Film and TV Language: Mise-en-scene blog task (Videos)

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Sci-fi

This clip is from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. In this scene Anakin Skywalker is fighting with Obi-Wan Kenobi. The mise en scene within this video indicates that this movie is quite dark and ominous. The costume that Anakin is wearing suggests that he is a powerful character. This is further reinforced through the colour of his long cloak (black). The colour black indicates that he is domineering and almost threatening. Whereas Obi-Wan is wearing something that looks a little more smarter and sophisticated- to show he is senior to Anakin. The female (Padme- Anakins wife) is dressed up in a formal and respectable way to make her look more vulnerable. Furthermore, the lighting in this scene is very dark and dim, this is done to foreshadow that a bad event is about to occur, so it builds up the tension. Also, the use of the red lights in the scene illustrates that there may be danger, also it gives an impression on aggression. The bright orange used for the lava makes the seem look and feel more dangerous as the colour orange could represent heat, therefore portraying the ongoing battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Additionally, the actor that plays Anakin seems to be unstable and agitated, this can be seen through him pacing up and down very fast. This suggests that he is nervous and feels humiliated. Also, his facial expressions are quite intimidating, this further builds up the tension for the audience. In contrast Obi-Wans character stays in one place and moves slowly when he does. This portrays that his character is trying to keep the situation calm and within his hands, he wants to keep the peace between them. Whereas Padmes character is very close to Anakin and is trying to comfort him as much as possible, she is shaking nervously and is touching Anakin on his face to calm him down. This shows her feminine personality. In addition, the make up on Anakins face makes him look like he is under pressure. His eyes are black to show that he is tired and weak and therefore feels like getting revenge. The sweat on his forehead implies that he is frustrated and can get aggressive. Also, his hair is long and messy. Whereas Obi-Wan has his hair back neatly to show that he is wiser and his face is plain and clean to portray his calm personality. Furthermore, the props used in this scene are used as weapons- Lightsabers. These lightsabers are  coloured and are used in the battle. Both Anakins and Obi-Wans lightsabers are blue- this could be done to break the overwhelming feeling the audience gets from the other colours used in the scene.

Thriller/Action

This clip is from Die Hard, the first movie. In this scene John McClane is trying to escape the building which is pending to explode, he is shouting at everybody telling them to escape. The mise en scene within this video indicates that this movie is quite dramatic and action packed. Furthermore it also implies that the movie is quite dark and dangerous. The way that they have dressed his character up is quite unusual as he is shirtless. They have done this to portray is tough personality and give you a hint of what the movie is about. However, the side actors used in the background are dressed up quite formally- this is because they were in a middle of a business party and this was interrupted by a terrorism organisation.  Additionally, the lighting throughout the scene is quite dark, this suggests that the movie is full of dangerous and unexpected events. Also, the use of the red lighting illustrates that the movie is thriller. The colour red highlights heat, therefore tension and fights- it shows a sign of danger. Furthermore, it may be hinting signs of something threatening. Also, the use of the bright spotlights makes the scene look more realistic and dangerous,  because it gives the audience something to focus on. The actor that plays John McClane (Bruce Willis) is jostling his way past things, this shows signs of a struggle and desperation. In addition his face is very expressive and tells the audience a lot about the situation he is in. Likewise, the makeup used to create the scene is critical as it is major to set the scene. The make up on John McClane makes him look very tough and hard-working. The sweat on his forehead shows that he is struggling and the blood looks realistic, therefore showing that he has been in some sort of conflict. Moreover, this movie scene contains a lot of props which make the scene seem so much more realistic. The use of the gun around McLane's shoulder makes the audience aware that he is the main protagonist and is fighting back. The gun makes the situation seem a whole lot worse and builds up the tension for the audience. Furthermore, the use of the helicopter surrounding him suggests that he is the target and is in danger. This is also reinforced through the use of the spotlights. Ultimately, all of these points make the setting seem like an isolated and dangerous place, everything looks threatening because of the dim lighting.

Fantasy/Romance

This clip is from Cinderella (2015). In this scene we can see that Ella and Kit meet for the first time and we as the audience can see that Kit is love struck by both Ella's personality and her beauty. The mise en scene within this video highlights how the movie is fantasy and romance, this is because we can see the beautiful countryside setting and the lovely weather and animals. This immediately engages with the audience as it suggests that its a peaceful and enchanted area. The costumes in this scene are very typical and original with the time frame. We can see that Ella is dressed up in old clothes which are associated with servants. She has her hair back with a band. They may have dressed her up in this way to portray the way she lives and the way she is treated by her "family". However, Kit is dressed up in a smart manner and looks very presentable. This portrays how he is of higher class and is a noble and rich man. He looks handsome and very sophisticated. as he is wearing something that a prince would be. Additionally, the lighting in this scene is very bright and makes the scene seem very happy and the mood becomes lifted. The lighting and the colours make the scene look tranquil and beautiful. The audience feels mesmerized by the lovely colours and hues used to make up the scene. This makes the scene more romantic. Furthermore, the way the actors are positioned are crucial. Both Kit and Ella are on the horse. The fact that they are circling each other suggests that they are both nervous or perhaps attracted and can't seem to part ways. Also, they are especially moving their heads to see each others faces when they talk. Moreover, the makeup on Ella's face is plain and there is also some dirt on it which implies that she is working hard and is used as a slave. Whereas Kit has a pale smooth face which is clean, therefore implying that he is a rich man who can afford luxuries. In addition to this there are also a number of props used in this scene to create the setting. Firstly, the horses are crucial, because in the olden countryside people used to travel by horse. Also, the trees and the long grass reinforce that the area is rural. Ultimately, the setting created in this scene is deliberate. They are trying to create a tranquil and typical countryside atmosphere. There are long green trees and there is fresh green grass. There are also beautiful wild flowers and the sun is gleaming upon the wildlife. This creates a calm mood for the audience and puts them in high spirits. From this we can illustrate how beauty in the setting is crucial to a romantic movie. Furthermore, the bright colours used in this scene makes the atmosphere so joyful. In a fantasy movie everything is perfect and magical- just like the setting they have used.

Comparison

I have chosen three completely different movie genres and covered all the details- CLAMPS, for each. We can see the distinct differences each genre uses to create a particular mood or scene.

For example to create the setting in the fantasy movie they use light and bright colours, whereas in the sci-fi movie they use darker colours such as black and grey to create a serious and omniscient mood.

Additionally, the three different genres have used different costumes to create their scene.