Media Studies - mise-en-scene

1. Media Studies
Investigating mise-en-scène

2. Mise-en-scène
• a French term meaning what is put into a scene
or frame

3. Mise-en-scène
• a French term meaning what is put into a scene
or frame
• visual information in front of the camera

4. Mise-en-scène
• a French term meaning what is put into a scene
or frame
• visual information in front of the camera
• communicates essential information to the
audience

5. Mise-en-scène
• a French term meaning what is put into a scene
or frame
• visual information in front of the camera
• communicates essential information to the
audience
• made up of 5 elements.

6. Mise-en-scène
• a French term meaning what is put into a scene
or frame
• visual information in front of the camera
• communicates essential information to the
audience
• made up of 5 elements.

7. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène

8. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props

9. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props
• costume, hair & make-up

10. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props
• costume, hair & make-up
• facial expressions & body language

11. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props
• costume, hair & make-up
• facial expressions & body language
• lighting & colour

12. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props
• costume, hair & make-up
• facial expressions & body language
• lighting & colour
• position of characters/objects in the frame

13. The 5 Elements of Mise-en-scène
• settings & props
• costume, hair & make-up
• facial expressions & body language
• lighting & colour
• position of characters/objects in the frame

14. Each aspect of mise-en-scène
should add more meaning to the film
and send signals to the audience
about how they are supposed to feel
at a certain point

15. Each aspect of mise-en-scène
should add more meaning to the film
and send signals to the audience
about how they are supposed to feel
at a certain point
CONNOTATIONS

16. Settings & Props
Mise-en-scène

17. Settings & Props
• sets & locations are not just random backgrounds
Mise-en-scène

18. Settings & Props
• sets & locations are not just random backgrounds
• sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time
is spent to find a setting which already exists
Mise-en-scène

19. Settings & Props
• sets & locations are not just random backgrounds
• sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time
is spent to find a setting which already exists
• settings can manipulate an audience by building certain
expectations (they have connotations) and then taking
a different turn.
Mise-en-scene

20. Settings & Props
• sets & locations are not just random backgrounds
• sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time
is spent to find a setting which already exists
• settings can manipulate an audience by building certain
expectations (they have connotations) and then taking
a different turn.
Mise-en-scène

21. Costume, Hair & Make-Up
• costume, hair & make-up are an instant
indicator of a character’s personality, status,
job, etc.
Mise-en-scène

22. Costume, Hair & Make-Up
• costume, hair & make-up are an instant
indicator of a character’s personality, status,
job, etc.
• we know immediately whether the film is set
in the present and what society or culture it
centres around
Mise-en-scène

23. Costume, Hair & Make-Up
• costume, hair & make-up are an instant
indicator of a character’s personality, status,
job, etc.
• we know immediately whether the film is set
in the present and what society or culture it
centres around
• certain costumes can signify certain individuals
(i.e. black cloak of a vampire, Spidey’s
Spiderman suit)
Mise-en-scène

24. Costume, Hair & Make-Up
• costume, hair & make-up are an instant
indicator of a character’s personality, status,
job, etc.
• we know immediately whether the film is set
in the present and what society or culture it
centres around
• certain costumes can signify certain individuals
(i.e. black cloak of a vampire, Spidey’s
Spiderman suit)
Mise-en-scène

25. Mise-en-scène

26. Mise-en-scène

27. Mise-en-scène

28. Mise-en-scène

29. Facial Expressions & Body Language
• facial expression provides a clear indicator of how
someone is feeling
Mise-en-scène

30. Facial Expressions & Body Language
• facial expression provides a clear indicator of how
someone is feeling
• if someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are
happy however other elements can be used to change
and anchor the true meaning of the smile.
Mise-en-scène

31. Facial Expressions & Body Language
• facial expression provides a clear indicator of how
someone is feeling
• if someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are
happy however other elements can be used to change
and anchor the true meaning of the smile.
• body language indicates how a character feels or may
reflect the state of a relationship between characters.
Mise-en-scène

32. Facial Expressions & Body Language
• facial expression provides a clear indicator of how
someone is feeling
• if someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are
happy however other elements can be used to change
and anchor the true meaning of the smile.
• body language indicates how a character feels or may
reflect the state of a relationship between characters.
Mise-en-scène

33. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

34. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

35. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

36. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

37. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

38. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

39. What meanings/emotions do these images
convey?

40. Positioning of Characters & Objects
in the frame
Mise-en-scène

41. Positioning of Characters & Objects
in the frame
• positioning within a frame can draw our attention
to an important character or object
Mise-en-scène

42. Positioning of Characters & Objects
in the frame
• positioning within a frame can draw our attention
to an important character or object
• the positioning of people in the frame should
indicate the relationship between them
Mise-en-scène

43. Positioning of Characters & Objects
in the frame
• positioning within a frame can draw our attention
to an important character or object
• the positioning of people in the frame should
indicate the relationship between them
Mise-en-scène

44. What does positioning in this image reveal?

45. What does positioning in this image reveal?

46. What does positioning in this image reveal?

47. What does positioning in this image reveal?

48. What does positioning in this image reveal?

49. What does positioning in this image reveal?

50. What does positioning in this image reveal?

51. What does positioning in this image reveal?

52. What does positioning in this image reveal?

53. Lighting & Colour
can be used to achieve a variety of effects
Mise-en-scène

54. Lighting & Colour
can be used to achieve a variety of effects
• to highlight important characters or objects within the
frame
Mise-en-scène

55. Lighting & Colour
can be used to achieve a variety of effects
• to highlight important characters or objects within the
frame
• to make characters look mysterious by shading sections
of the face & body
Mise-en-scène

56. Lighting & Colour
can be used to achieve a variety of effects
• 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 or hidden emotions,
i.e. bright = happy, dark = disturbed, strobe = confused
Mise-en-scène

57. Lighting & Colour
can be used to achieve a variety of effects
• 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 or hidden emotions,
i.e. bright = happy, dark = disturbed, strobe = confused
Mise-en-scène

58. Types of Lighting
LOW KEY
• created by using only key
& back lights
• produces sharp contrasts
of light and dark areas
• deep, distinct shadows or
silhouettes
Mise-en-scène

59. Types of Lighting
LOW KEY
• created by using only key
& back lights
• produces sharp contrasts
of light and dark areas
• deep, distinct shadows or
silhouettes
Mise-en-scène

60. Types of Lighting
HIGH KEY
• more fill light is used and
the light is natural and
realistic to our eyes
• produces brightly lit sets
or a sunny day
Mise-en-scène

61. Types of Lighting
HIGH KEY
• more fill light is used and
the light is natural and
realistic to our eyes
• produces brightly lit sets
or a sunny day
Mise-en-scène

62. A
FD
C
E
B
What type of lighting is used in each of
these frames?

63. Colour
has many connotations when used in the frame

64. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

65. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

66. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
• evoke an atmosphere
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

67. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
• evoke an atmosphere
• give the audience information
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

68. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
• evoke an atmosphere
• give the audience information
• provoke an audience response
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

69. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
• evoke an atmosphere
• give the audience information
• provoke an audience response
• highlight key themes
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène

70. When analysing a sequence in terms of mise en scène, we
need to look at how all the different elements and
techniques work together to…
• tell a story
• evoke an atmosphere
• give the audience information
• provoke an audience response
• highlight key themes
Analysing a sequence
Mise-en-scène