Mise-en-scene addresses many different aspects in films. It's typically things people don't notice like lighting and costumes. It helps to bring together the mood and theme of a scene and also ties into the overall film.
The official definition of mise-en-scene is the overall composition of the shot. All of the little background or up-close details are chosen for a reason. Mise-en-scene is composed of many different elements. It's mainly what you see exactly or literally in a scene. In class, I took we discussed mise-en-scene in deeper detail.
-Lighting is an element of mise-en-scene
-Two major visuals components
1. Design - The look of the setting, props, lighting, and actions
2. Composition- The organization, distribution, balance, and general relationships of actors and objects.
-Nearly everything placed within a frame is done intentionally
-Objects don't always have an individual significance
-The combination of elements creates meaning.
-Allows the viewer to experience a certain time and place.
-Importance for how it makes us feel.
-Think of your first experience (at a new place) and how it made you feel.
3 steps to analyzing mise-en-scene
1. consider the categories lighting, costumes, hair, makeup, props.
2. consider the purpose of the scene
3. how does aesthetics help to establish the purpose.
After learning the basics of mise-en-scene, a partner and I did a mini photography project. We created an arrangement of items to stage an illusion photo using mise-en-scene elements. In our photo, we were going for an army war ground mood in the woods. Personally, I don't think we achieved this but we did try our best. We had mini-army figures on a toy truck, used dark-greyish blue construction paper, drew trees on them, and used brown construction paper as dirt for the woods' flooring. We also covered everything in a thin layer of cotton balls to convey snow. The lighting was darks to give the feeling of the night. Candles were also used as fire pits or campfires just to give some source of light in the picture.
Learning the elements of mise-en-scene has led me to question everything. Why did they put this in the shot? What message or mood is being conveyed? It also allows me to realize how important setting up details in movies are. Mise-en-scene is a great depending factor in how the audience views the film or perceives the mood of the movie.
Mini Photography project
Class notes
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