2 Mise-en-SceneFrom the French, literally translates to ‘put on the stage’ or ‘placed within the scene’… however, deals with a number of issues overlapping with cinematography that can categorized.
3 Working definition of Mise-en-Scene . . . The arrangement and relationships of visual weights and movements within the frame and outside of the frame. Incorporates both the staging of action and the way it is recorded and presented; i.e., both production and product.
4 Elements of Mise-en-Scene DominantSubsidiary contrastsCinematographyOpen and closed formFrame composition and designCharacter placement and proxemics
5 What’s dominant? What captures our attention initially? What do you notice second and third?How does the eye travel around the frame, often from point to point?
6 Mise . . . What’s dominant and secondary? Characters’ eyes can direct our attentionCharacters place in the front and center gain more attention than on sides or backHeighth, lighting, and colors demand attentionDominance can be read literally and figuratively
7 Mise includes elements of cinematography… You might consider how elements of cinematography properly involve how the film is recorded and mise involves what is recorded. That is, cinematography is the production and mise is the product.
8 Elements of Mise . . . Dominant Subsidiary contrasts CinematographyOpen and closed formFrame composition and designCharacter placement and proxemics
10 (reviewing…) and we define shots according to: Size/DistanceAngleContentMovementPoint of viewConventions
11 Elements of Mise . . . Dominant Subsidiary contrasts Cinematography Open and closed formFrame composition and designCharacter placement and proxemics
12 Open form . . . Tends toward realistic film expressions Apparent haphazard frame compositionTemporarily cuts off action and space; action continues off-screen(Alien)
13 Open form manipulates the film form, which suggests vastness, loneliness and isolation, desolation here in Alien
14 Closed form . . . Tends toward formalistic film expressions Distortion of form over subject as contentSelf-conscious style of presentationBalanced, figurative design
15 Closed form manipulates the film form, often to cerate an organized space in which the action takes place--the frame as a sort of stage. Note the blocking devices. (Lord of the Rings)
16 Elements of Mise . . . Dominant Subsidiary contrasts Cinematography Open and closed form Frame composition and designCharacter placement and proxemics
17 Mise involves frame composition and design . . . How tightly or loosely organized are objects and characters within the frame?How balanced is the frame?What depths does the frame provide?What is the underlying design of the frame? Classic “S-shaped” or triangular? Linear?
18 Mise involves the placement of characters . . . How much space between characters and specific objects?Public, social, personal, and intimate distanceCharacters’ relationships to camera create perspective and other meanings
19 What does Austin’s placement suggest about his feelings for the other characters?
20 Mise. Compare the placement of these characters Mise Compare the placement of these characters. What do we know about them and their relationships?
21 Mise . . . Character placement When characters touch, there is some form of intimacyIntimacy, though, does not have to be ‘loving”Intimacy can be protective or mutually trusting or even violent
22 Mise. . . placement creates dominance . . . Front is more dominant than backCenter more than sidesBigger more than smallerMoving more than staticHuman more than non-humanStanding more than sittingFollow eye-line matches
23 Elements of Mise . . . Dominant Subsidiary contrasts Cinematography Open and closed form Frame composition and design Character placement and proxemics