Mise En Scene - "Everything in the frame."

Mise En Scene

It means everything in the frame, what are it's main features. What makes a movie stand out to the audience, such as:

- Setting

- Lighting

- Sound

- Costume

- Props

- Colour

- Body language

- Figure Movement

- Acting

They all function as elements of mise en scene, meaning they are all the main features of making a film and making it realistic.

Rule of thirds

Rule of thirds breaks the frame into 3 vertical sections and into 3 horizontal sections, which then results into a grid. (Grid acts like a guide that artists use to balance the elements in the frame)

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Task 2

Where the action is taking place and why it has been selected?

The action starts to take place in a saloon filled with people. A group of 3 men walk straight to the main characters as the camera starts to pan to face the enemy when the music goes silent, to bring the audience's attention. As the main character named Sonic starts to mess with them, one of the men were triggered by his behaviour, while he's trying to control his anger in the process. The audience might feel very anxious/scared/eager to know what will the men do to him, which then brings up the volume of the music to an 'orchestra epic' style, to represent their frustration and anger towards the main characters. Then, the music starts to get louder as one of the men start to become more violent, which then brings the background characters to join in, leaving chaos in the pub as the music begins to get faster and in time with the action. I guess it's obvious to choose a setting where a lot of violence takes place, since the setting is western themed when the main characters ran out of the pub and you can see the western style in the far distance. In a lot of western genre films, you do tend to get a lot of violent shots, because they are using guns, wearing cowboy hats, high boots etc.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK9kuSAvIcI

How do the costumes, hair, make up and props contribute to our knowledge of the characters?

The costumes, hair, make up and props contribute to our knowledge of the characters, by showing who they are starring as, what makes the role they're playing feel so unique. These main features are such a fabulous part of films – they help tell the story,

How have the characters been positioned within the scene? How does this portray the mood or relationship between the characters?

During the amount of chaos in the pub, sonic then steps into action by fighting one of the gang members. The camera then starts to zoom out while sonic thinks he's won the fight while the gang member is shown the back of him which shows the audience how triggered he looks and what will his next move be, then the character starts to turn around as the camera instantly zooms in to show the audience his expression and what's going to happen.

What does the characters stance and expression tell us about the characters?

Are any elements of the mise-en-scene used to symbolise any deeper meaning?

The stance and expression tells us about the character's personality and who they are starring as. In the film, as the character turns around, standing while clenching his fists, while he's letting all his anger out, we can tell that it isn't going to be a great fight and it won't end well. It can also tell us that the character is a rough, violent and a convulsive person.

There is a deeper meaning for this.

For example, lighting can be a significance to a scene. Lighting is fundamental to a film because it creates the mood, atmosphere, and sense of meaning for the audience, whether it's dressing a film set or blocking actors. Lighting tells the audience where to focus their eyes on.

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Where the action is taking place and why it has been selected?

The action begins in a palace, where the children were taken in as slaves for the King and Queen. 3 main characters save their children by disguising themselves as entertainment for the king and queen, so that they won't get caught. However, you can see that the king becomes very suspicious about it, as the music box begins to die down and the camera starts to pan where the king walks up to them and starts to get a little bit curious to see if they are actually real people. This then creates apprehension for the audience, because the 3 central characters made it this far to free their children and now they are worried that they will be caught in the act. Throughout the film, we start to see millions of children break lose of their chains and start to fight back to gain victory, so that they will be free and no longer abide by the King and Queen's laws. I think this location has been selected because the term 'castles' could mean very high class, and the main characters were very poor and not wealthy like others. They kind of look down on those and think they are a waste of space.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBErrmmqnkI&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqqFXnCywm1CASNq7ZqITBrM&index=11

How do the costumes, hair, make up and props contribute to our knowledge of the characters?

The costumes, hair, make up and props are one of the main keys to a fabulous part of theatre. They help give the audience an idea on what the storyline is going to be about. They help actors get into character, and they immediately tell say what's going on in the film. As the king suspects the main characters (disguised as puppets), the make up covers who they truly are, and that the king won't be able to recognise them underneath and would be a lot easier for them to free the children from slavery.

How have the characters been positioned within the scene? How does this portray the mood or relationship between the characters?

The characters give it all they've got to free the children from the king and queen. So they stand still in their positions in case the king will become even more suspicious of them in the process. As the king got even more closer to the central characters, it suddenly turned silent in the hall, which then creates mood to the audience, because once the enemy approaches the suspect, you sometimes wonder what will happen during that scene, or if justice will be served.

What does the characters stance and expression tell us about the characters?

Are any elements of the mise-en-scene used to symbolise any deeper meaning?

The stance and expression of the characters can tell us that they are brave and risking their only lives to save their children from the King and Queen. It may also tell us something about the situation they're in. If the character is very shocked when something happens. A facial expression can also convey the character's true feelings.