Mise-en-scene refers to everything visible within the frame of a shot that can create meaning, including color, costume, props, set design, lighting, and the blocking and performance of actors. The key areas of mise-en-scene are color, costume, props, set/location, blocking and performance, and lighting. Color, costume, props, set design, blocking, and lighting can all be manipulated to convey specific meanings and influence the audience's interpretation of the events on screen.

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
It means ‘placed in the scene’
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
1. Colour
2. Costume
3. Props
4. Set/location
5. Blocking and performance
6. Lighting
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
Colour connotations:
Red – blood, hate, death (dead puppy skin)
White – pure
Green skin – dead, immortal
Black and white hair – crazy, mad, black and white (split personality)
White dress – innocent, pure, princess
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
Puffer coats and baby pink - cheap
Long black trench coats and a neat scarf – smart, upper class, sophisticated

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: dress the scene:
- Paper work
- Radio
- Lie detector test
- One-way mirror
- Recorder
How would actors be directed to use them:
Someone taking a lie detector test, another looking through the mirror.
A policeman calling someone over the radio. Interviewer holding u the recorder to
recording the conversation of the suspects. The paper work on the desk is being
scanned through by an inspector.
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
Set – man made staging (friends)
Locations – where the set is based
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?
Low key lighting – dark, more shadow and dark/hidden areas
High key lighting – bright, little shadow or dark areas

3. Mise-en-scene