Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scène is a French term meaning “onstage” or “placed in a scene”. It is what we can see in the picture.

Mise-en-scèneincludes Mise-en-scène includes: Setting SetSet CostumeCostume PropsProps LightingLighting SoundSound BlockingBlocking

The arrangement of all these elements in a particular way have an effect on the spectator

Lets explore these terms…

Setting It is a fictional or real place where the action and event of the film or play take place. Set It is a constructed setting, for example, on a studio soundstage

The Titanic

The factory in Charlie and the chocolate factory

Task What settings would you find in:  a Science Fiction Film  a Romantic Comedy  a Horror Film

Costume design Costume refers to the clothes that characters wear. It is used to describe character, to show particular fashions, or to make clear distinctions between characters.

Barbie-like clothes for Reese Witherspoon in Legally blonde

Christian Bale becomes Batman with this black outfit in The Dark Knight Rises.

Soldier outfits in Saving private Ryan

Props Objects that are part of the sets or tools used by the actors.

The “Heart of the ocean” in Titanic

The apple in Twilight

The “golden ticket” in Charlie and the chocolate factory

Task  What props would you find in:  a Science Fiction Film  a Western  a War Film

Make up Together with costume design and hair style, make up tells a lot about the character’s personality, job, etc.

Make up transforms Natalie Portman into the “Black Swan”…

… and Heath Ledger becomes “the joker”.

Sound Diegetic: music or sounds effects such as footsteps, explosions, bird songs, church bells, etc that are heard by both the character and the spectator. non- diegetic: music or sound effects not generated in the filmic world but added to indicate characters´ feelings, emotions. This music is only heard by the spectator.

Blocking It is the arrangement and movement of actors in relation to each other within the single physical space of mise-en-scène. There are 2 types of blocking...

 Social blocking: describes the arrangement of characters to accentuate relations between them.

Socialblocking in “The break-up Social blocking in “The break-up”

 Graphic blocking arranges characters or groups according to visual patterns to portray spatial harmony, tension or some other visual atmosphere.

Graphic blocking in Jane Eyre

Bibliography Bibliography:  Corrigan, T. and White, P.; The Film Experience, Bedford / St. Martin's  Bernard F. Dick; Anatomy of film, Bedford / St. Martin's