Media Mise en scene notes

1. Mise-en-scene
What does mise-en-scene mean?
‘Placed in the scene’, Used to describe everything that can be seen in a single
shot.
What are the 6 key areas of mise-en-scene?
-Props
-Costumes
-colour
-Setand Location
-BlockingandPerformance
-Lighting
Colour:
How is colour used in the 3 below pictures?
1. Her hair suggests she has a split personality.
The coat shows that on the outside she is nice but on the inside she has a red coat which may
suggest the blood of the dogs. The dress may show that she has an evil core.
2. Green with envy because she’s jealous of the princess. All she wears is black which may show
she is evil all over. The purple may demonstrate that she is royalty and has a bit of magic in her.
3. She is wearing all white and light blue portraying she is very innocent. The black to blue in the
background can foreshadow that she is going to go back to wearing drags.
Costume:
What can we interpret from these costumes?
-Chavs
-Young mum -
-Not very intelligent
-Different fathers
-Formal
-Mysterious
-Serious
- Smartly
dressed

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:
Menu, tables, chair, cutlery, food, drink, flowers, candles, fake couple
How would actors be directed to use them:
Pretend to eat and drink
Location:
Can be a purpose built set or a real location
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:
High Key Lighting- Lighting ensures even light across the frame with little or no
shadow or dark areas. Little dramatic effect.
Low Key Lighting- Allows for a high contrast between light and dark with shadow
often being used for dramatic effect.
How is lighting being used to create mood in the following examples?
Low KeyLighting serioustone
Moody andsinister Facesare
visible
HighKeyLighting
Dark againstthe man to foreshadow
himbeingevil

3. Mise-en-scene