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)