FLME 2700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Jar Jar Binks, Main Source, Chiaroscuro
4 Sep 2019
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Mise-en-Scene
Pronounced "Meez-ahn-sin"
French theater term meaning literally "staging an action"
In film, mise-en-scene encompasses everything in front of the camera
● Set design (props, backdrops, locations, etc.)
● Costume/Make-up
● Lighting
● Blocking of actors
Basic building block of narrative
● Influences our perception of character, setting, location, etc.
● Directs and shapes understanding of film's information
Set design + Costume/Make-up + Lighting + Blocking = Composition
Set Design
Set design typically is either
● Studio sets (constructed)
● Locations (locations existing in nature)
Studio sets
● Constructed for action (breakaway windows, doors, etc.)
● Can be highly detailed or sparse, depending upon atmosphere desired
● Tailored for narrative's proposes
● May suspend reality or natural world's possibilities
Locations
● Found in nature
● Subject to laws of nature (light, weather, etc.)
● Can be altered by film crew depending on needs
● Often used for grand v istas not possible in studio
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)
○ Images created digitally, usually through computer modeling
○ Can be elaborate backdrops (Gladiator), entire characters (Jar Jar Binks), or simply
enhance visuals
○ Began primarily in science-fiction films, but modern films without CGI are the ex ception
rather than the rule
Document Summary
French theater term meaning literally "staging an action" In film, mise-en-scene encompasses everything in front of the camera. Influences our perception of character, setting, location, etc. Directs and shapes understanding of film"s information. Set design + costume/make-up + lighting + blocking = composition. Constructed for action (breakaway windows, doors, etc. ) Can be highly detailed o r sparse, depending upon atmosphere desired. May suspend reality or natural world"s possibilities. Subject to laws of nature (light, weather, etc. ) Can be altered by film crew depending on needs. Often used for grand v istas not possible in studio. Can be elaborate backdrops (gladiator), entire characters (jar jar binks), or simply enhance v isuals. Began primarily in science-fiction films, but modern films w ithout cgi are the ex ception rather than the rule. Icon/iconography - objects that signify character and themes of narrative. Just as set design giv es geographic and spatial reference for audiences, costuming and make -up give iconic reference.
