This session focused on mise-en-scène, a French term meaning what is placed within the frame. It refers to all the visual elements in front of the camera and how they work together to communicate meaning to the audience. These elements include setting and props, costume and make-up, performance, lighting and colour, and the positioning of characters within the frame.
Research Activity 1: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Setting & Props: The scene takes place at the cottage window, a normally safe domestic space. This safety is disrupted by the appearance of the witch and the poisoned apple, which becomes the key prop symbolising temptation and death.
Costume, Hair & Make-Up: The witch’s dark hooded cloak, pale skin, exaggerated facial features, and long nose visually mark her as threatening and untrustworthy. Her appearance contrasts sharply with Snow White’s usual bright, soft colours, reinforcing the good-versus-evil binary.
Facial Expressions & Body Language: The witch’s wide eyes, crooked smile, and hunched posture convey deceit and malicious intent. Her slow, deliberate handling of the apple draws attention to it and heightens suspense.
Lighting & Colour: The lighting is darker and more muted around the witch, with strong shadows on her face. The bright red apple stands out vividly against the dark costume and background, immediately signalling its narrative importance and danger.
Positioning within the Frame: The witch is framed centrally and often dominates the shot, making her appear powerful and controlling. The apple is placed close to her face or the centre of the frame, guiding the viewer’s eye and reinforcing its symbolic role.
Cinematography (Shot Choice): Close-ups are used to emphasise the witch’s expression and the apple, creating intimacy and tension. The framing encourages the audience to focus on the act of temptation, aligning us with the impending threat rather than safety.
Overall, the mise-en-scène works together to make the threat instantly readable, especially for a younger audience. Without dialogue alone, the visuals clearly communicate that the apple is dangerous and the witch is not to be trusted.
Research Activity 2: Anomalisa
The mise-en-scène in this image is minimal and controlled, reflecting emotional isolation. The bland hotel room, muted colours, and soft lighting create an impersonal atmosphere. Although the characters are positioned side by side on the bed, their rigid body language and lack of physical contact suggest emotional distance.
The overhead, high-angle shot flattens the scene and removes intimacy, making the characters appear small and detached within the frame. Overall, the composition shows how physical closeness does not equal emotional connection.
Research Activity 3: Rebecca
In this short extract, the relationship appears unbalanced. One character stands while the other sits, immediately suggesting authority versus vulnerability. Dark clothing and shadow give the standing figure a controlled, imposing presence, while the seated character’s lighter clothing and upward gaze suggest uncertainty.
The formal setting, restrained movement, and low-key lighting create tension. Even without context, the mise-en-scène implies discomfort and power imbalance between the characters.
Research Activity 4:
Type of shot: Medium shot: the character is visible from the waist up, allowing us to read emotion while still seeing the environment.
Camera angle: Eye-level, creating a neutral, observational perspective.
Character placement: The character is positioned centrally in the frame, making her the clear focus while crowds move around her.
Costume: She wears a red headscarf and muted clothing, which signals cultural context and helps her stand out visually.
Depth of field: Moderate depth of field: the background is detailed but slightly softened, keeping attention on the character.
Colour palette: Earthy browns, beiges, and greys dominate the background, contrasted by the strong red of the headscarf.
Lighting: Soft, natural daylight with no harsh shadows, creating a realistic and grounded atmosphere.
Overall the mise-en-scène isolates the character emotionally despite the busy setting, suggesting vulnerability and unease within a public space.