The Shot: Mise-en-Scene

Film’s Stylistic System Mise-en-Scene (“putting in the scene”) Cinematography (“writing in motion”) Editing (compiling shots) Sound (all auditory elements)

Verisimilitude Film, like all art forms, is a lie. That is, it is not the literal truth. It is not real. Mise-en-Scene is the element of stylistic form that seeks to create verisimilitude, or the appearance or semblance of reality, plausibility, or believability.

Elements of Mise-en-Scene 1.Setting 2.Figures 3.Props & Costumes 4.Light & Shadow 5.Color 6.Perspective Relations 7.Performance

1. Film Setting Landscape Environment Spectacle Minute detail Directed attention

Landscape/Environment

Spectacle

Minute Detail/Directed Attention

2. Figures in Film Figures in film have behavior and motivation. Examples:  Characters (people)  Animals  Machines  Some objects

Figures in Film

3. Props & Costumes Objects & clothing aren’t necessarily props & costumes. An object becomes a prop when a figure interacts with it. An article of clothing becomes a costume when a figure wears it. A prop (or costume, for that matter) becomes a figure when it has behavior and motivation.

Objects vs. Props

Clothing vs. Costume

4. Lighting: Type/Source Hard vs. soft light Key vs. fill light Light source  Natural  Artificial diegetic  Artificial nondiegetic

Hard Key vs. Soft Fill

Natural Light

Artificial Diegetic Light

Artificial Nondiegetic Light

4. Lighting: Direction Frontal (flattens features) Sidelight (sculpts features) Backlight (creates silhouettes) Underlight (horror effect) Toplight (halo effect) Hairlight (specific toplight) Eyelight (tiny light for eye sparkle)

Frontlighting

Sidelighting

Backlighting

Underlighting

Toplighting

Hairlight

Eyelight

4. Shadows Attached shadows (aka shading) – object/figure creates shadow on itself Cast shadows – object/figure casts shadow on something else Chiaroscuro – areas of extreme light and dark in a single shot Film noir – “Dark Film”

Attached Shadows

Cast Shadow

Chiaroscuro

Film Noir

5. Color Descriptive – it looks like what it is Emotional – creates a feeling Symbolic – represents an idea Formal/structural – lines, areas of composition

Descriptive Color

Emotional Color

Symbolic Color

Structural Color

6. Perspective Relations Size & Balance – create depth cues and emphasis Depth cues – clues as to distance Planes (overlapping) – a depth cue Size diminution – smaller = further away Linear perspective – parallel lines converge Aerial perspective – hazing of distant planes Shallow vs. deep-space composition – few planes vs. many planes in the shot

Overlapping Planes/Size Diminution

Linear Perspective

Aerial Perspective

Shallow-Space Composition

Deep-Space Composition

7. Performance Blocking – general movement and placement of figures Choreography – specific/detailed movement of figures (dance, fights) Acting

7. Performance: Acting Two aspects of an actor’s performance:  Visual elements (body, gesture)  Auditory elements (voice) Film acting vs. stage acting – largely a question of scale and spontaneity Acting Styles:  Realistic (aims for verisimilitude)  Stylized (stagey, fantastical)