Mise-en-scene

Mise en scene.

Mise en scene comes from the french meaning "placing on stage". It communicates important information for the audience. The arrangement of everything in the frame, eg lighting, camera angles, props, costumes, positioning of actors and props, decoration etc. is Mise en scene. Placing on the stage in cinema is really placing on the screen, and the director of that production decides how the Mise on scene is presented. Even though there are many professionals involved in its creation, the director is the one who oversees the entire Mise en scene. Usually the director and important people in the crew (set designers, prop masters, location managers, costume designers, and scenic artists) to establish the look and feel intended for the production. All of these aspects the Mise en scene;

Lighting.

It could be argued that it is the greatest element to evoke emotions in a production. It is manipulated by the director to present their desires for the film in progress. there are to main lighting approaches; low-key lighting and high-key lighting. 

High-key lighting: 

High-key lighting is often seen in romantic films, comedies and musicals, creating even lighting and avoiding dark areas in the frame. Everything looks bright with little to no shadow at all. High-key lighting has little dramatic effect and generally has positive connotations.

Example of high-key lighting in film 'The grand Budapest hotel".
Frame is evenly lit with hardly any shadows.

 Low-key lighting:

Low-key lighting is often seen in horrors, thrillers and dramas. comprising of a lighting pattern that has both bright and dark areas in the frame. The bright-dark technique (or chiaroscuro), is portrayed by strong contrast, often used to create tension or to unnerve audience.

Example of low-key lighting in film "Inglorious Bastards"
 Shows the contrast in lighting; Actress, Melanie Laurent's character
 is lit while her surroundings are completely black. 

Set Design.

The set design is basically the decor of the the set, so the use of the furniture, props, and the set itself. Instead of just placing objects here and there, the director must know how to use the set to the best affect and how that will have significance in a deeper level, while also emphasising themes, creating meanings, and being thought provoking.

Example of set design from the "Harry Potter" franchise.
The interior architecture and design of the Weasley house is set out
carefully by the director and the set designers for a reason.

Costume.

The obvious purpose of costuming is to dress an actor/actress to fit their character. for example the rich wear suits, and the poor wear shabby clothes. Costumes tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present or the past and what society it will be set around.

However costumes can also be used to establish where someone stands in hierarchy. Even the colour of a costume can distinguish an enemy from a friend. Costuming may also be used to emphasise a theme.

Costume example in film "Twelve years a slave".
Costumes used here so audience can distinguish between hierarchy

Positioning of characters.

Positioning within a frame can draw our attention to an important character or object. A director of a film can also use the positioning between people to indicate their relationships with each other.

Facial expressions & body language.

Facial expressions provide a clear indicator of how someone is feeling. If someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are happy but we may feel differently if scary music is being played in the background. Body language may also indicate how a character feels towards another character or may reflect their relationship.

Example of facial expression in 'Star wars'
Shows anguish and despair

Learning about this will be useful for my future tasks as it shows how Mise en Scene can be a useful part of storytelling.