Film Language: Mise-en-scene

Remember the mnemonic that will help you recall the different aspects of mise-en-scene: CLAMPS.

• Costume
• Lighting
• Actor (placement and movement)
• Make-up
• Props
• Setting

Mise-en-scene blog task

Complete the two tasks for mise-en-scene in the Film Language booklet:

1) Find a distinctive still image and write an analysis of the mise-en-scene. Use each of the aspects you've learned in the lesson.

2) Find three film extracts on YouTube from films of different genres (e.g. horror, sci-fi, costume drama). Embed them in your blogpost and write a comparison of the mise-en-scene in each.

Mise-en-scene analysis.

Costume

The costumes of the actors in this image are very colourful. The actor on the left is wearing a purple blazer with a white opened shirt and the actor on the right is wearing a red top. By the individuals in this picture wearing these items of clothes, it shows that they are different and stand out. It also shows that they may portray a sense of craziness as do not conform to the normal presentation of adults. They more resemble children which can show that their actions and personality is very in your face, carefree and brisk. 

Lighting

The lighting casted around these actors are more around their outfits and around their faces instead of being on the actual face. The lighting is also black and white on the actors but their outfits, props and makeup are in bright colours. This could show that they present their personalities through the outfits that they wear and makes it predictable what they are going to be like. Also, the actors face on the left has more dark shadows and is more dark than the character on the right which can show that he has more of a dark personality and background. 

Actor

The actors have completely different facial expressions. The actor on the right has a very humorous face which can show that she doesn't takes things seriously. Also, it can portray that she masks her emotions with being sarcastic and jokey but her eyes look very melancholy which could highlight that her actions are over the top to put on a front. This contrasts with the actor on the left as his face is very serious and daunting. His face is also unpredictable, it is unclear whether or not he is angry, bored, contemplating or concerned. Although, from all these expressions it is very clear that he is evil yet content and devious yet playful. This could show that he has split personalities and his actions are unpredictable. Also as he is facing forward and the female actor is facing to the side it symbolises that he is the one in control of their relationship and he takes things more hands on.  

Make-up 

There is alot of makeup on the actors that is colourful and messy. This resembles the type of thing that a child would do and therefore symbolises that the actors are very child-like and playful. Although, on the actor on the left he has a tattoo that states "damaged" across his forehead. This highlights that he is mentally unstable and also he has plenty of scars on his face which could illustrate that he gets in alot of fights and may be a bit of a trouble maker.  

Props

The actor on the right has a bat that has the words "Good Night" written down it. This shows that she has a sense of humour and has a ludicrous personality as the bat is being used to cause damage and danger. She also has a gun that she is holding carelessly which suggests that her actions are carefree and she doesn't think about the effects of her actions.

Setting

The background is very dark which shows that the actors have a dark background and can show the audience that they present intimidation and can show that they are unsettlingly and sinister.

film extracts

This drama is based on a true story and has a very natural feel through the way it is portrayed in the film trailer. This is because the costumes of the people are very natural and represent something that people would normally wear on holiday so the audience can relate more to what is going on in the film. What the main actor's/actress wears in the trailer does change when the tragedy happens ad their clothes become more ragged and damaged. The lighting in this trailer is very light and realistic. This is because the family are on holiday so therefore there will be alot of sunlight which makes the scene bright. Although, this does change when the tsunami happens as the lighting starts to get a bit more dark in some scenes like when they are in the hospital. This could symbolise that something bad is happening/happened and sets the mood and atmosphere. The actors are in different positions in the trailer. At the start, the mother is relaxing reading the book, the young boys are with the father in the pool and the older boy has gone to get the ball when the tsunami happens. As the older boy is on his own this could symbolise strength and that he is confrontational. The make-up in this trailer is very natural at the start but after the disaster the make-up used then becomes bloody and dirty. There are scars, cuts, blood and dirt on the people in the film. This shows the outcome of what has happened and the damage that it has caused to everyone. There are alot of props in this trailer which all represent a deeper meaning and helps the viewer to see and understand what is happening more clearer in the trailer. A few of these crops is a book, ball, pictures, trees, debris and etc. The setting of this film is very calm in the start of the trailer and is in a beautiful, exotic place but after the tsunami happens the setting become more disruptive as there is alot of damage that has been done to nature. There is alot of broken down trees, cars and alot of people severely injured.

This sci-fi is based on a son setting out to save his father after their aircraft crashes on earth. Contrasting to "The Impossible" trailer, the costumes in this trailer are very scientific and futuristic which could show that this is not a realistic film and represents the amount of action that will be happening. The lighting in this film is very bright and vibrant to show that this is another kind of world/ atmosphere than what is meant to be earth and brings attention to the details that have been crafted in this film. The actor's in this trailer have a very strong stance, look strong minded and show willingness. This was annotated through the son going out and fighting all of these different species of animals and also both of the actors being strong through the crash and the after effect of the crash. The make-up in this trailer is natural which makes them look serious but also, the actors do have a few blotches of blood on their faces from the result of the incident which gives the film a little bit more of realism instead of being too unrealistic. The props used in this trailer are very futuristic as these types of props are most likely in process of development in real life but are being used in this film already which highlights that this film is based in the future and brings attention to the type of film that it is and the type of things we could expect to see through the use of the type of props. The setting in this trailer is very advanced in terms of how earth is now and is set in space first and then on earth. The setting in this trailer shows the audience that this film is not something that would happen in real life and is a difference to the film trailer "The Impossible" as this is a very realistic setting and film although, there are similarities as this film also has a disaster that causes the main characters to split up which causes alot of drama.  

This horror film is about a haunted son who goes into a different type of world as he is abducted by evil spirits and his father has to get him back. The costumes in this film are natural but quite old fashioned compared to the film "After Earth". This builds suspense as this makes the mood of the film quite airy. The costume on the spirits are very dark and worn out which highlights to the audience that there is a dark atmosphere and setting which makes it very insidious. The lighting in this film is very dark compared to the other two film trailers as this film is a horror and therefore the atmosphere has to be set and as the lighting is dark, it highlights the morbid and abnormal activities that are happening. The actors move quite cautiously throughout the film trailer which shows that they are on edge and that something is wrong. Their faces also portray fear and terror through the numerous facial expressions shown in the trailer which again suggests that there is something uneasy happening in the film. The make-up in this film is also very natural like the other two film which shows that this could happen in real life and therefore creates fear in the audience. Although, the make-up is different for the evil spirits as there make-up is very scary in the trailer and quite dark which presents them as more intimidating and fearful. The props in this film are normal day-to-day things that are seen in real life although, there are abnormal props in the trailer which is orientated around demonic things which makes the reader feel tense. The setting in the trailer is in a old fashioned house which is different from the other two trailers as they are more outside throughout the film. This therefore could mean that the problem is within the house and shows the viewer that the house and people in the house are the main focus of the film.