Session Aims By the end of the session you will be able to: Understand the concept of Mise en scene Apply the concept to a film extract
Definition: Mise En Scene A French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame Visual information in front of the camera Communicates essential information to the audience Made up of 3 key elements
The Key Elements of Mise en Scene Settings (Locations) Props Costume, Hair & Make Up
Settings Settings & Locations play an important part in filmmaking and are not just backgrounds Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent to find a setting which already exist. Settings can manipulate an audience by building certain expectations Props help us to work out characters their roles, attitudes etc and need to fit in with the Location (esp time period)
Props A prop is classified as any object that is in a scene that a character could use (ie not just part of the scenery The type of prop can tell us a lot about a character and their personality. How the prop is used can also tell the audience a lot Look at the colour, material, shape and use of the prop to help understand what the director is trying to say
Costume, Hair & Make Up Costume, Hair & Make Up act as an instant indicator to us of a character s personality, status & job It tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present and what society/or culture it will centre around Certain costumes can signify certain individuals (i.e. black cloak of a vampire, Spidey s Spiderman suit)
Mise en Scene The use of setting, costumes and props in LOTR
The Three Races Hobbits and The Shire Ocrs, Goblins, Uruk Hai and Isengard Elves and Rivendell What do the locations, costumes and props associated with these races tell us about them, their personalities, attitudes to the world etc.
Questions to ask - Setting What do the buildings look like? What are they made out of? How do the building fit into the landscape? What colours are dominant? What shapes dominant are things curved. Straight, rough, sharp, soft etc? Are the buildings decorated, if so how? Have certain building be structured or arrange to highlight different character or features?
Questions to Ask - Costume What colours are the costumes? What types of fabrics are they made out of? How are they tailored? How are the costumes decorated? How do the costumes reflect the movement of the characters How much are they wearing? What lines do the costumes make flowing lines, straight lines, sharp lines etc Have costumes been used to make some characters stand out from other, or make them all look united?
Questions to Ask - Props What props do they have? What are the props made out of? How might the props have been made? What shapes dominant are things curved, straight, rough, sharp, soft, highly decorated etc? How are the props used? What colours dominant? What is the function/purpose of the props?
Summary Task Choose two of the societies looked at today (Hobbits/Elves/Baddies) and explain what their society is like and how is this communicated through the use of setting, props and costume. What is their society like, what is important to them What is their life like What is their attitude to the world/each other/ other societies Age of society What do they value/not value etc