Film Form
Formal System
Interacts with
•Narrative (Story)
•Abstract (Implicit
ideas)
Stylistic system
pattern
&
significant usage of
techniques
•Mise-en-scene
•Cinematography
•Editing
•Sound
Realism and Mise – en – scene
• Mise-en-scene is often judge by standards
of realism.
• If we insist to judge filmmaking rigidly on
realism thus this limits the possible height
of the imagination as far as Mise-en-scene
in concern.
• It is better than to examine the function of
Mise- en- scene rather than to judge miseen scene on our conception of realism.
Aspects of Mise – en – scene
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Settings
Filmmaker uses an existing locale to stage the action.
Filmmaker chooses to construct settings
Filmmaker emphasizes on authenticity
Filmmaker is less committed to historical accuracy
Design of a setting can significantly shape how audience understand the
story and action
Full size Settings need not always be built; parts of the settings can just
simply be paintings and combined photographically with full size section of
the space.
Digital special effects are also used to fill portions of the scene.
Props are also a factor of mise-en-scene. This is where the object in the
setting has a function within the ongoing action.
Filmmaker may also use colour to create parallels among elements of
settings.
What aspect of control does Miseen- scene has to offer in
filmmaking?
• The filmmaker stages the event for the camera
• Cinema-verite’ is where filmmakers capture
events without controlling them
• Animated and abstract films control mise-en
scene, which are mostly impossible with
performers shot in real time.
• Mise-en-scene involves planning but
filmmakers may be open to unplanned
events as well
• Costume and make up
• Costume more often than not has a specific function in the total film.
• Costume may also be quite stylized, calling attention to their purely
graphic qualities
• Costumes also play and important motivic and causal roles in
narratives.
• Costumes is often coordinated with settings
• Originally during black and white film, make up is usually necessary
because without makeup actors faces could not register clearly on
early film stock.
• Makeup can aim at complete realism. Now, rubbers and plasticene
compounds are use to create bumps, bulges, extra organs and
layers of artificial skin.
• Lighting
• In cinema, lighting is more than just illumination. Lighting
permits us to see actions.
• A brightly illuminated patch may draw our eyes to a key
gesture.
• While a shadow may conceal a detail or a soft curve of a
face, a rough grain of a piece of wood.
• Lighting shapes objects creating highlights and shadows.
• Film lighting:
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Quality
Direction
Source
Colour
• Staging
– Movement & acting
– Acting: functions and motivation