Mise - en - scene element 1

 Mise - en - scene element 1 

Week 4, Blog 2 

Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 

Based on our conversations and planning,  my partners, and I have planned some of the mise-en-scene elements we want to include, in this post, I will discuss lighting. 

What is mise-en-scene? 

"Mise en scène is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play. Translated from French, it means "setting the stage" but, in film analysis, the term mise en scene refers to everything in front of the camera, including the set design, lighting, and actors. Mise en scene in film is the overall effect of how it all comes together for the audience." 

Why is lightning important when it comes to mise-en-scene?

 Both light and shadow are produced by film lighting. Character definition, scene mood, and the cinematic space on screen are all influenced by the way light and shadow interact.

During our film opening, we want to show the contrast between the lighting when our main character, Maddie, is at school and when she is home alone and in her room. 

School and outdoor lighting 

When it comes to school, we want to include warm tones and a lot of warm hues for various reasons. First and foremost, we want to implement warm tones to show that the summer season is starting and, therefore, there is a lot of sun and a warm environment in general. During these scenes, we want to use natural lighting and then, with the implementation of video filters, make it look a little more orange of lightning. A more analytical reason why we want to use warm tones for lightning is that according to the psychology of color and color theory, warm hues represent happiness, oppressive heat, energy excitement, and optimistic feelings. 

Examples and inspiration in films 

Moonrise Kingdom 

Le Bonheur 

Indoor and Bedroom Lighting 

When our main character gets home. The lighting will be very minimal and dark, showing that she is home alone and there is a lack of happiness and life. When she goes to her room, she will light a lamp when she writes in her diary, and the light will be of a cold tone. This decision was made since these colors symbolize passive, calming qualities that aid concentration. 

Examples and inspiration in films

Blade Runner 

Sources

• STUDIOBINDER. (2020, September 13). What is Mise en Scène in Film: Definition and Examples. StudioBinder. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mise-en-scene/

• Lighting – Screening Shakespeare. (n.d.). https://screenshakespeare.org/mise-en-scene/lighting/

• Aldredge, J. (2021, May 25). 5 of the Most Visually Warm, Nostalgic Films Ever Made. The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat. https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/visually-warm-nostalgic-films/

Sources Images 

• Lighting – Screening Shakespeare. (n.d.). https://screenshakespeare.org/mise-en-scene/lighting/

• Aldredge, J. (2021, May 25). 5 of the Most Visually Warm, Nostalgic Films Ever Made. The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat. https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/visually-warm-nostalgic-films/

• 10 Movies That Most Realistically Portray Psychological Disorders. (2018). Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists. https://doi.org/1022526/70320