Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scène is the stage design and arrangement of actors in scenes for a theatre or film production, both in visual arts through storyboarding, visual theme, and cinematography, and in narrative storytelling through direction. The term is also commonly used to refer to single scenes that are representative of a film. Mise-en-scène has been called film criticism's "grand undefined term".

This obviously French term comes from the Theater, and it literally means "placed on the scene." With that in mind, you can think about what may be placed on a scene in a theater production. But the term extends beyond just props, and includes several items including costuming, hair styling, make up, acting styles and lighting. These are all part of a theater performance but they have crucial roles to play in film as well.

So, Mise-en-Scene is basically anything that you might imagine from the film that would translate into a theatrical production. In film, though, because the camera can be turned off, set designers, costume designers, or make-up artists may subtly change the set, costuming, or make up for only a fraction of a second (or longer) to create an effect. These effects are often hard to perceive but can have a profound impact on your reception of the scene.  

Lighting, color, and even sound is often used in anti-naturalistic ways to create an expression. Sometimes the best actors don't have to do a thing if their set designers are on the ball. Much can be expressed through mise-en-scene.

     

     Types of Lighting

• Natural or stylized
• Bright or dim
• Warm or cold