FILM AS

TEXT

TEACHING THE PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Learning Intention:

• To identify the 6 production elements

• To understand the nature and function of ‘mise en scene’

• To apply the concept to analysis of a film still

Success Criteria:

- To be able to name the 6 production elements

- To demonstrate your understanding of ‘mise en scene’ by

analysing a film still

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

HOW IS TEACHING FILM DIFFERENT TO TEACHING A

WRITTEN TEXT?

There are many similar elements including:

Characters

Narrative structure

Setting

Point of View

Values and attitudes

Cause and effect

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

HOW IS TEACHING FILM DIFFERENT TO TEACHING A

WRITTEN TEXT?

The main difference is in understanding how:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

aka

TECHNICAL ELEMENTS

are used to construct the narrative or story

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPT:

In media texts

EVERYTHING IS CONSTRUCTED

Nothing is included

unintentionally or through

chance.

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

C

A

M

E

L

S

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FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Camera

Acting

Mise en scène

Editing

Lighting

Sound

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FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

- Literally means ‘placing within

the scene or frame’

- Frame refers to the edge of the

image displayed on screen

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène is:

- What is included in the frame

- Why it is included > meaning or

purpose of those elements

INDIVIDUALLY & IN COMBINATION

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

Includes several elements

- costume, hair, makeup

- setting and props

- actor – body position and facial expression

- lighting and colour

- visual composition – how the visual elements

are arranged within the frame

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

TASK – analysing a film still

We are going to look at a few examples

of stills and identify Mise en scene

elements, and consider what they might

suggest about characters, character

relationships, setting, time period, and

what is happnening in the frame.

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

TASK – analysing a film still

You can use this Word document to

record your notes if you wish:

file://localhost/Users/09036147/Best

Practice/MISE EN SCENE.docx

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène – teaching ideas

1. Deconstruct stills

- Get students to label a print out

or downloaded still.

- Could also be good on IWB!

• Great site for film stills is

WWW.LEAVEMETHEWHITE.COM

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Mise en scène – teaching ideas

2. Analyse a scene from a film and

assign one person to watch and note

down different elements eg 1 x

costume, 1 x lighting, 1 x setting and

props, 1 x visual composition.

As a group they piece together their

findings and report back to class. (use

different scenes for different groups)

FILM AS TEXT:

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

A final word….

According to VELS, exploration of

how meaning is constructed is placed

around Level 6 and beyond (ie Year

10 / 11).

However, using visual stimuli is a great way to

brighten up learning activities at any stage.

Even a simple analysis concentrating on one

element such as costume can work well with

lower year levels.