Understanding and Using Mise-en-scene

What is Mise en scene?

Mise en scene encompasses the most recognizable attributes of a film – the setting and the actors; it includes prop, costumes, make-up, location and all the other natural and artificial details that are needed. The term is borrowed from a French theatrical expression, meaning roughly “put into the scene”. In other words, mise-en-scene describes whats going on in the frame and the way it is shown and also arranged. The four general areas: setting, lighting, costume and props are very important to make up Mise-en-scene. 

What have i learnt from The article?

This article goes into huge depth about the unseen parts and meanings in films. I can see a clear divide in these two images of the Batman films. The first image in 1960 shows poor quietly and a cramped area and the clothing suggests they don't want to be taken seriously. Whereas Nolan's Dark Knight Rises, 2012 version the location and setting is clear and massive, and also shows a better location then the older batman, which instantly tells the audience that its more realistic than the older version. Batman demonstrates a clear open space and that the clothing is showing us he's smart and knows what he is on about, which again helps us see that he's serious. You can see as the years have gone on the technology has grow and the quality and aspects of films have developed. I can clearly see that the props in each scene in any film is playing a huge part of giving clues to the target audience for them to relate and also to identify with the character. Within a few seconds we can already tell what the character is like and what he enjoys. For example Oliver, we can tell likes things to be neat and tidy and also possibly likes to write as he has a type writer, also may have a interest in boats. I also learnt that having costumes on characters is a very key aspect to any film. 

As you need to think of the colours they are wearing and what that colour represents e.g. red could be danger. Costume tells the audience what the person is like, so we see there personality coming throw. 

I also learnt that location's are limited because they need to fit in with the film. Locations also show the audience where the live and where the like to go and also the locations will realer to the story. Framing also plays a he part of Mise en scene because its important to have the right place./ You need to make sure you have the right view of the props and the location and that their whole body fits in the shot thats being filmed.

The article the props we place with each character will 'develop' them and 'provide visual interest'. Within our film we have included props like phones as their are associated with our target audience and hopefully this will help the audience engage and identify themselves in one of our characters. Mise en scene can be used to improve and scene and a whole film by just changing the colour of a top, to the location being dark which would set the mode for the whole scene.