What is Mise-en-Scène?
- 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 various elements
Elements of Mise-en-Scène?
- Settings & Props
- Costume, Hair & Make Up
- Facial Expressions & Body Language
- Lighting and Colour
- Positioning of characters/objects within the frame
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Snow White (Disney Studios,1937)
LINK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB7O_JIxGuY
- Settings & Props
- The gloomy castle and the forest. The props include crucibles, apples, baskets, and various wooden barrels outside Snow White’s house.
- Costume, Hair & Make Up
- The witch was dressed in a black robe, and the purple eyeshadow made her look even more sinister. While Snow White was wearing a red, yellow and blue dress, with clean and vibrant makeup, it highlighted her innocence.
- Facial Expressions & Body Language
- In this film, both the witch and Snow White employed a great deal of facial expressions and body language, constantly conveying their emotions and mental states, which is simple and easy to understand.
- Lighting and Colour
- The picture is very bright and has a high colour saturation.
- Positioning of characters/objects within the frame
- Generally, the characters are placed at the center of the frame to emphasize the narrative subject.
- What role does the shot choice (Cinematography) play in the scene
- Photography is usually positioned at eye level, enhancing the audience’s sense of immersion.
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Can you describe the mise-en-scene in this picture? How are the characters placed in the frame?
- This is a high angle view. The scene is set in a room, with only one bed, a pair of slippers, two partially hidden bedside tables, and the two main characters. Both main characters are dressed in regular clothes and have no special makeup. They have expressionless faces, presenting two ordinary people who seem a little tired. Although they are lying side by side on the bed, it can still be seen that there is a sense of loneliness. The overall lighting and colour are warm and soft, but they do not make the picture seem more tender. Instead, they further highlight the distance between the two people through contrast.
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Rebecca (Hitchcock,1940)
LINK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h23zAV2Wnps
Can you describe the relationship between the characters?
- The relationship between the superior and the subordinate.
How do we know what the relationship is?
Can you describe how the mise-en-scene works together to tell us what the relationship is?
- In the scene, the camera focuses on the two main characters, indicating that the attention is centered on them. The female protagonist is sitting at a lower position, while Mrs Danvas is standing at a higher position and looking down at the lady, demonstrating her authority and power. In terms of clothing and color, the female protagonist is wearing a light-colored skirt, while Mrs Danvas is wearing a black dress. The former appears gentler, while the latter shows more seriousness and restraint.
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Can you describe the mise-en-scene in this picture?
- A girl wearing a red scarf was walking nervously in the market.
What type of shot is it?
- Medium Close-Up.
What is the camera angle?
- Eye-Level.
Where is the character located in the frame?
- Centre of the frame.
What is she wearing?
- Red headscarf and a green coat.
What is the depth-of-field?
- Deep depth of field, we can still see the surroundings.
Describe the colour palette?
- Most earth tones, but the red of the girl stands out clearly.
Describe the lighting?
- Quite light and natural.
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The main learning points include the elements of Mise-en-Scène and how to analyze the various messages conveyed by a single scene through these elements. Without forcing memorization, one can remember the elements by following a method from specific to general and from small to large. For example, start with the props and sets in the scene, then the actors (including their costumes and makeup), followed by the clothing, then the facial expressions and body language of the actors, as well as the brightness and color of the scene at this moment, and finally how the overall picture is constructed, whether it uses close-ups or long shots? How is the position of the camera placed? Each element is in what position within the picture? Through this, one can complete the analysis of an image as a whole.