The document discusses the key elements of mise-en-scene - a French term meaning "what is put into the scene" - that filmmakers can use to influence the audience and provide context. It describes the five main elements of mise-en-scene as setting and props, costuming/makeup, facial expressions and body language, lighting and color, and cinematography including camera shots and angles. The document provides examples of how these elements can be analyzed and what inferences can be made about characters and the narrative from them.

1. Elements of Mise-
en-scene
a French term meaning
‘what is put into the scene or frame’

2. How it works
●What is put in or left out
can make a big difference
●Signals how we, the
audience, are supposed
to feel

3. What can you infer about the film from this picture?

4. What can you infer about the film from this picture?

5. What can you infer about the film from this picture?

6. What can you infer about the film from this picture?

7. ●Setting
○ very rarely just backgrounds
○ used to influence and audience by building certain
characteristics
○ studio set
■ highly controlled
○ on location
■ highly authentic, realistic
1st Element:
Setting and Props

8. ●Props
○ objects in the setting which play a part in the
action rather than just being in the background
1st Element:
Setting and Props

9. What can you infer about the film from this prop?

10. What can you infer about the film from this prop?

11. What can you infer about the film from this prop?

12. What can you infer about the film from this prop?

13. ●Costume
○ can reveal a character’s personality, social status,
or profession
○ gives a sense of time
■ past, present, or future
○ clues us into the part the character will play
■ hero or villain
■ lead or supporting character
2nd Element:
Costuming, Hair & Make-up

14. What can you infer about the film from this wardrobe?

15. What can you infer about the film from this wardrobe?

16. What can you infer about the film from this wardrobe?

17. What can you infer about the film from this wardrobe?

18. What can you infer about the film from this wardrobe?

19. ●What costume features would be expected in
○ a western genre
○ a sci-fi genre
○ romantic comedy
○ teen issues genre
○ post apocalyptic film
○ villains vs heroes
●What genre relies heavily on makeup
Preconceptions of the audience

20. ●Hair and Make Up
○ can reveal a character’s personality, social status,
or profession
○ improves, enhances, or alters the appearance of
the actor for the purpose of the scene
■ bruises, wrinkles, wounds
■ prosthetics, latex, animatronics
○ helps the actor commit to the role
2nd Element:
Costuming, Hair & Make-up

21. What can you infer about the character from this hair?

22. What can you infer about the character from this makeup?

23. What can you infer about the character from this makeup?

24. What can you infer about the character from this makeup?

25. What can you infer about the character from
hair & makeup?

26. ●a clear indication of how someone is thinking or
feeling
●small changes can send out totally different signals
●eyes give particularly important signals
○ it is common for the audience to follow the
direction of the character’s gaze
3rd Element:
Facial expression &
Body language

27. What can you infer about the characters from their
body language?

28. What can you infer about the characters from their
body language?

29. What can you infer about the characters from their
body language?

30. What can you infer about the characters from their
body language?

31. What can you infer about the characters from their
body language?

32. ●Lighting
○ low key creates a sharp contrast of light and dark
areas, dramatic shadows
■ often used in horror and thriller films
○ high key appears normal/realistic
■ often used in romantic comedies and musicals
■ has little dramatic effect itself
4th Element:
Lighting and Color

33. What type of lighting is used?

34. What type of lighting is used?

35. What type of lighting is used?

36. What type of lighting is used?

37. What type of lighting is used?

38. What type of lighting is used?

39. ●Lighting set up
○ Key- shines directly on the subject and serves as
the primary lighting
○ Fill- shines on the subject from an angle and is
usually at a different angle or intensity
○ Back- shines on the subject from behind, serving
to separate the subject from the background
4th Element:
Lighting and Color

40. Three point lighting set up

41. What can you infer about the character from the lighting?

42. How does color affect the mood / tone?

43. How does color affect the mood / tone?

44. How does the absence of color affect the mood / tone?

45. ●How elements are arranged in the frame
○ space between elements
○ proximity to camera or other elements
○ composition within the frame
○ angle of camera to elements
■ high, low, flat, tilt
○ framing or shot distances
■ long, medium, close up
5th Element: Cinematography
Camera Shots & Angles

46. Camera Shots, Angles and Movement

47. What does proximity tell you about these characters?

48. What does the angle tell you about these characters?

49. What does the angle tell you about these characters?

50. What does the framing tell you about this character?

51. What does the framing tell you about this scene?

52. Analyze the mise en scene