This document discusses different elements of mise-en-scène that can be used to convey information about characters and setting. It explains that props, costumes, location, color, and hair and makeup choices provide visual clues about characters' personalities, social statuses, time periods, and the atmosphere or mood of a scene. Strategic use of these elements of mise-en-scène allows filmmakers to tell stories without words.

1. Mise-En-Scene
Research.

2. Props
When it comes to setting up the scene it often means ensuring you involve the right
selection of props and there is more to prop placement than simply putting something
in the background to fill the empty space. Props can tell the story just as much as the
characters used or the location in which it is set in. Props can easily set the story, by
including props in scenes which fit with the character or tell a story to the audience in
which will come in useful later when trying to establish what the character is all about.
Characters can be given props which provide additional information about themselves
or the action where it is taking place such as their clothing, what they are handling or
what they are walking towards etc. For example if the character is walking around with
several
pill packets in their pocket this automatically gives the audience
the impression that this character has a problem.
Props also allow to show when the film was set
Such as if there were a jukebox and checkered
Flooring we automatically assume that is the 60’s.
Another example is if the scene including half-
Eaten pizza’s, cans of fizzy pop and empty
Packets everywhere we’d automatically assume that the
Person living in this apartment was a slob and untidy.

3. Costumes.
When it comes to choosing the costumes to use without your film product you can use
different methods to create a particular look such as style, shape, choice of item, colours
and the way it is worn/when it is worn. Such as with the image below by the use of the
costume we automatically know that this character is aimed to look like a superhero due
to the colour scheme, mask which she is wearing which shows mystery and the printed
sign on the front stating who she is.
Costumes can tell us a lot about the character itself such as what type of person they
are, how they are feeling, what culture them come from etc. Such as if you put a
character in tracksuit bottoms, snap back and tracksuit hoody it might represent them
as having a rough background. Costumes can also show a sense of status, such as a
uniform for a police man
It shows his authority and automatic respect should be shown
Towards this character.
Baggy, floaty clothes might represent someone as shy and tight,
Revealing clothing might represent them as flirtatious and
Confident.

4. Location.
When choosing the location for your film to be set, you have to fit it with what the
storyline is like, what the whole films about, do the characters fit with the scene, will it
work well and finally does it create the atmosphere in which you are wanting. With the
picture below you automatically relate it to a horror film or a thriller, due to the
darkness and intensity of the setting and how it looks so out of the way, creepy, old
fashioned and dangerous.
A location can tell us a lot about the people included in it such as a dirty, bloodstained
basement can tell us the character has something wrong with them mentally and are
the villain within the storyline. A innocent, naive, ditsy character can put across a
typical character who means no harm. Also a character could react to the location in
a different way which shows us a bit more about their personality and the way they
react to things which over all gives us a larger understand of the character and keeps
us more
Interested in the film and could give a connection from
The audience to a particular character.

5. Colour.
By using colour within a scene it can represent a range of
different things. Such as red can represent death, anger,
passion, danger and love just depends when and where
it is placed. Blue can represent innocence, calm,
peaceful and sometimes sad. To create the right mood
and look to the scene colour is vital such as if you used a
bright and lively colour such as pink in a death scene it
wouldn’t create as much effect as you may originally of
Hair and Makeup.
aimed for.
The appearance of hair and makeup and the cosmetics a
character may be using/wearing such as lipstick, skin
head, spiked hair or dark makeup help tell us things
about the character. Such as if a male had spiked pitch
black hair with dark eye makeup and a pale face we’d
automatically assume he is a goth or emo who enjoys
metal music. Or a female wearing light makeup with little
on and innocent curled hair this puts her across as pretty
and naive.