Lesson 8

Lights! Camera! Action!

L/O: To explore the use of mise-en-scene in films.

Mise-en-scene:

• It is a French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame.
• Visual information in front of the camera.
• MES communicates essential information to the audience. Each aspect of mise-en-scene has hidden meanings within a film and sends signals to the audience about how we are supposed to feel or about a character.

Settings and props:

• Settings & locations play an important part in film-making and are not just 'backgrounds'.
• Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent to find a setting which already exists.
• Settings can manipulate an audience by building certain expectations and then taking a different turn.

Task: What settings, locations and props would you expect to find in:

1. A Science Fiction Film - A lab with test tubes and different machinery as props
2. A Romantic Comedy - In Paris or another romantic comedy and the props would be flowers.
3. A Horror Film - In an abandoned building and use knives etc. as props

Costume, Hair & Make-Up:

• Costume, Hair & Make-Up act as an instant indicator to us of a character's personality, status & job
• It tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present and what society/or culture it will centre around.
• Certain costumes can signify certain individuals (i.e. black cloak of a vampire, Spidey's Spiderman suit).

Task: What can you tell about the following characters from their costume, hair & make-up?

1. They are very serious and may be an explorer of some sort
2. A stereotypical teenage girl as she is wearing a lot of pink.
3. They are also very serious, and look to be a stereotypical citizen and wearing quite casual clothing.

Unfinished