Mise-en-scene

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Mise-en-scene
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Defining our term

• According to Butler, mise-en-scene is
• The staging of the action for the camera. All of
  the physical objects in front of the camera and
  the arrangement of those objects by the director.
  The organization of setting, costuming,
  lighting, and actor movement.

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What mise-en-scene does

• The visual composition in film, TV, videogames
  often is as much a part of the storytelling as
  the dialogueand may be more
• (Wall-E)
• Visual details provide the audience with an
  understanding of the characters, setting, pretty
  much all the action, and may well reveal crucial
  parts of the plot
• Relationships among characters, etc. are often
  revealed visually

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Guided by directors vision

• Storyboards
• Interaction with art director

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Sets

• Buildings, scenery, décor, props, people
• Reveal important details about the plot,
  characters, possibilities for action
• Establishing shot provides context for audience
• Important details of décor may have significant
  meaning

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Composition

• Determination of the elements within a scene,
  within a shot
• Position of elements within the setting
• Spatial relations among characters, props
• How far away is the gun and whos closest to it?
• Balanced v. unbalanced composition
• Unbalanced tends to be edgier, give a feeling of
  unease

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Blocking

• Placement and movement of characters within the
  setting
• Camera placement and movement must accommodate
  movement and placement of characters

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Blocking

• Shallow space
• Characters are all at a distance from the camera
  that is pretty much the same
• TV sets are built wide and shallow
• Actors move side to side
• Deep space blocking
• Characters are both near the camera and far away
• Importance of depth in the relations among the
  characters

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Impact

• Emphasis on various elements within a scene
• Relative emphasis on characters
• Relationships among elements, characters
• Close positioning implies close relationship
• Isolation v. being part of a larger group
• Single character onscreen, even in a crowd,
  implies isolation or individuality

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Sets and costumes

• Provide a reference for the audience
• Historical, geographic, social class, home v.
  work, occupational
• Identify certain sorts of events/actions that are
  appropriate (plot points)
• Enhance characterization
• Give guidance to personality, background
• Provide an understanding of the characters
  world, relationships, etc.

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• Provide continuity
• Easier to follow characters
• Make plot points flow from scene to scene
• Affect mood
• Affect theme
• Provide a reference for the actorshelp them get
  into character
• Provide structure for blocking, camerawork, etc.