Mis en Scene

Mis en scene refers to what is put into a scene.
There are 5 elements, each of which are vital in producing an effective mis en scene:

• Settings and props
• costume, hair and makeup
• facial expressions and body language
• lighting and colour
• positioning of characters/ objects in the frame

Settings and props can contribute to a character- they can hint towards a characters personality, their thoughts and the position they are in. The way they are positioned can also show this. Costume, hair and makeup also demonstrates this. They can display aspects of their personality etc, but also show what time period they may be in.
Facial expressions and body language is also crucial, even though it is mostly reliant on the actor. The director must direct the actors into providing the correct facial expressions to make the scene effective. The perfect reaction shots can really add to a scene, and it is the job of the director the ensure this is done. The positioning of the characters also helps, as it can reflect the characters thoughts and personality, and add effect to the scene itself.
Controlling the lighting and colour can reflect the overall feel of the scene. A brightly lit scene can imply a light hearted story- usually displayed in comedies and rom coms, it gives and overall sense of realism to the scene. Whereas, and dimly lit set can imply a darker story line, displayed in genres such as horrors or dramas.

Above is an example of how mis en scene works. This still of Norman Bates from Hitchcocks 'Psycho', uses mis en scene to demonstrate the complicated mind of the character. The birds of prey fall into the settings and props category, and the way they are positioned above his head with their wings spread out could suggest two things. One, that they are preying on him: he is engulfed by his mothers personality, and the open wings could show this. Also, that Marion is his next victim. The lighting also cleverly forms shadows on the birds, which makes them appear bigger and more dominant.