Scribd
Upload
5K views3 pages

Mise en Scene Handout

This document discusses the concept of mise-en-scene in film and television. Mise-en-scene refers to everything that appears in front of the camera, including location, setting, costumes, props, lighting, and performance. Careful consideration of these elements can convey meaning and information to viewers about characters, time period, mood, and themes. The key elements of mise-en-scene are location, setting/decor, costume and makeup, body language/performance, props, and lighting, all of which work together to construct the world of the film or television program.

Uploaded by

candifilmstudies
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5K views3 pages

Mise en Scene Handout

This document discusses the concept of mise-en-scene in film and television. Mise-en-scene refers to everything that appears in front of the camera, including location, setting, costumes, props, lighting, and performance. Careful consideration of these elements can convey meaning and information to viewers about characters, time period, mood, and themes. The key elements of mise-en-scene are location, setting/decor, costume and makeup, body language/performance, props, and lighting, all of which work together to construct the world of the film or television program.

Uploaded by

candifilmstudies
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

AS Media Studies

Mise- en- Scene


When planning any practical filming work, we must first pay
attention to what exactly it is we are going to film. This may be
done be placing objects in front of the camera or by putting the
camera before objects found on location. Mise en scene is a
French term borrowed from the theatre, which literally means
placed on stage. The term is commonly used in Film Studies
but it also applies TV.
Each element we see on our screens has been placed there. The
questions we have to ask are why? and to what effect?
The elements of mise en scene are:

Location
Setting/decor
Costume and make up
Performance
language/movement)
Props
Lighting

(Body

Mise en scene should not be thought of simply as props. The


information given in mise en scene can inform the viewer about all
aspects of the programme and careful selection of these five
elements can lead to the construction of a completely different
world, era or character.
Location, Setting & Dcor
Locations provide a geographical backdrop to a programme.
Settings tell us where we are within this location but can also
provide us with emotional or psychological tone. It can set tone and
atmosphere and provide information on the historical time or the
state of the mind of the protagonists depending on the setting
chosen. How a room is decorated and how objects are used to
furnish that room provides another way in which meaning can be
evoked. Dcor can relay information about character, genre,
atmosphere and setting. For example, if we were to think of a TV
drama set at Candi Sixth Form, the location would be Islington or
Angel; the setting the class room but the way in which the
classroom looked bright and colourful, or dull and drab would
then hint at what to expect within the
classroom.
Costume and make up

Think of the judgements you make about people in your day-to-day


life based on their clothing and you will understand the power of
costume. Costume can ground a programme historically (think of
the elaborate costumes required for BBC period dramas) and
provide information on social and cultural background. Naturalistic
costumes can show social class and OTT costumes help create the
fantastic atmosphere of science fiction TV. Stereotypes are often
easily communicated through what people wear and the costume
and make up used for characters in TV dramas often work as short
cuts to tell the audience something about each character and their
personality type.
Costume changes are often used to indicate narrative changes, or
changes in a characters mood or role (think of Cinderella and other
rags to riches stories). Sexual attraction and power (both very
important in film narrative) can both be expressed through costume.
Performance
Language/Movement

Body

The way characters stand, move or rest


is key to audiences for reading their
characters. A nervous character may be
jumpy and continuously looking round,
while a confident character may walk
slowly with their head held high. Body
language can be an indicator of how a
character feels at any point. Body language can also indicate
characters relationships to one another a character who is more
powerful, or a threat, may loom over another or walk in front of
them to block their view (and therefore their importance) from the
audience.
Props
Iconography and props can play a key role in
determining the plot of a programme a camera
might linger on a murder weapon, or the proof of
infidelity. Props are an easy visual way to
communicate a characters intentions or can be
used as clues to engage the viewer in the action
within the drama, which is especially important in
crime and police dramas.
Lighting

It is worth remembering that nothing can be seen (and therefore


filmed) without light. Lighting is hugely important in generating
mood and atmosphere.
Low key lighting can throw shadows,
illuminate key objects or exaggerate and emphasise a characters
feature. Where low key lighting may create suspense or soften the
mood of a programme or a character bright, high key lighting can
intensify a situation or make it seem very artificial and clinical. The
combination of this kind of lighting is often used in police or crime
TV dramas and in dramas with a science fiction element to
communicate contrasts in the worlds that are represented in the
programmes.

You might also like