Mise en scene (or mise-en-scène) is originally a french theatre term that translates roughly to ‘everything within the frame’. In media terms it has become to mean the description of all the objects with a frame of the media product and how they have been arranged.
The study of mise en scene often involves pausing a media product and analysing how the elements of the frame combine to create meaning for the audience. The idea originally of studying mise en scene was to able to identify and discuss certain auteurs, or accomplished and artistic filmmakers, based solely on how they specifically used these elements in a recognisable way.
Some of the elements included in mise en scene are set design, costume, props, staging and composition. Also included are other major codes such as lighting, colour and acting.
Whilst setting is about the time and location of a narrative or scene, the set design discusses how that setting is being presented. In ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ the design of the bomb shelter is connected to the character of Howard and his need for a family. The stark bomb shelter’s walls have been painted pink using lamp shades on the lights.
A set design can be seen as realistic or stylistic. A realistic set design strives to look exactly how the setting may look in real life. This may include intricate building of sets or shooting on location. A stylistic set design will call attention to itself in some way for the audience to notice. This may have a connection to the genre of the narrative.
The set design of the office space in ‘The Apartment’ is made to look large and busy and overwhelming. To do this, Wilder used smaller desks and midgets in the background to make the office look bigger than it is.
The final shootout scene is set in the middle of a circular graveyard, a wheel of doom. This realistic set design was created from scratch.
Costume includes the wardrobe choices and make-up that is used to convey a character’s status or personality.
Costume can have a wide variety of other functions. They can help signify the setting or era of the narrative, can play important roles in the plot of the film, draw the eye to a specific character or help point out the difference between characters or the setting.
The Driver’s white satin scorpion jacket in ‘Drive’ is iconic, and links to the hipster cool attitude of the character.
Effie Trinket’s vibrant wardrobe and make-up juxtaposes the drab clothing worn by the inhabitants of District 12.