The use of mise en-scene

1. THE USE OF MISE-EN-
SCENE
IN OUR FILM
HELK PRODUCTIONS

2. WHAT IS MISE EN SCENE?
Dictionary definition: The arrangement of the scenery, props, etc.
on the stage of a theatrical production or on the set of a film.
Mise en scene is another expression used to explain the framing
and set up of a picture. A picture in media is most likely to be set
up in order to send a certain message about the film or an
individual character to the audience for clearer understanding of
the specific character/film. This covers the use of body language,
framing and props as well as costume in the scene. These aspects
will be considered by film producers to help the audience
understand the film and the characters. This also covers
placement, background and lighting.

3. EXAMPLES
This picture demonstrates the use of Mise en
Scene, as the image has been set up to connote
certain messages for the audiences
understanding. The first and main aspect of Mise
en Scene that has been used, is the use of
costume. This shows the well being and class of
the characters, portraying their wealthand social class, as they are dressed in expensive clothes and all look
classy and well kept. Their costumes are also a reference to the time
period of the film, which is taken from pride and prejudice 1813. The
lighting shows the time of day and is coming from outside, but the
background shows big windows, again this is a reference to their social
class as there’s expensive furniture in the background. The positioning
and placement has been used in this scene to represent the ways of this
time period as the ladies are sat down and the men are stood up,
showing the men are higher than the women and have more power. The
furniture is a prop to represent their wealth as they are high class.

4. EXAMPLES
This is another example of Mise en Scene in film. By looking at this still image,
the audience can straight away tell that the genre of the film is likely to be a
horror film. This is perceived from the use of Mise en Scene. Firstly, lighting is
used to give a sense of eeriness and darkness to the shot, which creates the
shadow effect in the background. The protagonist at the front is well exposed
due to the lighting used. This is done to show her expression as a key point in
the film as she is scared, and the audience can derive that she is possibly the
victim. Because of the lighting, it creates a picture, again creating Mise en Scene.
This leads the audience’ eyes straight to the woman and the tree as they are the
brightest part to the image. Then the audience will see the darker shadowing in
the background and will notice the other character. This is a simplistic shot, yet
effective from the use f colouring, as there are no bright colours that distract the
audience away from crucial aspects. The protagonists body language expresses
that she may have been running away and is tired and out of breath, as her
shoulders are up and her chest is raised, as she is taking a large breath in. her
facial expression shows she is scared and tired from running. The shadow in the
backgrounds body language shows they are searching for the possible victim at
the front, as they are lurched forwards, they are striding, meaning they may be
walking fast/running and their arms are out, another sign of them walking at a
fast pace.

5. LIGHTING
We attempted to light the shots to make eve look brighter than
the character of Richard, to make her look ghostly. It was difficult
to do this as we filmed mostly in the day as it fit in better to the
groups schedule for filming. However, we knew we could colour
correct this on the editing software. We used a light to brighten
Eve’s appearance so she looked white and so the light reflected
on her white dress. We also used lighting in the shot of Richard,
as he looks at Eve’s headstone. This was to expose his face more,
so the audience can read his facial expressions to view his
sincerity and shock. Lastly, the shot which used the most lighting
was the door scene, which showed the meeting of the to
characters Richard and David. We used lighting to balance these
two angles out and to improve the continuity of the film as one
angle was darker than the other. This allowed the audience to be
able to see both facial expressions clearly as they showed

6. BACKGROUND AND PROPS
The use of background and props was a big aspect to our
film, as we attempted to fill the background at all times, to
add extra detail in the shot. For example, the moors was a
background setting we used as it was strange place for a
teenage girl to be sat at late at night in a white dress and
was convenient for the character of Richard to be driving
past. This also gave an sense f eeriness, which suited the
genre of a psychological thriller. Also, we used the parked
campervan for extra detail in the door scene, as we felt it
completed the shot and proved continuity when filming.
Because of this, it fitted nicely and made the shot look a
better quality. We also filmed from behind of Eves
gravestone, to fit the church in the background. This made it
clear for the audiences’ understanding of where Richard
was, as he went to visit Eves grave. This also linked the

7. …
This seemed to fit well with the context of the narrative. We also used
props such as letters and dirty glasses, pots and dishes around the
sink, to connote that after Eve’s death, David’s character became
quite the slob and lost interest in being well kept, due to the grief of
his daughter. We used letters to scatter around the table to prove this
point further. We also had photographs of Eve to represent that love
David had for his daughter and to connote that he misses her and is
still grieving four years on. Lastly, we used the apple pie to create a
link and bond between Richard and Eve, which got them to talk more
and to be able to laugh together and to get along. This started
conversation between the two characters and created a strong bond
and started to show the respect they and for each other.

8. FRAMING AND ANGLES
We used framing and a variety of camera angles, to differentiate our
film. This kept the audiences interest and attention at all times. For
the shots of inside the car, which viewed conversation with Richard
and Eve, we made the shots eye level as they were heavily dialogue
based. By doing so, we wanted to make the audience feel
comfortable within the conversation and like they were a part of it.
This also kept the shots simplistic as no large amount of action was
taking place. We also used framing in the conversation between
Richard and David. We did this by filming an over the shoulder shot,
as this is a visually pleasing shot for the audience. This is also
comfortable for the audience to watch as they know that even though
Richards reaction was being shot, David was still there and visible on
screen. We also used a worms eye shot of Richard picking up his coat
and then moved the camera higher by using the jib. This connotes
that at the start of the shot, the audience is seeing the shot and
situation from Richards perspective. However, when the shot moved
higher up and turned into a birds eye shot, the audience then looked
down from Eves perspective.

9. BODY LANGUAGE
we also used body language in our film, as we portrayed Eves character
to be timid and scared. Her body language shows this as she shrugged
her shoulders and kept herself to herself at most times. She portrayed
that she was cold, as she had her arms crossed and was huddled up.
Also, in the door scene as David was introduced to Richard, he
expressed that he was angry, from the use of body language. He did
this with and angry expression on his face, raising his voice and having
his arms crossed. As Richard found out that Eve died four years ago, the
audience felt he was shocked, as his facial expression showed his
eyebrows were raised and he had his hand over his mouth. Lastly, as
Richard picked up his coat from Eves grave, he looked confused as to
the situation where he took her home. This was also heavily reliant on
the use of body language. We achieved this as we asked Richard’s
character Dougie, to keep looking around and up into the sky, as well as
having a confused expression on his face, by crossing his eyebrows and
by raising them. We also asked him to keep looking down and checking

10. COSTUME
Lastly, costume was a big aspect of Mise en Scene in our film. The main costume was Eve’s
dress, as most planning went into this and the message behind it gave a big hint to the
audience about who Eve may be. Eve’s costume, is a white dress, which implies innocence and
vulnerability to the audience, which also fits into the narrative as she is seen as a ghost/spirit in
the end of the film, which explains the white dress. This was an intended hint for the audience at
the beginning of the film.
Richards costume was laid back, to represent that he was a retired man and his character was
not trying to impress anyone. This was done to further connote that he has lived his life and is
okay to settle down. This represented his age as there was a rock star on the front of his top
from his time. This singer was popular when he was young. This further represents time passing
as music is now different today than the singer on the from of his top.
David’s costume represented that he was a younger working man. However, his appearance
proved he didn’t keep up to his appearance and came across/looked quite messy and unkempt.
This was done by our group asking David’s character, not to shave, so he had visible stubble on
is face. We also asked him to wear old and tatty footwear, like the trainers he wore and an old
jumper, to further represent that his character does not buy new clothes as he doesn’t bother
with his appearance, since the loss of his wife and daughter. This was a clear sign that David was
still grieving.

11. MISE EN SCENE IN OUR FILM
We have used Mise en Scene in our film in many ways, for clearer
understanding for the audience and to improve the effectiveness of
one shot. There are many examples of when we used Mise en Scene in
our film. But the one that I liked was the balancing of Richards
character and Eves character, during the moors scene as he offers her
his coat. At this point, Eve was sat on a rock huddled up which
demonstrates the use of body language. As Richard goes over to her.
Richard stands over Eve, which demonstrates the male holds all of the
power as Eve is seen as a victim and incapable. This shows that Eve was
scared of any stranger approaching her and shows she was seen as
vulnerable to the audience. However, as Richard comforts her and
temps her to taking her home and offers her a coat, she then stands
up. This then shows an equilibrium between the two characters as they
are now on a balanced level. This also shows that Eve may not have
been as vulnerable as the audience would have thought and the
characters hold the same amount of power in this scene.