Mise en scene and cinematography

1. Reading An Image
Introducing the Micro and Macro features

2. Remember, there are 6 categories of micro-features that we need to investigate
(lighting technically comes under cinematography). MATCH:
- Cinematography
- Acting (performance)
- Mise-en-scene
- Editing
- Lighting
- Sound
CAMELS
How shots are stitched together
The things you can hear
How a shot is lit
How a shot is photographed
The stuff inside the frame of the shot
The contribution of the actors

3. MICRO-
FEATURES
MACRO-
FEATURES
CAMELS
Genre
Representation
Audience
Narrative
GRAN
Cinematography
Acting (performance)
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Lighting
Sound

4. Genre
Representation
Audience
Narrative
Cinematography
Acting (performance)
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Lighting
Sound
Films are a series of creative decisions designed to create meaning and aesthetic effects.
All exam questions are to some degree based around how a film’s MICRO and MACRO
features CREATE MEANING/AESTHETIC EFFECTS. In other words: what is the artistic
significance of the aspects of film form? What effect is it intended to have on its audience?
How does it tell a story? How does it explore certain themes?

5. Mise en scene

6. Mise-en-scene
Mise en scene is a French term meaning ‘everything in the frame.’
Elements that make up mise en scene include:
• Setting and Location
• Props
• Costume
• Performance and Movement
(However, OCR now
includes this as a
separate aspect)

7. Watch the scene from Pan’s Labyrinth.

8. What is the significance of how
colour is used in the scene?

9. Annotate these 5 stills to explore
the mise en scene from this scene
in Pan’s Labyrinth
Consider how it creates an
atmosphere which is both
threatening and also inviting.
Consider:
- What is shown in the frame?
- What is not shown in the
frame?
- How are things in the frame
arranged?
- Use of colour
- Set design
- Costume and prop design

15. Pan’s Labyrinth is a hybrid genre of horror and fairy-tale. Which
aspects of mise-en-scene helped you to identify the two genre
influences? Consider props, costume, setting, etc.
Horror Fairy-tale

16. Cinematography

17. Cinematography
Cinematography (literally meaning ‘writing in movement’) refers to the use of
camera and lighting in film. Many of the principles of cinematography are similar to
that of photography (which means ‘writing in light’). Indeed the cinematographer is
sometimes called ‘director of photography’ (or ‘DP’).
In looking at cinematography the following areas need to be considered:
• Framing
• Angle
• Distance
• Composition
• Depth of field
• Lens type
• Film stock
• Movement
• Lighting

18. Shot type

19. Camera movement

20. Analyse the above scene in terms of mise en scene and cinematography. Focus upon
Setting and Location
Performance and Body Language
Lighting and Colour
Angle
Camera Positioning and Movement