This week, we covered the basics of composition, staging, and screen direction. Mise-en-scène is a French term that refers to the visual elements placed in front of a scene or frame, providing essential information to the audience through the camera’s presentation. Elements such as setting & props, costume, hair and makeup, facial expressions & body language, lighting and colour, and the character’s or object’s positioning create Mise-en-scène.
For this week’s blog, we were asked to conduct some research activities to familiarise ourselves with the concept and develop an eye for it.
Activity 1
Can you describe the elements of Mise en Scène in the following scene?
Setting & Props
The setting is in the forest. This establishes a mystical and natural setting. The witch’s apple is a crucial prop that emphasises danger and temptation. The environment has a natural, slightly dark feel, as the forest creates a magical, frightening atmosphere.
Costume, hair, makeup
The witch’s costume is dark and intimidating, indicating her villainous nature, and is complemented by makeup that accentuates age and menace, with pale skin and exaggerated features. Snow White, on the other hand, wears a light, clean, and simple costume, symbolising innocence and purity, complemented by natural hair and minimal makeup to convey her youth.
Facial Expressions and Body Language
The witch has exaggerated facial expressions to manipulate and intimidate, whereas Snow White shows curiosity, innocence and caution. While the witch’s body language is predatory and deliberate, Snow White is hesitant and fragile.
Lighting and colour
In this clip, the witch’s sinister presence is shown through shadows. The colour palette features strong contrasts between dark and muted tones around the witch, whereas the lighter, softer colours are reserved for Snow White. This use of colour contrast effectively conveys how morally different they are. The apple, for instance, has the colour red, which draws attention to it and represents danger.
Characters and objects positioning in the frame
The witch is usually close to Snow White, dominating the frame to accentuate her power. Snow White, on the other hand, is framed as smaller and more vulnerable, with the apple placed in the Middle to highlight the tension and temptation.
Shot Choice (Cinematography)
Close-ups capture the intense expressions of both characters, heightening emotional tension. Medium shots establish their spatial relationship and power dynamics. The camera moves slowly to focus attention on key actions, such as the offering of the apple, enhancing suspense and engagement.
This scene effectively uses mise-en-scène and cinematography to visually convey the story’s themes of innocence, danger, and temptation through detailed setting, character presentation, and expressive camera work.
Activity 2
Can you describe the mise-en-scene in this picture? How are the characters placed in the frame?
Both characters lie side by side on a neatly made bed, viewed from above. This creates a symmetrical composition and immediately draws the viewer’s attention to the relationship we assume the characters have, given the distance between them.
Setting and Props
The room is minimal, with a clean bed, matching slippers at the side, and a suitcase. It is an unfamiliar space, like a hotel room. The props create an atmosphere of temporary comfort and routine.
Costume, Hair, Makeup
Both characters wear everyday clothes. The male character wears a light shirt and a dark jacket, and the female wears a floral shirt, a cardigan, and a skirt. The choices support the scene’s ordinary, realistic tone.
Positioning in the frame
Both figures are placed in the centre of the space, emphasising their isolation within the larger frame. Their placement and arrangement suggest they’re sharing space, but there is an emotional gap, as they aren’t touching or looking at each other.
Light & Colour
The lighting in the scene is warm and soft, creating an inviting yet melancholic atmosphere. The colour palette of browns, creams and pastel tones enhances the feeling of detachment.
Shot choice and Cinematography
The overhead shot is a deliberate choice as it flattens the perspective and invites viewers to see the characters’ dynamic objectively. This kind of frame is often used to create a sense of detachment or isolation.
Activity 3
Watch this scene from Rebecca. (36mins into the film)
Can you describe the characters’ relationship?
There are two women in the scene. Mrs Danvers is the housekeeper at the house, and Mrs de Winter is the new bride. The latter is struggling to step into her predecessor’s role. The relationship is formal and extremely distant, with Mrs Danvers retaining power and control over the household because Mrs de Winter is really insecure. The tension and imbalance are evident in the dialogue: Mrs Danvers uses what she knows of the estate to assert her authority, while Mrs de Winter nervously tries to please her. The scene clearly gives underlying tension and politeness through Mrs Winter’s reactions and search for approval, but only faces resistance.
How do we know what the relationship is?
The scene’s tone is quiet and tense, underscoring the lack of trust between them. Mrs Danvers is physically higher or more centrally positioned in the frame, emphasising her dominance. She moves confidently, while Mrs de Winter is hesitant, especially in Mrs Danvers’s presence.
Can you describe how the mise-en-scene works together to convey the relationship?
Setting & Props
The house is grand, and with dimly lit interiors reinforcing the sense of tradition, power, and a certain presence of the former Mrs de Winter. The abundance of “Rebecca’s” possessions on display shows that the new Mrs de Winter remains a guest in another woman’s domain.
Costume & Makeup
Mrs Danvers is dressed conservatively, echoing her stern nature. Mrs de Winter wears a lighter dress, which appears softer, highlighting her innocence.
Character positioning
There’s a clear emotional distance that reflects the physical distance. Mrs de Winter rarely shares the frame’s centre, reinforcing her secondary status.
Cinematography
Hitchcock often uses deep focus and slow movements, framing Mrs de Winter as small within the rooms, while Mrs Danvers fills the space with her presence. The latter has close-ups, whereas the former has wider shots.
Activity 3
Can you describe the mise-en-scene in this picture?
The mise-en-scene shows a young girl walking through a busy Middle Eastern street, surrounded by male figures and tall buildings. This emphasises her vulnerability and isolation within the crowded urban setting.
What type of shot is it?
It is a medium-long shot.
What is the camera angle?
The camera angle is eye level, placed directly in front of her, so the viewer meets her gaze and shares her point of view.
Where is the character located in the frame?
She is in the centre of the frame, slightly toward the foreground, making her the clear focal point.
What is she wearing?
She is wearing a red headscarf or hijab that wraps around her head and neck, a mustard-green coat, and a brown shoulder bag, which mark her as a local girl following a modest dress code.
What is the depth of field?
The depth is quite deep, all elements are readable, but the central character is drawn with the strongest lines and colour contrast, so she stands out.
Describe the colour palette?
The colour palette uses warm, dusty tones for the city and crowd, contrasting with the saturated colours she wears.
Describe the lighting?
The lighting is soft and diffuse; it’s daylight, with minimal hard shadows. This creates a naturalistic, washed-out atmosphere that conveys a sense of heat and dust. The primary focus is on her, her expression and silhouette.