Mise-en-scene Film Opening - Homework.

1. By Harriet Bibby.

2. Within our film opening we will have to
consider which areas of mise-en-scene will
benefit our film and why!
 Within this PowerPoint I will use ‘CLAMPS’ to
determine what type of costume, lighting,
actors, make-up, props and setting will be
effective within our film opening.

4. Shirt and tie.
 We aim to create a
reasonably likeable killer
who is casual about the
murder he is committing.
 To do this, we will dress
the killer in a normal suit
and tie. This creates a
‘normal’ effect but also
creates enigma for the
audience, as he will seem
like a normal guy, yet he
is committing this crime.
 This character will also be
wearing dark colours, to
connote death,
destruction and danger.

5. Jeans and jumper – generic clothing.
 As this character is
completely innocent and
neutral throughout the
opening, we will dress her
in simple, everyday,
generic clothing.
 This will connote to the
audience that she is
innocent and normal,
making them sympathise
with the character more!
 We may also make this
character wear something
white to accentuate the
purity and innocence she
maintains.

7. Bright/foggy/neutral.
 Throughout the majority of the
opening, we will have
bright/neutral lighting as we
will be filming in the morning.
 This will create juxtaposition
between the bright lighting
and the dark happenings taking
place.
 Because we are filming in the
morning, it is also very likely
to be reasonably foggy. This is
an advantage for us as
although the lighting is bright,
the fog will create an
undertone of darkness within
the opening.
 However, we will need to judge
the time we film very well as if
it is too foggy, it will obstruct
the vision of the camera.

8. Blue/cold lighting on face.
 At some points when we
have close ups on the
killer’s face, we may
also use blue lighting.
 This not only signifies to
the audience that it is
very cold (much like the
almost dead body) but
also accentuates the
killer abnormality.
 This technique alienates
the killer making the
audience feel even
more uneasy about his
disturbing character.

10. Casual/likeable/creepy.
 Using this actor, we aim to create a
causal, likeable but creepy killer.
 To connote that the killer is casual and
calm about this murder, the actor we use
will have to move at a consistent pace,
with no sudden movements.
 His facial expressions will also usually
have to be neutral – this doesn’t show
any fear or panic of the character.
(which is what we want.)
 This character will also be reasonably
likeable. To achieve this, our actor will
have to have a slight hint of humour. He
will hopefully achieve this when telling
the body to “Shh” and patting them
patronizingly, as this is very odd
behaviour for a killer.
 This actor will also have to come across
as creepy. To do this he will have to
smile contently at some points. This will
make not only the character of the body
feel uneasy, but the audience as well.

11. Scared/nervous.
 This actor will have to be
extremely frightened and
scared by the killer and also
her future.
 To show this she will have
to use nervous, anxious and
petrified facial expressions
that will express her
emotions to the audience.
 However, because this
character is so close to
death and has been
previously hurt by the
killer, there will be limited
gestures used. Therefore,
we will be heavily relying
on the facial expressions of
this actor.

13. Neutral.
 As we are attempting to
make the killer very
casual, we thought it
would be more
effective if he had
neutral or no make-up
on.
 This makes the
audience initially view
him as completely
normal however, he is
later revealed to be a
murderer.

14. Neutral/bruising/blood.
 Again, with this
character we thought
that it would be more
effective to use neutral
make up. This would
accentuate this
character’s innocence
within the opening.
 However, we also
thought that this
character could have
some bruising/blood on
her face to suggest that
she had previously been
hit by her killer.

16. Shovel/bag/twigs.
 The killer will have to use a shovel, to dig
the grave for his dead wife. This prop also
gives the killer more power, as the audience
could question whether he will use the prop
as a weapon.
 The body will also have to be laid on a
bag/material. This is mainly for practicality
as we don’t want the actor to be hurt whilst
being dragged through the woods. However,
it also may inform the audience that this
murder was planned, as the killer obviously
had all the equipment for the crime. This
creates enigma as the audience begin to
wonder why he would plan to kill his wife.
 We also thought that it would be effective
to create a cross using twigs within the last
shot. As this is where the killer creates a
‘funeral’ for his wife, we thought that it
would create an even more disturbing
atmosphere for the audience as he had
made her a ‘headstone’.

18. Willingham Woods.
 We have chosen to set our
opening in Willingham
Woods (as seen in the
pictures) as although it is
slightly cliché for this
genre, it is a perfect setting
for a murder – being very
large, solitude and difficult
to run into people.
 The trees also create an
eerie, disturbing tone which
fits very well within our
storyline and also the genre
that we have chosen.
 The trees will also effect
the lighting (the sun shining
through) which will also
create an abnormal setting.

19.  To conclude, through using ‘CLAMPS’ I
believe we can create an eerie, disturbing
atmosphere for the audience and also bring
out the characterization of the actors
through their costumes, make-up and acting
skills.
 I also believe that the setting, props and
lighting add to and set the tone of our film
opening as they fit the conventions our genre
and also create a distressing atmosphere
along with the other elements of ‘CLAMPS’.