
personality for the characters.
 Forms a cultural code –
audience understand how
costume etc provides
clues/codes about people and

2. situations.
Props (short for properties) ~ these
are used to dress the set in a way
appropriate to its subject matter, style
and theme.
 Props are objects within the
frame and are used to create
verisimilitude or credibility –
the creation of a believable
world.
 Can have symbolic power –
expressing mood, character
etc.
Blocking and Performance ~
placement/arrangement of actors and
objects and how the performer acts
and delivers lines.
 Positioning can express
relationships and power
between characters.
 Attention can be drawn to
certain objects which may be
being used symbolically.
 Performance concerns itself
with voice, gesture, posture
and movement.
 Some established stars carry
additional
meanings/reputations which
may be relevant to the film.
Colour  Cultural codes associate
different colours and tones with
different meanings.
 Can give additional,
subconscious/symbolic
information about characters.
Mise-en-scene is sometimes specific to a genre with the use of costume,
props, lighting etc being guided by the conventions of that genre. For
example, a Western will be set in an arid, desert environment with characters
wearing spurs, carrying guns and riding horses. These elements are also
referred to as the iconography of the genre. Mise-en-scene, conventions and
iconography help to create meaning within a genre.