Written By Nicole Goldstein
One of the most important elements in a film is the essential look of the film that you are making. As a visual society, we rely on the visual presentation of the film being diverse and inspiring to keep us invested in watching it. Sure, there are rules out there in the film community in order to uphold general aesthetic standards for films. But in recent years, directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson have branched off and have broken barriers, giving the world some of the most unique and well-known classics in modern Hollywood cinema. And yet, even these different directors started with the same basics that we are use.
We all have to know the basic rules of film editing before we break the rules. These basics are important for us to follow to help us better understand our creative ability and create visual works of art. One of the main rules that is essential to keep is a term called “mise-en-scene”. As previously taught to me by my Media Arts and Design professor, mise-en-scene is a French term defined as placement in a scene of those elements of a movie scene that are put in position before the filming actually begins and includes everything that is seen onscreen. Several aspects that are included in mise-en-scene are actors, sets, lighting, costumes and props: any visual elements of the film that are not a part of the camera and the processes of editing.
Mise-en-scene has its roots all the way back to early Greek theatre in 500 B.C.E. through staged drama. As the development of modern day technology and the beginning production of early Hollywood films, mise-en-scene grew more complex and expanded its horizons in all aspects. Some of the earliest examples of mise-en-scene caught on tape were just made up of “scenes” of mundane tasks such as workers being released from factory jobs or a pillow fight. As the film industry began to grow, sets replaced the everyday environment and costumes/make up began to become more influential and helped grow film from an average everyday home videos to a great empire of visual pictures.
As mentioned before, one of the most important aspects of mise-en-scene are the settings and sets used in film. The settings and set are used to transport the viewer to a specific location and time period to accurately portray the story being told. The setting also transports the viewer to that world and make us a participant in the story as a third party witness. The first sets were normally outdoors, which later evolved into built sound stages and constructed sets. In modern cinema, the continuing use of sound stages, constructed sets as well as the increased usage of actual locations for filming, which helps establishes a real gritty authentic feel to any movie. Today, with the increased use of digital technologies to create CGI virtual worlds; it is advantageous to give fantasy and science fiction films the appearance of being more realistic any yet it is disadvantageous if not done correctly, the effects look cheap and unrealistic. This aspect of movies attempting to keeping this “authenticity” is called realism.
Another aspect of a film’s mise-en-scene is involved in the physical pieces, which include props, costumes and actors. Props, short for properties, are objects used by actors that functions as part of the story. They give off certain symbolism and significance and can be used to express and classify character’s thoughts and feelings. For example in the 2007 musical horror film Sweeney Todd, the main prop used by the main character is a time appropriate razor blade, which defines his character as a professional for his trade as well as a secret serial killer. Costumes and make-up go along with the setting in keeping with the authenticity of a film. Keeping with the correct time period means those involved with the creative processes of the film (i.e. a Victorian era film should have appropriate Victorian dress for each correct classes).
An important element of mise-en-scene are the actors. Several key factors when it comes to actors involving their blocking in the scene, a actor’s performance and commitment to fulfill the reality of the role they are playing, and casting the most appropriate actor for a specific role. In concerns with blocking, for example, where a director places an actor in a scene can be significant to that character’s relationship with other characters or symbolic of an overall theme in a film. An actor’s performance and commitment can be extensive, from Internet research if basing their acting off a realistic or historic figure (i.e. Daniel Day Lewis’ performance in Lincoln) or an actor adapting to a real life choice to deliver a realistic performance (Christian Bale losing sixty pounds in The Machinest). This particular form of acting performance is called method acting. A third aspect to an actor in mise-en-scene is the specific acting choices. Directors cast certain actors based on if they can portray either based on archetypes and stereotypes (exaggerations based on generalizations), or if their appearances seem fit for the part.
One final aspect of mise-en-scene is the lighting used in the film. It is an important dimension because it adds depth and complexity to a scene or creates an overall look or theme for a particular movie. For instance in Apocalypse Now, the lighting throughout was dark and yellowish to represent the usage of napalm gas and to keep with the dark undertones of the Vietnam war.
A completed movie is like a puzzle. The mise-en-scene aspects are only several pieces that are needed to complete the project at hand. For us as thriving filmmakers, we can use mise-en-scene as an external condition for surroundings as well as a measure of character for the film. In short, mise-en-scene is a quintessential ingredient needed to make a film meaningful and impactful. For further information about the specifics of mise-en-scene, stick around :)
The Importance of Visual Literacy-
For more information on Mise-en-Scene:
Every Frame A Painting
http://everyframeapainting.tumblr.com/
Reference:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Melies%27s_Montreuil_studio.jpg
https://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/le-voyage-dans-la-lune-georges-melies-1902-tableau-5.png
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=14439&stc=1&d=1399726027
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Zmyzfi5FTo/maxresdefault.jpg
https://biomechanicalrhetoric.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/3-daysofheaven2.jpg
