Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is the image seen in the frame. It's a french term originating from theatre and from what you could see on the stage. Mise-en-scene communicates information to the audience as every aspect of a film has a meaning.

There are 5 elements to mise-en-scene;

1. Setting & Props - The setting is related to the storyline of the film, so certain characters will have a certain reason to be there. The setting of the film isn't just visually interesting, but it also communicates information about the type of characters you might find there and where the plot may go. Likewise, with props. Props help us to determine the time period as well as hint at where the plot may go. For example, if there is a close up shot of a bag, it implies that this is something important or may contain something important which unfolds throughout the story.
2. Costume,Hair & Make-up - This instantly lets the audience know the time period of the film, the personality and status of the character and also what society and culture they belong to. Certain characters may wear symbolic colours to represent their characteristics, values or emotions. For example, a young child may wear soft pastel/white colours to imply innocence and purity whereas a dominant character may wear bold colours such as reds and blues to show authority. The picture above on the right could be implying that the women is jealous because she is wearing a green stripey shirt and leaning on a green wall which seems to reflect onto her and i think she even has green eyes.
3. Facial Expressions & Body Language- These can show the characters emotions and their characteristics. If a character is outspoken and uses open hand gestures and body language this tends to imply that the character is quite confident. Body language and expressions also help the audience to determine relationships between characters.
4. Lighting & Colour- Lighting can instantly set the mood of the scene or the entire film. If a scene is shrouded in dark shadows with barely any light this gives the sense that something horrible is imminent. Wheras on the other hand if something is brightly coloured and bathed in lots of light it can give a lighter and happy mood to the scene.
5. Positioning of Characters & Objects in the Frame- where things are in a frame can allow the audience to determine authority of characters and importance of objects. If a character is set in the background of a scene whilst another is in the foreground. This could imply that the character in the foreground is more authorative or dominant over the other character. The shift of positions of characters in a frame can show the shift of dominance and authority of characters throughout the film. The same applies for objects. If something is in the foreground it may be of more importance to the story line and to the unfolding of the plot.