Evaluation

AS Media Studies Evaluation by OAHJordanDuberry

Mise-en-Scene

Objective: To be able to show an understanding of how mise-en-scene is used to create meaning

Outcome:

All: will be able to explain one element of mise-en-scene

Most: will be able to identify the 5 elements of mise-en-scene with some examples

Some: Will be able to identify the 5 elements of mise-en-scene and will also be able to use media language effectively to explain examples

Mise-en-Scene (MeS) is a French term meaning ‘what is put into the scene or frame’. What is put into or left out of a frame can make a big difference to how we receive the film and how we are supposed to feel.

The elements of mise-en-scene are an indicator of the genre of the film and as an audience we have expectations of the mise-en-scene depending on the genre.

The elements within MES include;

1. setting and props
2. costume, hair and make-up
3. facial expressions and body language
4. lighting and colour
5. positioning of characters & objects within a frame

·                     SETTINGS & PROPS

Settings used in a film are rarely just backgrounds to the characters and sometimes we see settings with no action taking place. Filmmakers can choose to build a set from scratch in a studio. Alternatively a lot of time and effort is put in by a location manager to find a setting that already exists.

Props is the term given to objects in a scene and are usually used to help the narrative or to follow the generic conventions of a film.

·                     COSTUME, HAIR & MAKE-UP

Costume plays a large part because it can indicate a character’s personality, social status and job. It tells us when the film is set and in what culture.

MAKE-UP

Make-up in the early days of cinema was used to highlight facial features, as black and white film stock could not register detail very well.

·                     Facial Expressions & Body Language

Facial expressions are a clear indicator of how a person feels. The filmmaker may use a character’s eyes to draw our attention to something or a slight change in a character’s face can tell us something has happened.

Body Language also indicates how we are thinking and feeling. Everyone is different but we recognise common features such as shaking a fist means anger, or curling into a ball to protect ourselves.

·                     Lighting

Lighting can help to give a scene a realistic look (high key) or a dramatic look (low key). It can also be used to highlight particular objects, characters or to change a character’s appearance.

·                     COLOUR

Colour has connotations associated with it and can be used to create a mood and atmosphere.

Connotation= the secondary meaning of a word

-Yellow=

-Blue=

-White=

-Green=

-Black=

-Red=

Denotation= the first meaning of a word

·                     POSITIONING OF CHARACTERS & OBJECTS WITHIN A   
           FRAME

Positioning can indicate the importance of a person or object. If a character is positioned in the foreground we know to assume they have some importance in the scene. Also the positioning of objects can direct our attention to a particular area.

Editing

EDITING

Lesson objective

To be able to show an understanding of how editing is used to create meaning.

Straight Cut

When from one is moved straight to the next shot. This is the simplest and most common form of editing.

Fade Out 

The screen fades out usually at the end of an episode to symbolise finish

Wipe Cut 

One side of the screen moves to wipe out the other.

Dissolve 

When one shot disintegrates into another smoothly.

Reaction Shot 

Any shot (often used as a cutaway) in which a subject reacts to a previous shot

Invisible Editing 

Most films are now edited in this way. The audience will rarely notice the editing as it supports rather than dominates the narrative the plots characters. The techniques give the impression that the edits are motivated by the events in the reality on screen.

Montage

Is the speed of editing where shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement.

Slow Editing

Is when clips are put together at a slower pase and this is to create suspense.

180 Rule

imagine a hypothetical line drawn between two or more actors, the camera must shoot on the side of the line and this is because it can confuse audience and also the shooting will not be consistent.

Shot Reverse Shot

This is mostly used in films where a conversation is taking place and it is when one quickly follows another shot.

Jump Cut

A drastic camera movement that is noticeable to the eye, in which the film suddenly focus's on something.

Linking of section

Is where one section of a film is linked to another scene which has significance.

Linking Shots

Is where a number of shots are linked together to add emotional impact.

Timing of Shots

In editing stage some shots are either slower or quicker to add emotional impact or to create suspense.

Kuleshov Effect 

Is where two shots together create a meaning.

Graphic Match

The stape from one shop matches the shape of the next. An example of this would be, a woman screaming with her mouth wide open in a circular shape followed by the next shot could be of a circular tunnel.