Mise en scene

Mise en scene is the french term for what can be seen on screen at any point, this includes films, photos, adverts etc. Mise en scene includes:

• lighting - the effect of the lighting, the significances of where the lighting is, the effect on the scene that the lighting causes e.g. if there is little light the scene may be considered evil or sinister.
• setting - the area where the scene is taking place and what it suggests. the setting is usually shown through a series of establishing shots from distance and up close.
• characters acting/ facial expression - the expression and posture of the characters, connotating what they are doing and how they are feeling in the scene for example: a withdrawn pose with a scared expression will suggest to he audience that the scene is one of horror, and that the characters are reacting to it accordingly.
• costumes/props - the theme of the clothing and the props which are being used, for example if we someone dressed in a prisoners uniform with handcuffs around there wrists, we become immediately aware that this character is a prisoner.
• camera angles - the angles and different kinds of shots which are being used in the scene which develop certain aspects of emotion or suggest action codes, for example if we see soldiers running through a battlefield approaching each other wearing different uniforms, we know there is about to be a fight.