AHSS*1070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Studio System, Chiaroscuro, Low Key
Chapter 5: Mise en scène
-Integrated design program called mise en scène, has four major components: Setting, Human
figure, Lighting, Composition
-Term mise en scène (pronounced “meez ahn sen”) originated in the theater and literally means
staging a scene through artful arrangement of: actors, scenery, lighting, props
= everything that the audience sees
-Elements of mise en scène influences the viewer’s experience of story, characters, space, time
-Filmmakers use details in systematic manner not only to create a world on screen, but also to
indicate: character development, present motifs, amplify themes, establish mood
Setting
-Setting refers to places where film’s action unfolds
-Functions of settings include: establishing time and place, creating mood and emotion,
introducing ideas and themes
-Most commercial films today contain scenes shot on location
-Locations may contain recognizable physical landmarks
-Shooting on soundstage or on location, filmmakers carefully craft recognizable story world
-Filmmakers make reference to familiar, human-made objects to convey significance of place
The Human Figure
-Casting (selecting an actor for a role) is an important decision director or casting director makes
-Decision may be made according to typecasting, or certain style of acting, such as Method
acting, or Brechtian distanciation
Actors as paft of the mis en scène
-Figure Placement: directors treat actors’ bodies as elements of visual field
-Costumes and Props: costumes provide information about time and place, and express
social milieu and personal style, props establish character and hint at change and
development
-Makeup: makeup and hairstyles establish time period, reveal character traits, signal
changes in characters; makeup and prostheses alter actor’s appearance so that he or
she resembles historical figure
Light
-Light an essential requirement of filmmaking
-Lighting is element of mise en scène because it illuminates: set and actors, used to create
certain moods and effect
-Lighting furthers audience’s understanding of: characters, underscores particular actions,
develops themes, establishes mood
-Attributes of light: Quality (hard/soft), Placement (direction of light), Contrast (high/low)
Available Light
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Integrated design program called mise en sc ne, has four major components: setting, human figure, lighting, composition. Term mise en sc ne (pronounced meez ahn sen ) originated in the theater and literally means staging a scene through artful arrangement of: actors, scenery, lighting, props. Elements of mise en sc ne influences the viewer"s experience of story, characters, space, time. Filmmakers use details in systematic manner not only to create a world on screen, but also to indicate: character development, present motifs, amplify themes, establish mood. Setting refers to places where film"s action unfolds. Functions of settings include: establishing time and place, creating mood and emotion, introducing ideas and themes. Most commercial films today contain scenes shot on location. Shooting on soundstage or on location, filmmakers carefully craft recognizable story world. Filmmakers make reference to familiar, human-made objects to convey significance of place. Casting (selecting an actor for a role) is an important decision director or casting director makes.
