Film Language

Theresa DawsonJacob Burns Film

Center

Mise-en-scenePut into the scene / staging an action

• Setting• Props• Costume• Performance• Lighting

Put into the scene / staging an action

• Setting• Props• Costume• Performance• Lighting

Mise-en-scene and film authorship

Mise-en-scene central to auteur discussion i.e.film authorship. During classic Hollywood studio period control of the director was limited to those processes recorded during filming.

The quality of a director’s work could be read through his control over mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene central to auteur discussion i.e.film authorship. During classic Hollywood studio period control of the director was limited to those processes recorded during filming.

The quality of a director’s work could be read through his control over mise-en-scene

Setting

Location: What is the significance of the natural setting in this clip? What is the significance of the house set?

Costume and Props

What is the significance of costume in this clip?

How does the costume echo in other elementsof the mise-en-scene?

3 point lighting or ‘high key lighting’3 point lighting or ‘high key lighting’

Uses 3 light sources: a key light -the main light for the subject, a back light - picks subject out from background, and a fill light, to fill in shadows

Designed to be unobtrusive

How does 3 point lighting work in this clip?

A beautifying light

Lighting from belowA distorting light

Side lightingA selective light that conceals/reveals

Top lighting

How is Marlene Dietrich lit in this clip?

Low key lighting ‘noir lighting’

Uses 1 source light, light is limitedImages have high contrast‘chiaroscuro’Few mid-tonesA very noticeable lighting effect

Exercise

What do we learn from the mise-en-scene in this opening sequence

from Hitchcock’s Rear Window?

What do we learn from the mise-en-scene in this opening sequence

from Hitchcock’s Rear Window?

Cinematography

• Frame dimension• Lens• Camera angle• Camera movement• Focus• Film stock

• Frame dimension• Lens• Camera angle• Camera movement• Focus• Film stock

Continuity editing

Dominant editing styleDesigned to be seamlessIncludes filming in 180 degrees of actionVarying angles by more than 30 degreesEyeline and other match shots

Dominant editing styleDesigned to be seamlessIncludes filming in 180 degrees of actionVarying angles by more than 30 degreesEyeline and other match shots

Camera movement

» 1. Track» 2. Pan» 3. Tilt» 4. Crane

» 1. Track» 2. Pan» 3. Tilt» 4. Crane