MISE EN SCÉNE: Setting the Stage, Elevating the View.
There's no denying the importance of mise en scéne in filmmaking. Truly, it elevates film from just a record of movements and dialogue set to a sweeping score to an art form with depth, greater meaning, and purpose. In a translation from French to English, Mise en scéne means (quite literally):
As you are designing your mise en scéne assessments for Mrs. Agema, your own collaborative films, and as you are viewing your films of study this month, please complete the following for this blog discussion and exploration:
1. Read this article, including clicking the links within for the informational videos on mise en scéne: https://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/mise-en-scene-in-film-afk
2. Choose one of the following elements: Setting, Decor(Production Design), Lighting, Depth of Space, Costumes & Makeup. Then, comment on what you noticed with regards to that element in film for one of your assigned films in the screening schedule this month (Year 1: Road to Perdition, Stagecoach, or Tombstone. Year 2: 1917).
Finally, share your thoughts on the importance of "setting the stage" and being intentional in every frame of film. What is YOUR favorite film? How did mise en scéne create memorable moments for YOU?
I look forward to reading your insights!
Looking at: Lighting
ReplyDeleteFavorite movie: Road to Perdition since the music was great and the story was excellent
Road to Perdition: There seems to be a lot of shadows and dim lighting at the beginning of the movie.It gives the movie a very dramatic and serious feel to it. The dim lighting in some scenes makes the whole mood of the scene change into something that feels more dark and dangerous. There are a few scenes where the lighting is much brighter, but it feels like it’s kinda been filtered in a way so the brightness and the lightness of the situation feels off. Since it’s normally pretty dim lighting, when there is light shining on something or someone it feels extra special.
Importance of “Setting the Stage”: When being intentional in every frame, it feels so much more put together and overall more enjoyable and adds a bit more intrigue when rewatching a film, like ”what did I miss? What does this thing mean in this setting”
How did Mise en scene create memorable moments for me: I felt as if I was paying more attention to the visual and got to enjoy the movies more that way.
I LOVE the score of Road to Perdition, too. I downloaded the soundtrack. It is just haunting and truly adds so much to the film all around.
DeleteI chose to analyze the costumes and make-up in the movie Road to Perdition. At the start of the film, everyone is wearing dark, formal attire. The audience can assume the family is well off from the formality. Then we see everyone at the funeral wearing black because of a recent death. The makeup is neutral and bland to match the tone. The SFX of the blood throughout the movie brought out the tragedy and ruthless brutality of the deaths. One example is the blood on the father's hand as he took the gun from his son. The blood created tension and disturbance of the son towards his dad's profession. As they escape to Chicago, the skin tones look brighter but this could also just be lighting. When the dad was shot the first time, there was blood all over his arm and the makeup transitioned to be darker to show ailment. The costumes switched to working class attire as they stayed on the farm. After healing and leaving the farm, fancy attire was worn again. As they thought it was over, costumes switched to white tops and black bottoms to show hope and resolution. When the dad was shot and killed, blood went everywhere whereas when the dad shot the hit man, there was no visible blood. This shows the severity of the situation and strikes the audience's emotions for the poor boy.
ReplyDeleteBeing intentional in every frame is important because it creates memorability and strikes emotions hopefully the way the director had originally intended. One should be able to pause a film at any point in time and have an almost perfect snapshot of the tone in the scene.
My favorite film is My Life as a Zucchini (about an orphaned boy). Being that it was a stop motion animation, there wasn't makeup but there was color to emphasize facial features the same way makeup does. Lots more of color theory was used. For example, Simon's blush and nose were orange (and so was his hair) to show the anger and anxiousness of the character while Zucchini's color palette was mostly blues to bring out the sadness or fragility. The use of color theory through makeup and costumes made the moments correlating to the symbolism of the color more memorable.
I had not thought about the amount of blood in that scene, but you are right. It did make it so much more tragic - along with the diegetic sound of the soft waves--chaos and death inside, but the peaceful sound of water and life outside. A powerful and tragic/emotional contrast.
DeleteThe element I will be looking at in 1917 is lighting. I think that the lighting in the film added a lot to the plot, despite the fact that it looks like natural lighting was the primary form of light for this film. For instance, at the beginning of the film the lighting is quite neutral and unassuming, which mirrors the main characters' emotions at the time. They don't know what they're going to be assigned so they have no strong emotions at the moment. However in the scene where they find out their task, the lighting is gloomy and shifting. The characters are uncomfortable and uneasy. The task is difficult and dangerous. The lighting reflects these implicit aspects of the film. Later, when Blake is stabbed, it's the middle of the day and the sun is shining down on the two main
ReplyDeletecharacters. Normally a serious situation such as a main character's death causes for some dramatic or even just slightly different lighting. However in 1917, Blake dies under broad, harsh daylight. This hits home the fact that war is not a romanticized occasion and anyone can die because of it. The death is made important because of the unassuming nature of the lighting and surroundings. The audience feels that this can't be happening right now. It's so sudden. It's the middle of the day. This doesn't feel right. There are many other examples of how lighting highlights and indicates plot points and the characters' emotions, but these were just a few.
I can't possibly choose my favorite film but I will choose a film that I greatly enjoy. In the movie Up there is a scene towards the end that created a memorable moment for me. In this scene Carl had just thrown everything out of his house in order to save Russel. As Carl floats away the camera lingers on the pile of furniture and decorations that were thrown out. In the mess of all the furniture, Carl and his wife, Ellie's, chairs remains standing upright exactly as they had been in the house. This mise en scene was very powerful because it showed that despite the fact that Carl was opening a new chapter in his life, away from the house he built with his wife, he still loves her and cares for her.
I forgot to talk about being intentional in every frame so I'll do that here haha.
DeleteI think it is very important to be intentional in every frame because what is seen can reveal a lot about the plot and the characters. Being intentional about each frame can also give analytical audience members something exciting to look for and think about. Why did the director do this with a room? Why was the lighting this way?
Love your example of Blake's death. It made it so much more shocking and tense because it was in the daylight--fully exposed, harsh, and raw. I had not thought fully about that until you mentioned it here: doing the unexpected can have very intentional effects on the viewer.
DeleteDecor
ReplyDeleteWhen viewing a film you not only see the actors, you see their environment. If a man is in space and you see a table with a sock that doesn’t tell the audience where they are unless that was intentional and that makes the scene more real. Stagecoach created sets and filmed in environments that emphasize their presence and made the journey more realistic.
I’m a fan of puppeteering and animatronics, in those films they have to create the whole world down to the last grains of sand, then put detail in the puppet itself. This all has to come together seamlessly to make a great film, my personal favorite animatronic/puppet film is The Dark Crystal, I love the brain of Jim Henson and company. Everything is amazing. The sets are not only stunning but created to house the pieces to control the puppets and how to get the best shots working with complex pieces and sets.
Oh my! Jim Henson! I wrote a piece in his honor when he died that was published in my University program's periodical. I loved his mind, too. Kermit the Frog will always have a place in my heart...so will Sesame Street. He was a master.
DeleteLighting: for my mise an scene section I chose to do the lighting of Tombstone. The lighting in any film is extremely important when setting the mood in any situation. The lighting in this film really helps accentuate the tonal differences between being in the dessert or in buildings and how those two different types of scene have different ideas behind them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite film has to be Spy Kids 2. This film uses mise en scene very well, with the use of angle, lighting and all other aspects making one of the most memorable moments in film history for me. Even though its a film made for kids with a low budget, the care and heart put into every scene makes it such a great film I go back to watch it all the time.
I was assigned the film "1917" for this months viewing. I was absolutely floored with the cinematography in just about every scene. However, I loved the use of light throughout the movie, most noticeably the scene where the main character is running through an area of abandoned buildings. The use of score and foley alone would be enough but the use of color and light is really what made the scene come alive in what felt like a dream-like trance. The use of sudden darkness and bright all consuming light develops the feeling of anxiety/ adrenaline that the character is going through in the moment. Since the audience must use the random bursts of light to see their surroundings, the cinematographer makes the viewers rely on his timing in order to see what is happening (along with the character). Suddenly the lighting changes to a dark orange, which is a color that is often associated with nostalgia or the feeling of safety. Obviously, this choice directly contrasts the situation our main character finds himself in. Finally, once he reaches "safety" the lighting turns quickly to a deep blue which is usually associated with an ominous feeling, which puts the audience in a anxious state of mind. Ultimately, this reflects the mindset of World War One where every one had a romanticized war, hence the orange lighting (nostalgia of war). However, he is through back into an ominous light to remind viewers that his journey is far from over.
ReplyDeleteIt is a next to impossible choice to select my favorite movie, but at the moment I have really enjoyed the Romeo + Juliet (1996) film direct by Baz Luhrmann, who is one of my favorite directors. In my opinion he is a master of Mise-en-scene and Color theory. This film is a perfect example of what he can do. The scene that comes to mind is Mercutio's death scene. As the duel is drawing near the light turns harsh and everything becomes a dark yellow, hinting at the sickening actions that are about to be played out. The whole thing reminds me of a comic book layout because most/all the shots are still and we see lots of close-ups of characters faces that are sharpened. This lighting choice is perfect because the scene separates itself from the film, and sets the tone (dark yellow) for the rest of the film as our characters descend into their fate.
I had never thought about that but you are very right - that scene in Romeo + Juliet did have a comic book feel - it played with the pop culture vibe of this version of Shakespeare's infamous play.
DeleteYes, 1917 is a film that floored me as well. I could not take my eyes off the screen. Sam Mendes is a favorite director. His work on this film was so captivating in every single frame.
Jane Wheeler
ReplyDeleteFor this entry I will be discussing Depth of Space in the film "1917". In the film, director Sam Mendes used innovative editing to make a series of shots, look like one continuous one. The longest continuous cut in the film was actually only around seven minutes long. Due to the constrictions on the cinematography, the camera moved in a lot of interesting ways throughout the set. The section I would like to talk about is the end of the film, when the main character is moving through the trenches to reach the commander (played by Cumberbatch). It starts behind him, the gravel is white, there are many soldiers crowding the shot. And as he climbs out of the trench the camera moves in front of him. Then it somehow starts moving faster as he starts running, and once he reaches where he needed, the camera moves behind him again. Back into the tight spaces of the trench. I simply have no idea how this was achieved. All the lighting that needed to be adjusted for in a short time alone would have been a nightmare to make happen. The scene has a way of making it feel like there are cuts, even if there aren't. When I try to remember that scene inside the room, with the commander, my brain makes cuts for me. This sense of depth is so fantastic, the viewer does not even notice it. Because they are so engrossed in the action of the film. This choice of camera work, and depth in the scene is excellent because it makes it feel real and exciting. The camera doesn't linger in any spot for too long. To put it shortly 1917 is calculated to perfection. I really have no complaints with the film. It is a masterpiece in all rights.
I don't have one single favorite film, many pop into my head as I ponder what my true favorite may be. "Edward Scissor hands", "Interview With a Vampire", "Young Frankenstein", "Some Like it Hot"and "The Dark Crystal" are most certainly in my top twenty. But when I think of a favorite film (not animated because that is a whole new list!) I think of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth". The Mise en Scene in that film is fantastic. The set design and colorful cast always makes me happy to think about. And the fact that David Bowie plays Jareth the Goblin King also gives it some points in my book. I especially love the sequence when Sarah eats the peach (?) and is transported to the ballroom. The camera movements make the setting very confusing and dream like. We also get a lot of close ups on Bowie's face. Then as Sarah realizes it's all designed to deter her from finding her baby brother and returning home, the scene crashes down and she finds herself in her own bedroom, but its covered in trash and materialistic things she thought she cared about. But really she has more important things she really cares about. Also the scene at the end of the movie is great, when the stairs move around, the set is upside down, babies are crawling on the walls. Jareth is an owl. Etc etc. The camera work and mise en scene employed in that film is just so memorable. I love it.
I may talk about camera movements too much, I will make sure to try and focus on something different in the next blog post :)
DeleteLoved everything you said....please don't stop talking about camera movements. :) I agree with everything you said about 1917--it truly was calculated to perfection. Sam Mendes just works that way.
DeleteIn the film 1917, one of my absolute favorite production elements would be the depth of space and more specifically how editing and camera movements make for a more interesting and ambitious film. Within the first 10 minutes of the film I was already blown away with how many camera movements there were and how many shots were implemented without the use of any cuts to distract from the severity of the journey these characters are about to go on. The scene opens with a long take of the two main characters walking past several soldiers who are resting in the open field of grass, still following the characters we see them leave the wide open plain and then pass through the tight, narrow trenches, passing by a small amount of soldiers. This is an amazing way of establishing the setting and tone of this film, showing everything these characters are seeing without holding back any details that would be missed if the camera did not follow them throughout the entire scene. So this long take alone is a pretty impressive feat, but what happens next is even more astonishing, while still following our characters into a briefing room, the camera then focuses behind the two, instead of in front of them, in an over-the-shoulder shot that then leads into a close-up of the general giving the two soldiers their mission that then backs away and draws focus back on to the main characters that then exit the briefing room. Keep in mind, all these shots are done while still in a long-take, and that is what makes this scene so visually appealing, the fact that our attention isn't being manipulated in any way, throughout the whole scene we see what these characters are seeing, as well as the scenery around them, without the use of any cuts to draw our attention to certain characters. Another great film that I believe does this very well is "Gravity" directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Because most of this film is in space, the director tried to show as much of it as he could without the use of any cuts, we are once again seeing what only the character sees but it is done in a way where we can take in the entire environment without losing focus of the main character. I really love movies that use this method of camera movements and editing because it always makes for an interesting and heartfelt experience that you don't usually see from other movies, so when it's done this impressively, you know you're in for an amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteSo well said. Yes, 1917 was one of those rare films that made it impossible to take your eyes away from the screen even for a moment. It is completely captivating.
DeleteLighting
ReplyDeleteStagecoach: The lighting used in Stagecoach mainly relies on natural light or attempts to mimic it. This plays a role on setting the stage when the movie uses an outdoor scene, as it lends to the movie's attempts at mimicking life. I also noticed that during more indoor scenes, the lighting is noticeably flatter in my opinion, mostly to tone down the scenes as more serious than the ones outside.
Being intentional in each frame and setting the stage for a movie helps contribute to a movie's realistic feeling and it's continuity. When moments that appear in the background or previously in the film can be seen in a later scene, it really gives the impression of a living and breathing world behind the screen. My favorite film would be the Lego Movie, if not for it's charming design alone, with attention to detail placed in the environments of every scene. Moments where the entire scene feels fluid and living thanks to mise en scene helps engage me within a story.
The element that I will be exploring from 1917 is lighting.
ReplyDeleteIn this film lighting is so important to portray the mood of scenes as each scene is meant to carry a heavy weight in the viewer in order to make them feel present in the film. The most memorable scene of this movie where this was a huge factor is the scene where the soldier and the woman are both taking care of the baby. In this scene the lighting is very warm toned and set with a yellower whit balance. In my opinion, this is done in order to make the viewer feel safe as they watch this tender moment unfold by allowing them to be pulled away from the conflict all around Schofield . The scene with the baby is opposed to the scenes with Schofield and Blake walking through no man's land where the lighting gritty whiter look to it and you feel a sense of intensity and alertness. Overall, i think this movie uses lighting very well not only for aesthetic purposes but also as an effective method to deliver tone and mood thus showing the importance of setting the stage for your audience.
Although a bit basic, I can say that personally my favorite movie of all time is "Mamma Mia" . Not only am a huge sucker for a musical but I throughly enjoy the nostalgic feeling that comes along every time I pop that disc into the DVD player. I feel like without even knowing it the lighting is what draws me into "Mamma Mia" the most. I say this because the lighting in it is very white and clean and you can see that the film also has some grit and texture to it. I feel thay this adds to that feeling of comfort and familiarity that I get when I watch it. I'm unsure if this is the intention by the director or if the lighting and texture of the film is a result of older technology of the time however either way it works for me as I continue to re-watch "Mamma Mia" over and over again. In fact I may just go watch it right now.
Depth of Space
ReplyDeleteI am going to be talking about Depth of Space in regards to the film "1917". Depth of Space is essentially how objects and people are spaced out, and how the camera is located relative to people and objects. In this film, we follow Lance Cpl. Blake and Lance Cpl. Schofield as they race against the clock to reach another group of soldiers in order to stop an attack that could result in the deaths of 1600 men. One of the amazing feats of this film is how it is made of a few very long continuous shots. This relates to Depth of Space because the camera is always following the two main characters. Whether it be following them from behind, or watching them from a distance, they are always somewhere in the scene. The way the camera follows the men changes how we view the situation they are in. When they are making their way through a wide open field we are usually shown a wide view of the the men. On the other hand, when they are walking through trenches or other cramped spaces, the camera is very close to them, so we feel cramped as well.
Setting the stage is very important when it comes to film. If a filmmaker wants to give off a certain feeling or tell a specific message, they need to make sure to use every bit of the frame. One of my favorite movies is "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King". Mise-en-scene was very useful in that film. One scene in particular is the Battle of Pelennor Fields. In this scene, there are thousands of soldiers, horses, ghosts and even elephants. The viewer is given a sense of bewilderment as they watch the tiny men fighting on horseback as they are mowed down by an opponent that is 100 times bigger. When Peter Jackson made these films, he used mise-en-scene fantastically, which created an amazing viewing experience.
The film that I was given to dive deep into was 1917. This film blew me away! I will be focusing mostly on the camera angles in the cinematography.
ReplyDeleteThis film touched my heart. Although I am not able to personally relate to this film, it still made me want to cry. You really fall in love with the characters and build connections with them purely from camera angles alone. You felt like you were right there with the action, fighting side-by-side with the characters. There were times throughout the movie where the main character, Schofield, would be shooting an an enemy. However, even the audience was not able to see who or what Schofield was shooting at. This only built up the suspense even more.
Other times camera angles were able to tell the story were from the various amount of close up shots whenever the drama would rise. For example, the scene when Blake, Schofield's friend , was bleeding out, there were many amounts of close up shots used and even some wider shots to make it seem as if we are there ourselves. Very intense scenes used wider shots to show the environment around him and what Schofield is dealing with in his current state.
Overall, the camera angles in this film were used perfectly to tell a monumental story. It gave the audience a chance to feel what the characters were feeling and to imagine ourselves in that situation.
For my personal thoughts, I would definitely watch this movie again and watch it with a friend! The intensity of the scenes tensed me up but made me extremely curious to see what was going to happen next. The entirety of the cinematography and mise-en-scene in this film were gorgeous!
The film I was given is 1917. Absolutely, depth of space is the most pronounced element in the film. The camera stays near to the two protagonists, rarely going more than a few feet away. This is to make the audience feel as though they are traveling along with them. Specific examples of this are when the men are in the trenches, and when they are out in open fields. When in the trenches, the camera stays extremely close toe the characters to give a claustrophobic feeling to the audience. The characters dominate the center of the screen while the trench walls dominate the sides of the screen. This simple technique allows the audience to feel as though they are in a tight place. Even I felt cramped as they walked past the narrow pathways, overcrowded with people. When in large, open spaces, the camera pulls back from the characters, allowing the audience to breathe and feel a sense of relief. A notable scene would be when the two men escape from the German trenches and emerge into the grassy plain. For that brief period of time both the characters and the audience feel free from any sort of danger. It offers some peace in this so far, nightmarish scenario. It also acts as another way for the audience to feel as if they are actually there. In a cramped space like the trenches, there isn't much of anything to see. In a large field, it is possible to see for miles. The depth of space serves to make the audience feel the characters' emotions, and feel like they are there with them.
ReplyDeleteSetting the stage is the best way to convey both the story and theme of a film. There are many ways to set the stage through lighting, framing, color, etc. What is most important however, is that every element is done is done in an intentional and deliberate manner. There is no possible way for me to decide on a favorite film. There are simply to many to choose from. One film that I will always admire is Donnie Darko. The film sets the stage by using different thematic elements to unnerve the audience. The film is always dark, even in the daytime, the sky is overcast. The characters are set in the frame in a way that makes the audience feel uncomfortable. Every element is excellently applied to make the audience scared, even with a lack of a clear threat.
I am SO impressed with your observations on these films. Year 2 scholars, your responses and depth of analysis here brings me such amazement. You have grown so much in your understanding of film and the elements directors employ to tell a story in the most compelling way for the viewers. Bravo, everyone! What a joy this was to read. :)
ReplyDeleteIn the film 1917 easily the most pronounced element is the depth of space that is used. Everything going on around the two characters is easy to see however the camera remains close to the characters keeping every scene more intimate giving the audience the ability to feel as if they are traveling along with the characters. The camera moves in and out with the characters depending on the situations they are in. Throughout the entire movie it seems as if we are moving with the characters and each scene is so much more powerful due to this element. Later in the film 2 turns into one and even then we feel as if we all have lost someone and have to continue the journey alone. Overall in this film angles are used along with the depth of space to create an environment that is pleasing to the audience and conveys the movie in an amazing eye catching way.
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