Lesson 03: Mise-en-Scene Professor Aaron Baker

Previous Lecture Narrative Structure Classical Hollywood Narrative Style How Jurassic Park (1993) and Citizen Kane (1941) exemplify Hollywood narrative style and how the Japanese film Rashomon (1950) illustrates Art Cinema Narration. 2

This Lecture Mise-en-Scene Narrative Function in Smoke Signals (1998) 3

Part I: Mise-en-Scene 4

Definition Definition Mise-en Scene is what appears in the film frame. 5

6 Realism Often Evaluative Standard for Film Worlds Notions of Realism Vary More Useful to Evaluate Function

E.g. Edward Scissorhands (1990) Contrast stylized and banal mise- en-scene Functions to suggest conflict in story of conformism and creativity 7

8 Early Cinema 1895 Lumiere Brothers First Commercial Films Mise-en-Scene of Real Places Actualities

9 George Melies Former Magician Voyage to the Moon (1902) One of the First Studios Created/ Not Actual World

Locations vs. Sets Two Main Traditions of Film Mise-en-Scene Pause lecture to watch a clip of these two early cinema versions of mise-en-scene on Learning Tasks page. 10

Four Aspects: Setting Costumes and Makeup Lighting Staging (Performance) 11

Setting Container, Background for Action or Dynamic; Plays Active Role in Narrative 12

13 Prop Abbreviation for Property Part of the setting that plays active role in action. May reoccur as a motif.

14 Costumes and Makeup Like Setting, Function in Story Realistic, Unobtrusive or Stylized Allusion in Breathless

Nicholson in Batman (1989) Highly Stylized, Exaggerated Costume/Makeup Characterize Joker as theatrical, aberrant.

Naturalist Makeup DeNiro’s Nose, Eyes in Raging Bull (1980) Function unobtrusively to create resemblance to real person and support performance.

Lighting Allows us to see action Directs our attention Impacts how characters appear 17

Shadows Attached Shadows: Created by Person’s/Object’s Shape, Surface Cast Shadows: Person/Object Blocks Light 18

Light Quality Intensity Soft: diffused, less contrast Hard: defined, sharp contrast Redford in The Natural (1984) 19

Direction Path of Light Front: No Attached Shadow, Fully Lit Back: Silhouettes Side: Sculpts Under: Horror Top: Glamour 20

Source Actual/Available Light Documentary Added Fiction Films 21

Three Point Lighting Key: Main Source Fill: Eliminates Shadow Back: Rim of Light =Depth 22

Three Point Lighting (continued) For Each Major Character Time Consuming, Expensive Creates Clear Compositions 23

High Key Low Contrast Soft Detail Clarity Hollywood Optimism 24

Low Key Contrast Hard Shadow Mystery Danger 25

Chiaroscuro Italian “lightdark” Painting Rembrandt 26

27 Color Mostly White, Yellow Colored Light Symbolic Function Pause lecture for clip from Traffic (2000) showing the symbolic use of color.

Traffic (2000) Blue, Yellow Light Symbolizes Traits of Mexico/U.S. Coldness, Entitlement/Arridity, Violence Common Color Stylization Cultures Linked by Globalization (Drugs) 28

Part II: Mise-En-Scene and Narrative Function in Smoke Signals 29

Smoke Signals (1998) Sherman Alexie Director: Chris Eyre, NYU Film School Coeur D’Alene Indians First Major Feature Written, Directed, Starring American Indians 30

Setting Coeur De Alene Reservation Isolated/Quiet/Lack of Activity Economic Disadvantage Pause lecture for clip from Smoke Signals showing the setting in the film’s early scenes. 31

Arizona Desert Visualizes Victor Joseph’s Alienation and Isolation Father Dead No Money 32

Costume Victor -Western wear -Long Hair Masculine “Warrior” 33

34 ThomasThomas -Glasses, Suit, Braids -Feminized (Like Grandma) -Performative-Shaman Costume (continued)

Performance Victor (Adam Beach): -Realist -Restrained Thomas (Evan Adams) -Eccentric -Expressive 35

36 Lighting in Smoke Signals Scene After Night of Drinking: Low Key Chiaroscuro Sharp Contrast Dark and Light Please pause lecture for clip from Smoke Signals

Lighting in Smoke Signals (continued) Light on Mother’s Face Choice Illuminated Drinking or Responsibility 37

38 More Low Key Scenes Flashback of 4 th July Party Accident

Discussion Questions How does lighting function in these scenes? Also scenes about choice in difficult conditions? Post a response on the eBoard to these questions and the comment of a colleague. 39

Summary Mise-en-Scene Four Aspects Narrative Function Smoke Signals 40

41 End of Lecture 3 Next Lecture: Editing