Mise-en-Scène
What Is Mise-en-Scène?
Mise-en-scène translates to "placing on stage," which is a very good way to understand it's role in filmmaking. Essentially, mise-en-scène is everything that is positioned in front of the camera. If cinematography is how something is shot,mise-en-scène is what is shot. When analysing mise-en-scène, we can consider the aspects listed below. Click the images to learn more.
Scenery
Props
Costume & Make Up
Lighting
Colour
Composition
Movement
Analysing Mise-en-Scène
How Do We Read Mise-en-Scène?
(Media Insider)
(Media Insider)
This is a good introduction to mise-en-scène. Whilst this approach uses broader categories than the ones above, it still talks about the idea of looking at various things that have been placed in front of the camera in order to develop the film's aesthetic. Watch the video to get a better grasp as to what is meant by mise-en-scène.
Click the image to follow access some extra material related to analysing cinema. Use these resources to deepen your understanding of the different ways in which authors develop meaning in movies with mise-en-scène.