“Everything in its right place Mise-en-scene “Everything in its right place

Mise-en-scene French term meaning “everything arranged on the stage” 4 major components: setting, actors, lighting, and composition. The mise-en-scene is the primary way that a filmmaker creates motifs, reinforces themes and establishes mood in a film.

Setting Establish time and place, introduces characters (adds character details), may setup major themes, creates mood. Studio or on location Indoors or outdoors, home or work, public spaces, spacious or cramped, sunny and bright or dim and shadowy, etc. Certain genres are intimately linked with setting: Western, gangster, horror, rom-com. Forced perspective: arranging buildings and objects on the set for a specific effect Set dressing – what details have been added/left out intentionally? Costumes – a means of expressing inner states, or character values.

Actors Most prominent component of narrative filmmaking Blocking – movement of actors in screen space Conventional acting vs. Stylized/Brechtian Estrangment Acting Styles: Character – Play the same supporting roles (Tim Roth, Jermey Piven) Personality -Essentially play themselves (Woody Allen) Method – Attempt to become the role. Often remain in character even while camera is not filming.

Method Acting

Lighting Furthers audience’s understanding of character, action, theme and mood. 3 Attributes Quality (hard or soft) Placment (direction from which it strikes the subject) Contrast (high or low)

The 3- Point Lighting System

Alternative Lighting Set-Ups

Composition Visual Arrangement of objects, actors and space within the frame Symmetry vs asymmetry Loose framing vs. tight framing Depth of field (in focus vs. out of focus) Fixed frame vs moving Color palate (may be black and white) Attracts attention Creates mood Motifs associated with character or theme Symbolism

Angles Low Angle High Angle Eye-Level Bird’s Eye Worm’s eye Canted/ Dutch-Angle