Learning Objective:
To be able to understand how mise-en -scene is used to create meaning within a genre.
To be able to understand how mise-en -scene is used to create meaning within a genre.
Learning Outcome:ALL: Will be able to explain one element of mise-en –scene. E
MOST: Will be able to identify 5 elements of mise-en-scene with some examples. C
SOME: Will be able to identify 5 elements of mise-en-scene and use media language effectively to explain with examples. A
MOST: Will be able to identify 5 elements of mise-en-scene with some examples. C
SOME: Will be able to identify 5 elements of mise-en-scene and use media language effectively to explain with examples. A
Mise En Scene (mes):
Is a French term meaning ‘what is put into a scene or frame’ and what is seen. Moreover it can also be defined as the arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a film is enacted. The elements of Mise en scene are pointers of what the genre would be and as an audience what we would expect to see in that genre.
1) Lighting and colour - With the use of lighting the audience can assume on the genre by the way the lighting is displayed, In my own thriller, i will be using different levels of low key lighting as it creates a mysterious or suspense like atmosphere. Romantic comedies tend to use high key lighting to produce the romantic atmosphere of love. Colour is also a key convention for mise en scene as we associate emotions and thoughts with different colours, red can be associated with love, rage and blood. I can apply this to thriller conventions and use dark greys,black and red. Symbolising blood and death.
2) Costumes and Make-up/Hair - The use of costume and make up make actors appear lifelike to their character, how we present the character reflects on how the audience perceive them. Costume is a style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle. With make up you can make actors appear glamorous, with the lack of make up you can make them look like everyday people. Make up in the earlier years of cinema was used to highlight facial features as black and white film could not register detail very well, so more make up had to be used.
In relation to thriller films if you want to show a woman fearful and in tears, smudged make up can be used to display her emotions. Costumes also give the impression of something else.
3) Setting And Props - The setting can relate to location, where the scene is being taken place or where a scene is set. This can be an outside location or inside. With a thriller film the typical conventions of setting would be a haunted house, dark ally.
Is a French term meaning ‘what is put into a scene or frame’ and what is seen. Moreover it can also be defined as the arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a film is enacted. The elements of Mise en scene are pointers of what the genre would be and as an audience what we would expect to see in that genre.
1) Lighting and colour - With the use of lighting the audience can assume on the genre by the way the lighting is displayed, In my own thriller, i will be using different levels of low key lighting as it creates a mysterious or suspense like atmosphere. Romantic comedies tend to use high key lighting to produce the romantic atmosphere of love. Colour is also a key convention for mise en scene as we associate emotions and thoughts with different colours, red can be associated with love, rage and blood. I can apply this to thriller conventions and use dark greys,black and red. Symbolising blood and death.
2) Costumes and Make-up/Hair - The use of costume and make up make actors appear lifelike to their character, how we present the character reflects on how the audience perceive them. Costume is a style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle. With make up you can make actors appear glamorous, with the lack of make up you can make them look like everyday people. Make up in the earlier years of cinema was used to highlight facial features as black and white film could not register detail very well, so more make up had to be used.
In relation to thriller films if you want to show a woman fearful and in tears, smudged make up can be used to display her emotions. Costumes also give the impression of something else.
3) Setting And Props - The setting can relate to location, where the scene is being taken place or where a scene is set. This can be an outside location or inside. With a thriller film the typical conventions of setting would be a haunted house, dark ally.
Props are object used by the actors performing in a film; depending on the props used these objects can help determine the narrative, identity of character and genre.
4) Facial expressions and body language - By the use of these elements, we are able to capture the emotion of the characters. This includes the gestures, postures, and facial expressions by which a person can make clear by various physical, mental, or emotional actions. With the non verbal communication the audience is able to assume characteristics about the character and how they are feeling by not being directly told. For example, if a character is scared we can tell by para language, proximity's ect.
5) Position of characters and objectives in a frame - The way characters are positioned within a frame can tell the audience a lot about the character, levels of supremacy can be identified, how characters are centred and angled. In murder scenes the killer is usually the dominate the victim is the minor character, this can be displayed by staging and levels of the characters.
5) Position of characters and objectives in a frame - The way characters are positioned within a frame can tell the audience a lot about the character, levels of supremacy can be identified, how characters are centred and angled. In murder scenes the killer is usually the dominate the victim is the minor character, this can be displayed by staging and levels of the characters.
- Connotations are those that we associate with something else. The text is the larger picture and the signs within that text display connotations we as a society have a agreed represent it, with different societies/people connotations can vary because we view things differently.
When thinking of a thriller, we associate things such as murder, blood, psychological killer.
In regards to the use of colour different societies connect colour with various emotions and objects, in film these connotations of colour can be used to show the typical conventions of colour in a thriller film. Base/ natural colours such as black dark greys and white are mainly used.
- What do i associate colour with ?
White – Purity
Green – envy
Black- darkness/evil
Red- Lust/ anger/danger/love
Blue- Cold/ sadness/ depression
Yellow- sunshine/ happiness
When thinking of a thriller, we associate things such as murder, blood, psychological killer.
In regards to the use of colour different societies connect colour with various emotions and objects, in film these connotations of colour can be used to show the typical conventions of colour in a thriller film. Base/ natural colours such as black dark greys and white are mainly used.
- What do i associate colour with ?
White – Purity
Green – envy
Black- darkness/evil
Red- Lust/ anger/danger/love
Blue- Cold/ sadness/ depression
Yellow- sunshine/ happiness
Task : Watch the opening of Natural Born Killers – Discuss the mise en scene.
[ NATURAL BORN KILLERS OPENING ]
Lighting And Colour
The use of colour is extremely effective in the opening scene. The animals shown in their wild habitats ( those that are born killers) such as the snake and wolf are shown in black and white, with low key lighting. A red/orange tint used during the train shot indicates various emotions for the audience because of the connotations of the colour red, alongside the lighting this could indicate fear or upcoming danger. The opening does flicker in and out of black and white to colour through out this is also effective as we tend o focus on the black and white scenes seem to be unreal or an illusion, such as when the male character is talking to the waitress.
Hair/ Make- Up/ Costume
[ NATURAL BORN KILLERS OPENING ]
Lighting And Colour
The use of colour is extremely effective in the opening scene. The animals shown in their wild habitats ( those that are born killers) such as the snake and wolf are shown in black and white, with low key lighting. A red/orange tint used during the train shot indicates various emotions for the audience because of the connotations of the colour red, alongside the lighting this could indicate fear or upcoming danger. The opening does flicker in and out of black and white to colour through out this is also effective as we tend o focus on the black and white scenes seem to be unreal or an illusion, such as when the male character is talking to the waitress.
Hair/ Make- Up/ Costume
Focusing on the main two characters the male and female who are the killers, their character is represented by what they are wearing and use of make up and hair.
The female is wearing limited clothing showing off midriff, the audience assume her character is portrayed to be sexy, yet childish with pigtails. What she wears has a great impact on how the audience believes her character to be. She has tattoos and her make up is fairly heavy with red lipstick, giving the connotations of being quite slutty.
In addition, the male characters costume is similar to a cow boy way of dressing, the pink tinted glasses are also part of his costume, what he wear is a idea of his character. He wears his hair in a ponytail which can also be seen as his character being rough and untamed.
Setting and Props
The setting is made evident at the beginning that it is in a desert like surroundings. The main action takes place within a cafe on the outskirts of a dirt road, usually where truckers stop. Numerous props used to indicate the narrative, a newspaper with 666 deaths on it draws attention to the potential narrative of what the film may be focused around. Although the males tinted glasses can be noted as costume it is also a prop in displaying the type of character he is.
Facial Expression/ Body language
When the shootings start to happen the expression and posture of the ones being shot change from cheerful, careless dancing to terrified, some put their hands up in fear. The female main character finds it amusing while the others are afraid this shows who are the dominate characters. Her body language is very confident; she dances with the strangers in a way that is meant to be sexy while the strangers lust for her by showing the enjoyment of her dancing with their facial expressions.
Positions of characters
How the characters are positioned says a lot about the dominate characters, during the fight with the female character and the stranger he is very low down when she is kicking him this position shows she is in control , this shows how important some characters are to the audience.
The female is wearing limited clothing showing off midriff, the audience assume her character is portrayed to be sexy, yet childish with pigtails. What she wears has a great impact on how the audience believes her character to be. She has tattoos and her make up is fairly heavy with red lipstick, giving the connotations of being quite slutty.
In addition, the male characters costume is similar to a cow boy way of dressing, the pink tinted glasses are also part of his costume, what he wear is a idea of his character. He wears his hair in a ponytail which can also be seen as his character being rough and untamed.
Setting and Props
The setting is made evident at the beginning that it is in a desert like surroundings. The main action takes place within a cafe on the outskirts of a dirt road, usually where truckers stop. Numerous props used to indicate the narrative, a newspaper with 666 deaths on it draws attention to the potential narrative of what the film may be focused around. Although the males tinted glasses can be noted as costume it is also a prop in displaying the type of character he is.
Facial Expression/ Body language
When the shootings start to happen the expression and posture of the ones being shot change from cheerful, careless dancing to terrified, some put their hands up in fear. The female main character finds it amusing while the others are afraid this shows who are the dominate characters. Her body language is very confident; she dances with the strangers in a way that is meant to be sexy while the strangers lust for her by showing the enjoyment of her dancing with their facial expressions.
Positions of characters
How the characters are positioned says a lot about the dominate characters, during the fight with the female character and the stranger he is very low down when she is kicking him this position shows she is in control , this shows how important some characters are to the audience.
Kill Bill Vol 1 :
When analysing this picture, immediately the main attraction is the bright yellow from the central character, positioned in a fighting position clashes with the darker background of the men in black outfits. The audience are able to separate the two because of how colour brings out one character compare to the rest. The use of colour contrasts as black is a base colour that is mainly used for backgrounds, whereas yellow is initially a bright colour in any shade.
Reservoir Dogs
In this picture of a scene in reservoir dogs, The use of colour is not as dominant as in the Kill picture above. The background has the same blend of darker tones as the dominant thing in the picture which should be the characters. The black blends in with the background and can hardly be see.
Relation To My Own Thriller Film :
When analysing this picture, immediately the main attraction is the bright yellow from the central character, positioned in a fighting position clashes with the darker background of the men in black outfits. The audience are able to separate the two because of how colour brings out one character compare to the rest. The use of colour contrasts as black is a base colour that is mainly used for backgrounds, whereas yellow is initially a bright colour in any shade.
In this picture of a scene in reservoir dogs, The use of colour is not as dominant as in the Kill picture above. The background has the same blend of darker tones as the dominant thing in the picture which should be the characters. The black blends in with the background and can hardly be see.
Relation To My Own Thriller Film :
Props: When thinking about typical use of props in a thriller opening, such things as weapons come to mind. I want there to be a killer so a knife, gun may be used. Other props that demonstrate characteristics. For example, if there is a female character she may have a handbag. Or a child may have a toy with them.
Lighting: The lighting will be very dark and gloomy located at a forest or in an eerie house or ally way. To keep with the dark themes, low key lighting is very conventional of any thriller film as it builds up suspense and keeps the audience on the edge.
Setting: The dark forest setting is a more stereotypical associated with psychological and crime thrillers where murders and conflict can take place.
Costume/ Make-up: Any female character ( to satisfy the stereotype) will be very girly or dressed seductively if she portrays those types of characteristics .For any injuries fake blood to be produced( use of red colour to connote danger pain).
Male character depending may be more dominant by use of dress in darker tones.
Male character depending may be more dominant by use of dress in darker tones.
Facial expression/ body language : In thrillers typical characters posses suspense or fear, by the use of their facial expression and body language, sweating/ heavy breathing, very self conscience of their surrounding.
2 comments:
Well done Karina you have demonstrated your understanding of Mise en scene and how it is used within films coherently.
Although you have produced a competent post you must now relate your research to your own production. state how you intend to incorporate conventional Mise en scene within your own production.
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