Mise-En-Scene...

Mise-En-Scene, is a french term meaning what is put into a scene

Each aspect of Mise-en-scene has hidden meanings within a film, it helps send signals to the audience about how we are supposed to feel at a certain point, being the main communication between the director's ideas and the audience. Mise-en-scene is key to all film genres and I have tried to use different examples of Mise-En-Scene from all different genres in these elements. The five key elements to Mise-en-Scene are :


'From Hell'

Setting and Props : In a film this can be as important as the characters, it builds a picture of everything from the genre of the film to even helping the audience think of there own ideas about how the film is going to turn out. It is even more important in film than TV due to the larger screen, you can use the setting to make a big impact on the audience. In 'From Hell' the setting straight away allowed you to know it was going to be a horror with the use of the backstreets of London, we straight away knew the film was going to be a dark one

'Edward Sissorhand'

Costume, Hair and Make-up : This is the initial indicator to telling the audience a characters status, personality and even job. It helps the audience know straight away what time phrase the film is set in, and what social class the characters are. The costume, hair and makeup used for the character 'Edward Sissorhand' straight away allows the audiences to make a profile, of a man who is maybe evil due to dark colour and the hands, lonely with the use of eye-makeup making the eyes look vulnerable.

'Love Actually'

Facial expressions and Body Language : Can help indicate to the audiences how two characters feel towards each other. It straight away informs the audience of a characters emotions, feelings and even status. In 'Love actually' this still image between Kira knightly and Andrew Lincoln allowed the audiences to see that they have romantic feelings towards each other, the facial expression of Andrew allows us to see his vulnerable side, the way Kira has her hands of his cheek in soft hold, allows us to see they are intimate, the gaze between the two shows they only have eyes for each other.

'Avatar'

Lighting and Colour : This can help tell the genre of a film to the audience, we associate horror with dark colours, and comedy's with lighter happier colours. The use of colour of the lighting can also help give clues of the personalities of characters away to the audience for example, the use of green light can symbolise a character being jealous (the green eyed monster). The use of lighting in 'Avator' is really informative it tells the audience that the film will be mystical and a fantasy with the use of fairy lights.

'Sherlock Holmes'

Position of Characters and Objects within the frame : This is the part of Mise-En-Scene that includes the different shots and heights and why they are used.  The position between two characters can help tell the audience their relationship and status. In 'Sherlock Holmes' this position of the characters in this poster, tells the audiences straight away that due to Sherlock being closer to the camera he is the more dominant character, with Watson in the background the audience knows straight away who is of higher status.