Media LanguageMedia Language

Mise en Scene & LightingMise en Scene & Lighting

What you need to knowWhat you need to know

Mise-en-Scène Mise-en-Scène

Production design: location, studio, Production design: location, studio, set designset design

Costume and make-up, properties. Costume and make-up, properties.

Lighting; colour design. Lighting; colour design.

What is Mise en scene?What is Mise en scene?

Originally a theatre term that is now used in Originally a theatre term that is now used in Film Studies meaning ‘staging’ it crossed Film Studies meaning ‘staging’ it crossed over to signify the film production practices over to signify the film production practices involved in the framing of shots.involved in the framing of shots.

““Mise-en-scene may be described as the Mise-en-scene may be described as the expressive tool at the filmmaker’s disposal expressive tool at the filmmaker’s disposal which a critic can read to determine the which a critic can read to determine the specificity of the cinematographic work.” specificity of the cinematographic work.” (Hayward, S, 1996)(Hayward, S, 1996)

Critics can identify the particular style of a Critics can identify the particular style of a specific filmmaker and thereby point to it as specific filmmaker and thereby point to it as an ‘authorial’ style.an ‘authorial’ style.

We can also distinguish genre and We can also distinguish genre and sub-genre through the use of sub-genre through the use of iconography.iconography.

Use of mise-en-scene is often very Use of mise-en-scene is often very symbolic and may infer several symbolic and may infer several meanings to the audience about a meanings to the audience about a given situation, character or location.given situation, character or location.

When we study a text’s mise-en-When we study a text’s mise-en-scene we are concerned with scene we are concerned with everything within the frame!everything within the frame!

What constitutes the Mise-en-What constitutes the Mise-en-scene?scene?

The settingThe setting – location where the – location where the action takes place. It may be action takes place. It may be artificially constructed (studio sets) artificially constructed (studio sets) or ‘shot on location’. Certain genres or ‘shot on location’. Certain genres are associated with certain settings. are associated with certain settings. Eg. Soap Operas in domestic settings Eg. Soap Operas in domestic settings such as homes or social settings such such as homes or social settings such as pubs or cafes.as pubs or cafes.

ActivityActivity

Activity sheet-State what settings you would Activity sheet-State what settings you would expect to find in each of the TV Drama sub-expect to find in each of the TV Drama sub-genres.genres.

Teen, medical, crime, historical, legal and soapTeen, medical, crime, historical, legal and soap Consider why these settings are typically used.Consider why these settings are typically used.

- What function do they serve in the narrative? - What function do they serve in the narrative?

-What do they tell us about the characters in -What do they tell us about the characters in terms of class, race, gender, age & regional terms of class, race, gender, age & regional identity?identity?

CostumeCostume

Clothing, accessories, prosthetics Clothing, accessories, prosthetics etc. (Colour, style, authenticity etc.) etc. (Colour, style, authenticity etc.) Costume often signifies more about a Costume often signifies more about a character’s life or personality than character’s life or personality than we may be actually told through we may be actually told through dialogue.dialogue.

For example, consider a For example, consider a character like Clark Kent character like Clark Kent in the American TV in the American TV Drama, Drama, SmallvilleSmallville. . Always in red, white and Always in red, white and blue – patriotic, fresh-blue – patriotic, fresh-faced ‘All-American boy’ faced ‘All-American boy’ here to save the world!here to save the world!

However, when affected However, when affected by black kryptonite, he by black kryptonite, he becomes a ‘baddie’ and becomes a ‘baddie’ and his costume expresses his costume expresses this!this!

Activity Activity

Watch the extract from Watch the extract from Pride & Prejudice. (BBC, Pride & Prejudice. (BBC, 1995)1995)

Consider the use of Consider the use of costume in the extract – costume in the extract – what does it suggest about what does it suggest about the characters’ the characters’ personalities or attitudes personalities or attitudes that is not expressed that is not expressed through the dialogue?through the dialogue?

Why did the director choose Why did the director choose to use costume in this way?to use costume in this way?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSFmrkR-QA&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSFmrkR-QA&feature=related

Colour PaletteColour Palette

Connotations of use of colour within Connotations of use of colour within the frame. Whilst most British TV the frame. Whilst most British TV Dramas operate within realism and Dramas operate within realism and favour a more naturalistic look, some favour a more naturalistic look, some are extravagant with colour. Sci-fi texts are extravagant with colour. Sci-fi texts often use bright colour palettes since often use bright colour palettes since they are not bound by the constraints they are not bound by the constraints of realism. However, some use colour of realism. However, some use colour to signify further plot information. to signify further plot information.

ActivityActivityWatch the extract from Casanova.Watch the extract from Casanova.

Consider the purpose of the colour Consider the purpose of the colour palette.palette.

- What does it tell us about What does it tell us about character?character?

- What does it add to the What does it add to the representation of gender, representation of gender, sexuality, class & race?sexuality, class & race?

- What does it tell us about the What does it tell us about the narrative at this stage of the narrative at this stage of the drama?drama?

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq-ZtZxKBmIv=nq-ZtZxKBmI

Characters and Character Characters and Character MovementMovement

The way a character walks, their The way a character walks, their body language, gestures, facial body language, gestures, facial expressions etc all create different expressions etc all create different connotations for the viewer and are connotations for the viewer and are vital in supplying plot information for vital in supplying plot information for the viewer.the viewer.

ActivityActivity Watch the extract from Bleak Watch the extract from Bleak

House.House. Focussing on the characters – Focussing on the characters –

the way they move, their body the way they move, their body language, gestures and facial language, gestures and facial expressions – consider what expressions – consider what assumptions we can make about assumptions we can make about their personalities, agendas and their personalities, agendas and roles in the narrative.roles in the narrative.

Use the worksheet to make Use the worksheet to make detailed notes on each.detailed notes on each.

How do costumes, setting, colour How do costumes, setting, colour and lighting further this image?and lighting further this image?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9G4ItH2T-wv=q9G4ItH2T-w

LightingLighting

Generally, the way a scene is lit will impact Generally, the way a scene is lit will impact upon the overall visual style of the text. In upon the overall visual style of the text. In film, certain directors may use lighting as film, certain directors may use lighting as part of their own unique visual style and may part of their own unique visual style and may make their work recognisable. Think of Tim make their work recognisable. Think of Tim Burton and Sleepy hollow and when the Burton and Sleepy hollow and when the horseman attacks.horseman attacks.

In TV, however, lighting is often limited to In TV, however, lighting is often limited to naturalistic lighting due to the desire to naturalistic lighting due to the desire to achieve a sense of realism. Occasionally achieve a sense of realism. Occasionally though, even TV producers can get creative!though, even TV producers can get creative!

Lighting TerminologyLighting Terminology

Three point lightingThree point lighting – This is – This is standard lighting in mainstream standard lighting in mainstream film/TV. Used in classical Hollywood film/TV. Used in classical Hollywood cinema. There are three lights: key, cinema. There are three lights: key, fill and back. The balance can be fill and back. The balance can be altered to create different effects.altered to create different effects.

High-key High-key lighting/Soft lighting/Soft lightinglighting – Here there – Here there is key light is brighter is key light is brighter than the fill light. As a than the fill light. As a result, the subject result, the subject being lit appears being lit appears brighter and softer. Eg. brighter and softer. Eg. Old Hollywood films Old Hollywood films where the heroine where the heroine appeared to have a appeared to have a bright, light face.bright, light face.

Low-key lighting/ Low-key lighting/ Hard lightingHard lighting – Here – Here the key light is weaker the key light is weaker than the fill. The result than the fill. The result is harsh shadows on is harsh shadows on the subject. This the subject. This technique is most technique is most commonly associated commonly associated with film noir, with film noir, gangster or horror gangster or horror genres.genres.

Back lightingBack lighting – – Most commonly Most commonly associated with associated with horror films. The horror films. The subject is lit only subject is lit only from the back, from the back, creating a silhouette creating a silhouette effect. The features effect. The features of the subject are of the subject are not visible and may, not visible and may, therefore, appear therefore, appear more menacing.more menacing.

Side lightingSide lighting – This – This highlights the subject highlights the subject and distorts the image, and distorts the image, making it feel making it feel imbalanced.imbalanced.

Frontal LightingFrontal Lighting – – This flattens the This flattens the image and removes image and removes the illusion of three the illusion of three dimensionality. dimensionality.

Chiaroscuro LightingChiaroscuro Lighting – This type of lighting – This type of lighting is most commonly is most commonly associated with film associated with film noir. It may be defined noir. It may be defined as an extreme contrast as an extreme contrast between light and between light and dark. White and black dark. White and black contrast harshly and contrast harshly and establish questions establish questions around identity of the around identity of the character and a character and a separation between separation between the blanc and noir the blanc and noir worlds.worlds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vur81WC2Gwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vur81WC2Gw

ActivityActivity

View the extract from View the extract from The HogfatherThe Hogfather.. Identify the types of lighting in use in Identify the types of lighting in use in

the three scenes.the three scenes.Why has the director chosen each type Why has the director chosen each type

of lighting? What does it add to the of lighting? What does it add to the mood of the scene?mood of the scene?

What does it add to our understanding What does it add to our understanding of the narrative at this stage of the of the narrative at this stage of the drama?drama?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNT7BZXYM7ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNT7BZXYM7o