Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene - everything we see on a screen


Lighting-
High key lightning 

• minimal shadows 
• lights up the whole face
• quick and easy to set up

Low key lightning 

• opposite to high key lightning 
• dark tones are really dark
• creates shadows
• used for intense dramatic scenes
• plays on dramatic mysterious intense emotions  
• often used in action and drama based films 
• has a higher lightning ratio 

Mise-en-scene - comparison

How do the changes in mise-en-scene create two different meanings from this music video 

	Denotation (what we see)	Connotations (what we associate/ think of)
Costume	Dirty whit dress	Death, afterlife, underground
Color	Cold colours- blue, grey	Cold, dark, creepy, night time
Lightning	Low-key lightning	Mysterious, death, darkness, unhappy, loneliness
Settings	Graveyard	Horror, death, zombies. Scary sinister characters
Hair/make-up	Scruffy hair, messy make-up	Fight, unclean
Props	Shovel, graveyard, stones	Digging someone’s grave or her own, digging her way out

 

	Denotation (what we see)	Connotations (what we associate/ think of)
Costume	A lot of jewellery	She is rich
Color	Bright, shiny, silver, gold	She is rich
Lightning	High-key lightning	Wealthy, clear, clarity
Settings	Bathtub, bathroom	Random, rich, money/jewellery fills the bath
Hair/make-up	Styled, clean, perfect	Fame, success, takes care of herself
Props	Diamonds, money, jewelry	She is rich

How does the Mise-en-scene create meaning for the audience ?

answer using a P E E E paragraphs

• P-Point - taylor swifts pop superstar celebrity image is promoted in her music video through media language
• E-Evidence - (e.g. of costumes, colour, lightning etc) For example the costumes...
• E-Explain - this suggest 
• E-Expand - what else can you tell us about the video that backs up your point?

Taylor swift's superstar celebrity image is promoted in her 'Look what you made me do' music video through media language because in the music video we see different sides to taylor's personality,we see this through different scenes that vary in costumes,colour and lightning. For example in the zombie scene we see her wearing a Dirty white dress which connotes to viewers of death, underground and the afterlife with this she also demonstrates cold colour such as grey and blue this would connote the dark, creepy and night time. In the zombie scene we also see media language of lightning, which is low-key this connotes death, dark, loneliness and unhappy to add this to the scruffy hair and messy make-up which connotes a fight and unclean. However compared to a different scene in the music video she seems wealthy, and styled and clean this connotes fame, success.


Learning Objective
To analyse the mise-en-scene of 'uptown funk'. focusing on the connotations and how they create meaning for the audience?

Costumes & props Bright coloured suit (80s 90s) Fashionable clothing - shows wealth and taste Expensive car - wealth and fame  Styled hair	Lighting & colour High key lighting = upbeat mood, happiness, lively. Bright colours (pink, yellows, whites) Dark colours (black, grey, brown) Bright good energy
Performance (positioning, expressions, body language) Chilled body language  Serious expressions  Open body language	Setting In a street 80s, 90s style Shoe shining  Hair salon care - about how they look  A club stylish - upbeat youth culture

How do the visuals link to the song?

Bruno Mars' pop superstar celebrity image is promoted in his 'uptown funk' music video through media language. In the music video we see different aspects of props, colour, lighting, clothes , settings and performance. For example they are wearing bright and stylish coloured suits witch connotes to 80s and 90s style. as well as we see this media language in the setting which is also in a 80s and 90s style. The lighting and colour is very high key which connotes an upbeat mood, happiness and lively, it also shows the colours as it is very bight with pinks, yellows and whites. The performance has chilled body language movements, serous expressions and open body language this connotes a Bruno Mars style of music. The prop is a very expensive car that connotes and show his wealth and fame, he also has fashionable clothing and styled hair that connotes his wealth and taste. The visuals link to the song as it shows bruno mars' style, fame and successes.


Learning Objective- 
To explore how camera is used to create meaning in music videos.

Explore - Identify a range of camera shots and lyrics used in uptown funk
Enhance - Analyse why these shots, movement and angles are used in the video to create meaning
Excel - Link camera to lighting, colour and mise-en-scene and how these elements of media language create meaning for the audiences




Camerawork (cinematography) can be broken down into 3 area

Shots 

• Mid 
• Close-up
• Extreme close-up
• Long shot 
• Extreme long shot 
• Establishing
• POV

Angles 

• High 
• Low
• Dutch

Movement 

• Pan 
• Tilt
• Tracking
• Zoom (in/out)
• Handheld 
• Focus-pull 

Shots - 

Shot name: Long Shot

Why used? To show the characters and the settings.

Why used here? Shows off dance choreography & Bruno mars as the featuring artist

(positioning)

Shot name: Mid shot
Why used? To show the characters
Why used here? Shows off the characters relationship

Shot name: Close-up
Why used? To show her facial expression
Why used here? To show emotion

Angles - 

Shot name: Low angle
Why used? To show power or hierarchy
Why used here? To show him on top

Shot name: High angle
Why used? Making her seem less powerful
Why used here? show her venerability

Shot name: Dutch angle
Why used? To break from reality
Why used here? Makes it seam edgy, gives them visual interest





Learning objectives-
To explore and analyse how mise-en-scene is used to create meaning in the4 video if i were a boy

Explore- identify the 7 elements of mise-en-scene in the music video
Enhance- analyse the connotations of the mise-en-scene and how it creates meaning for the audience
Excel- begin to make links and comparisons between the mise-en-scene for this video and uptown funk


lighting-

• high key lightning 
• low key lightning 
• back lightning 
• top lightning
• under lightning 
• spotlight 
• high contrast 
• low contrast

colour-

• bright
• dark
• saturated
• monochrome 
• un-saturated

Mise-en-scene:lighting and connotations

Low key lightning is used on Beyonce's character when looking down
By using low key lightning here, Beyonce's face is half covered with shadows.
The lightning could suggest to the audience that her character is sad or emotional .
in this part of the video Beyonce is shown in a close up.
Here the lighting style has changed from high key lightning to ow key lightning
In my opinion this part of the video is lit this way because she is starting to understand and have a realisation of wha t is going on.


Mise-en-scene: costume 
Identify one use of costume used effectively in the music video. why has it been used?

Describe the costume (denotations) - police uniform
Connotations? what does it tell us about the character/ artist? - that she is working as a police officer.
Meaning: why is she dressed like this at this point in the video? - with a possible message that she is working a more male popular job as well as that she can work the same as her boyfriend and that he wouldn't treat her like he should.


How and why do the two music videos you have studied offer contrasting style of lightning and colour ? (4)

The music videos for Bruno mars' uptown funk and Beyonce's if i were a boy have a very contrasting use of lightning and colour. For example Beyonce's if i were a boy uses low key lightning for when Beyonce's is looking down in a close up shot, however Bruno mars' uptown funk uses high key lighting that makes it more upbeat . The colour in bruno mars' uptown funk uses a very saturated, vibrant and bold where as Beyonce's if i were a boy uses monochrome and vivid. The styles contrast because ....