The Language of Film:
Mise en Scene: Mise-en-scène comprises every visible detail within the frame, from props, sets, costuming, make-up, lighting and the use of space to the gestures and movements that an actor conveys with his or her face and body. Changing one element of mise-en-scène can radically alter the meaning of an image, shot or sequence and, in many ways, that is exactly what filmmakers do when they create a film.
Every detail is a choice—conscious or not—about the kind of story, message or meaning that a film communicates. Behind the scenes of any film is a collection of creative individuals who help make these details come to life.
Activity: Close Reading an Image:
Choose one image from the link "fred herzog" below to analyze in terms of mise en scene. Discuss the most significant elements of mise-en-scène that you can identify in the provided image.
Guiding questions: How are visual materials selected, staged, framed and photographed?
1. Dominant image: What is your eye attracted to first? Why?
2. Negative space: What empty spaces draw our eyes or thrown the dominant image out of balance?
3. Subsidiary Contrasts: What are the main eye-stops after taking in the dominant image?
4. Shot and camera placement: What type of shot? How far away is the camera from the action?
5. Angle: Are we (and the camera) looking up or down at the subject? Is the camera neutral? (That is, eye level?)
6. Colour values: What is the dominant colour? Are there contrasting foils? Is there colour symbolism?
7. Density: How much visual information is packed into the image? Is the texture stark, moderate or highly detailed?
8. Framing; Tight or Loose? Where are objects placed and what effect does this have on the audience? Do the characters have no room to move around, or can they move freely without impediments?
9. Selection of objects: What scenery, propl, and objects are in the frame? What do they reveal of genre, location, time period, mood, or atmosphere?
Choose one image from the link "fred herzog" below to analyze in terms of mise en scene. Discuss the most significant elements of mise-en-scène that you can identify in the provided image.
Guiding questions: How are visual materials selected, staged, framed and photographed?
1. Dominant image: What is your eye attracted to first? Why?
2. Negative space: What empty spaces draw our eyes or thrown the dominant image out of balance?
3. Subsidiary Contrasts: What are the main eye-stops after taking in the dominant image?
4. Shot and camera placement: What type of shot? How far away is the camera from the action?
5. Angle: Are we (and the camera) looking up or down at the subject? Is the camera neutral? (That is, eye level?)
6. Colour values: What is the dominant colour? Are there contrasting foils? Is there colour symbolism?
7. Density: How much visual information is packed into the image? Is the texture stark, moderate or highly detailed?
8. Framing; Tight or Loose? Where are objects placed and what effect does this have on the audience? Do the characters have no room to move around, or can they move freely without impediments?
9. Selection of objects: What scenery, propl, and objects are in the frame? What do they reveal of genre, location, time period, mood, or atmosphere?
Keep a Film Journal:
Reflection and Reference
JOURNAL/BLOG - We want you to actually engage with the films you watch in and out of school. The best way to do this is to form your own thoughts by keeping a written record of what you've seen and what you thought of it. Create a website, google page, vlog etc. to keep track of the films that you watch and respond to.
Developmental Reflection:
Consider the different ways that artists have recorded their ideas and think about how these might be useful.
Do the following:
Mise en Scene Infographic Assignment
Using the infographics from ShoHawk.com
(http://nofilmschool.com/2016/09/learn-15-key-elements-mise-en-scene-handy-infographic)
demonstrate your understanding of mise en scene by grabbing screen shots from films for each of the concepts explored.
You need to use at least 10 different movies to fulfill this assignment.
For each screen shot, tell
(http://nofilmschool.com/2016/09/learn-15-key-elements-mise-en-scene-handy-infographic)
demonstrate your understanding of mise en scene by grabbing screen shots from films for each of the concepts explored.
You need to use at least 10 different movies to fulfill this assignment.
For each screen shot, tell
- Title of Movie
- Genre
- Director and nationality of director
- Producer/Distributor
- year it was made
- what country the movie is credited from
Example 1:
Title: 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould
Concept: Shot and Camera Proxemis
Extreme Long Shot: Establishing Space
Glenn (Colm Feore) is walking out across the Arctic tundra, exuding a deep sense of lonliness and/or introspection.
Genre: Biographic Anthology
Director: Francois Girard, Canadian
Producer/
Distributor: Rhombus Media Ltd.
Year made: 1993
Nationality: Canadian
Concept: Shot and Camera Proxemis
Extreme Long Shot: Establishing Space
Glenn (Colm Feore) is walking out across the Arctic tundra, exuding a deep sense of lonliness and/or introspection.
Genre: Biographic Anthology
Director: Francois Girard, Canadian
Producer/
Distributor: Rhombus Media Ltd.
Year made: 1993
Nationality: Canadian
Example 2:
Title: Pulp Fiction
Concept: Depth of Field
Shallow Focus: Uma Thurman is only thing in focus, background blurry
She is just about to order Vincent Vega (John Travolta) to enter a dance contest with her, which she aims to win.
Genre: Black Comedy/ neo-noir crime film
Director: Quentin Tarantino, American
Producer/
Distributor: Lawrence Bender/ A Band Apart/Jersey Films
Year made: 1994
Nationality: American
Concept: Depth of Field
Shallow Focus: Uma Thurman is only thing in focus, background blurry
She is just about to order Vincent Vega (John Travolta) to enter a dance contest with her, which she aims to win.
Genre: Black Comedy/ neo-noir crime film
Director: Quentin Tarantino, American
Producer/
Distributor: Lawrence Bender/ A Band Apart/Jersey Films
Year made: 1994
Nationality: American
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