film studies - mise en scene ideas

1. Mise-en-Scene
In Fantasy/Thrillers

2. Costume and Make-up
Within fantasy/thrillers they rely heavily on costume and make up as they are trying to create
a sense of realism within a fantasy world. This makes the film more tense and sane as the
audience can believe the idea of a ‘another/fantasy world’ does exist or conclude that the
costume and makeup add to the effect of creating a realistic fabrication of an another world.
The images below are examples of well known fantasy/thrillers and how costume and makeup
are used effectively within these films. The middle and bottom right two pictures are taken
from the Harry Potter phenomenon, the bottom right picture shows specifically how makeup
has transformed an actor into a thrilling villain by making him look paler and gaunt. Typically
costumes within this genre are predominately dark and dull, usually using various greys and
blacks, however there are some exceptions of the use of color but they are still not vibrant and
vivid. In the bottom left corner is a picture from ‘Horns’ a new fantasy/thriller film, the use of
special effect makeup is clear this is used to demonstrate the ‘other worldly’ nature of these
genre films. It is intended to look unrealistic as well as realistic at the same time. I would say in
fantasy/thrillers makeup and costume play an important part in creating a successful film
within this genre.

3. Props
Similarly to costume and makeup within this element of Mise en scene it props play an
important role in creating a believable fantasy world. A prop used in films of this genre help
contribute to the visual perception and understanding of theme within the film. Typically
within fantasy/thrillers the main use of props are weapons, but these weapons customarily
have a supernatural power, for example in the picture below to the left shows Harry Potter
with his wand which is used as prop to symbolize power as this as his weapon that displays his
supernatural magic. Additionally within fantasy/thrillers props are used to signify the role of a
character, for example the picture in the bottom right hand corner shows that the two main
props used are a pitchfork and a snake around his neck which are all symbols associated with
the devil which links to the fantasy ideology of the film as it is an idea of an other worldly so
called God. Adding to this it also adds to the thriller culture of the film as the devil is identified
to be linked with evil and horror.

4. Lighting
Generally within fantasy/thrillers the lighting
is dark and dim, as the majority of these film
are shot in isolated gloomy settings that are
usually associated with dark lighting and
shadows. Usually as a rule in this genre of
film there is only one source of lighting used
to great the defined dark and dim effect.
With the three images shown to the left, the
bottom two follow the the general rules for
lighting within fantasy/thrillers, however the
top shot is a lot lighter than normally
expected to see in films of this genre. So
overall I have come to the conclusion that
generally most fantasy/thrillers use dark
lighting but the brighter lighting can be used
but usually it is still shot in a mysterious
exterior location such as a forest.

5. Locations – Exterior
Predominately fantasy/thrillers have other worldly exterior locations so they reflect the
illusion of the new world they are trying to create. Often specific locations used are
castles and forests as they have iconic connections with other worldly creatures and the
supernatural which adds to the thriller suspense side of the genre and the fantasy
ideology of an existing other world. The images below are taken from well known
fantasy/thrillers. The first image is taken from the Harry Potter franchise and shows the
exterior location of Hogwarts the castle for the witches and wizards, this location
becomes the main location throughout the film and is iconic to the franchise which
reinstates the importance of the exterior locations to set the scene. The other two
images show the forest used for ‘red riding hood’ and the city in ‘Inception’.
Fantasy/thrillers make use of open spaces in the exterior locations, often making a
person or supernatural creature look detached and unusual to the real world.

6. Locations – Interior
With interior locations similarly to exterior locations fantasy/thrillers make use of open
space by either placing a specific prop in the center of the frame to reinforce it
importance within the narrative of the film. However they also use wide/long shots to
show a open space filled making the area look full and eventful. Generally interior
locations are of aged buildings that have been reinvented to be lived in, such as shown
below the Hogwarts dining hall. Interior locations are usually dark and dim similarly to
the exterior locations to keep the theme of mystery and thriller running throughout the
films. The third screen shot is taken from ‘red riding hood’ the interior of this shot is
clustered and small which is a iconic interior for fantasy thrillers, the space used is small
this creates tension and pressure on the actors and the props visible in the shot to
create a believe fantasy setting.