Week 1 - LectureInteractive Digital Moving Image Production | CU3003NI | - Pratik Man Singh Pradhan

Introduction to Film Language

Mise-En-Scene

Mise-En-Scene

French term which means “What is out into a scene or frame”

Made up of visual information in front of the camera

Communicates essential information to the audience about setting time, place and characters.

And it is made up of 5 Elements

The 5 Elements of Mise-En-Scene

Settings and Props

Costume, Hair and Make-Up

Facial Expressions and Body Language

Lighting and Colour

Positioning of characters and objects within the frame

Settings and Props

Settings and Locations play an important part in a film-making and are not just ‘backgrounds’

Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent to find a setting which already exists

Settings can manipulate an audience by building certain expectations and then taking a different turn

Task: What Settings would you find in- A Science Fiction Film- A Comedy Film- An Action Film

Costume, Hair and Make Up

Tells us immediately whether the film is set in the present and what society/or culture it will center around.

Act as an instant indicator to the audience of a character’s personality, status and job.

Certain costumes can signify certain individuals (e.g. black cloak of a vampire) or groups (e.g. policemen)

Facial Expressions and Body Language

Facial Expressions provide a clear indicator of how someone is feeling

If someone is smiling broadly, we assume they are happy. But, we may get a different feeling if this is accompanied by a scary music.

Body Language may also indicate how a character or may reflect the state of their relationship.

Task: What meanings or emotions do these images convey?

Positioning of Characters and Objects within a frame

Positioning within a frame can draw our attention to an important character or object

A film-maker can use positioning to indicate relationships between people

Task: What does the positioning in the following images reveal about the character or film?

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Colour

Colour carries certain connotations which may add meaning to a scene

It can give a scene a particular look, feel or mood

It may also be used for dramatic effect

Lighting and Colour

Lighting and Colour can be used to achieve variety of effects

- To highlight important characters or objects within the frame

- To make characters look mysterious by shading sections of the face and body

- To reflect a characters mental state and hidden emotions

Types of Lighting

Low Key Lighting Created by using only the key and back lights Produced sharp contrasts of light and dark areas Deep, distinct shadows and silhouettes are formed Example: Horror Films

Types of Lighting

High Key Lighting More filler lights are used. Lighting is natural and realistic to our eyes Produces brightly lit sets or a sunny day Example: Romantic Comedy Films

What Types of Lighting are used in the following images?

A

FD

C

E

B

For each image, answer the following questions

What type of lighting is used in each image (High or Low Key)?

Where are the Key Lights, Filler Lights and Back Lights in each image?

What effects and meanings does the lighting suggest?

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KEY LIGHT

FILLER LIGHTS

BACKLIGHT

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Analyse These Scenes

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Answer the Following Questions

Where do you think this scene takes place?

What does the statue of the lion holding a shield represent?

What can you tell about the characters in the scene from their stance?

Who do you think is winning this fight and how is this suggested from the positioning within the scene?

What do the hats worn by two of the men connote?

How is lighting used within the scene to suggest meaning?

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Answer the Following Questions

How would you describe the expressions on the character’s faces here? What emotions do you think they are experiencing? Do you think there is a difference in their response to what they see? If so, how do you account for this?

How would you describe the mood of this moment? How does the use of light and shadow contribute to this mood?

What do you notice about the shape made by the character’s sticks? In what ways do you think this contributes meaning to the film?

What connotations are there of the lit candle in the background? How does this add to your understanding of where the scene may be set and what might be happening here?

Look closely at the costumes worn here by Holmen and Watson. How does the use of buttons and ties highlight aspects of their character? What else can you infer about their characters from these consumes? Consider in particular the choice of colour and texture.

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Answer the Following Questions

In this scene, everyone’s head is covered. What does this suggest about the period in which the film is set? In What ways is Holmes’ hat different from that worn by the other men in the scene? What reasons can you suggest for this?

Look closely at the colour, texture and style of costumes worn by Holmes and Walton here. Notice the objects lying upon each of their waistcoats. What can you deduce about their respective characters from their attire?

How does the positioning, stance and body language of all the characters in the scene contribute to their status within the film?

What do you think Holmes is holding? What can you deduce about him and Watson from their intense examination of this object in a crowded market scene?

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Answer the Following Questions

Is this an image you would expect from a film about Sherlock Holmes? Explain your answer.

What does the blood ad wet hair suggest about the mood and atmosphere of the scene?

What mood does the crowd behind the wall establish?

How is light used to create emphasis on the star of the show?

What clues can you spot to indicate the period in which this is set?

Consider the meaning of the phrase ‘The gloves are off’. How is this phrase relevant to this scene and how it is being visually suggested?

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Answer the Following Questions

What does the positioning, body language and stance of the characters in this scene suggest about their relationship and status at this point in the film?

How does the composition of the scene contribute to the mood? Consider the function of Watson’s hat. In what genre of film might you expect to find an image like this: thriller/comedy/melodrama? Give reasons for your answer.

What can you infer from Alder’s facial expression about her attitude to events here?

Alder’s costume here is very different from what she wears in the other promotional material for the film (i.e. Poster and Trailer). What can you deduce about her character from this? In what ways do her lipstick and hairstyle contribute to her character portrayal in this scene?

Compare the bright white collared shirts worn beneath tailored collared jackets by Watson and Adler with the less structured collar worn by Holmes. What meaning can you infer from this?

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Answer the Following Questions

Now you can see the whole still, what do the facial expressions of the characters suggest about their personalities and their relationship?

What do you think Holmes is hiding? Can you see any other clues in the picture that might go together with this object? What do we infer about Holmes from these objects?

Identify and describe as many objects as you can in this scene. What clues do all these objects together suggest about the characters of Holmes and Watson and their world?

What script do you notice on the base of the table? What does this connote about the world of the film?

What can you deduce about the characters from their body language in this image?

How do their costumes reflect different aspects of their personalities?

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