Mise-en-scene is one of the most important aspects of film. It includes the arrangement of everything that shows up in a frame and the way these things come together to affect the feel of the shot. The term originated from France, and means “placing on stage”. It is the collaboration of many different aspects of a scene, not a production term. It is the final product the different parts of a shot:
- Costume
- Lighting
- Camera angle
- Make-up
- Props
Mise en scene has been around since the advent of cinema. A well constructed mise en scene can lead to a completely different feel of a scene; accurate, intricate costumes can take the audience back in time, well composed music may bring viewers to tears, and the right lighting can make a scene stand out from the rest of the movie, cementing it in the minds of viewers for years to come. As you can see, mise en scene is crucial to how a film makes the audience feel.
Directors and cinematographers can spend hours deciding what props and decorations to include in a scene to give it a specific, almost tangible, mood or atmosphere.
Who creates mise en scene?
In summary, everyone working on a set contributes to a scene’s mise en scene. From the costume and makeup director to the cinematographer, the actors and actresses to the lighting director, even the smallest details of a scene or film can have a profound effect on its intended impact on the audience.
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