Research into Mise-en-scene - Miss Georgiou

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is involves techniques that are used in films to convey different emotions/feelings. There are 5 elements involved; Settings & iconography, costume, hair and make-up, Facial expressions & body language, lighting & colour and finally settings and props. Whilst I was searching YouTube for a clip which I thought would tie into the thriller category and also shows signs of mise-en-scene I came across the film 'The Grey'.


The main reason for choosing the film The Grey was because there are examples of the 5 elements of mise-en-scene throughout the clip. For example at the start of the clip you see evidence of facial expressions and body language within Lee Nelsons face. His face looks wounded and tired, because he has signs of blood and frostbite and he is pounding for breath which would suggest that he is tired and hurt. We gather this interpretation because the marks on Lee Nelsons face. Body language and facial expressions are used mainly because they're capable of portraying meanings that may not usually be conceived. Lee Nelson’s expressions are typical of a thriller film mainly because they can be used to create suspense and mystery within the audience. Usually a convention such as body language and facial expressions are frequentley used because they add to the realism of the scenerio, and make the audience more engaged with what is going on because they're capable of relating to the emotions that they may or may not be feeling.

Secondly settings and iconography appears in the film The Grey. The film is set in remote snowy mountains, the main reasons behind this location is mainly because it can be used to show their vulnerability and also how small they are when in comparison with the rest of the landscape. Furthermore the location could create mystery mainly because we do not know what else is in the mountains alongside the crew. An example of iconography in the clip I studied is where the main character (Lee Nelson) is stood guiding the rest of the survivors to safety. This is a good example of iconography because you can clearly see that he is meant to be conceived as superior to the rest. This would relate to the conventions of a thriller because there is usually one main character that stands out from the rest, this would make the audience feel a sense of excitment and suspense as they know that the leader is at the front and guiding the rest and therefore is the closest to the dangers. Iconography is a regular occuring feature within thriller films because it helps the audience gather a suspense and excitment.



Furthermore another example of mise-en-scene is lighting and colour, this is evident throughout the whole clip with the misty dark mountains. The main reason for using a dark background and low key lighting would have been that it creates a sense of mystery and tension as we cannot see what is making the noises within the clip. Also the darkness adds to the significance of the event in which they're experiencing because the fact that the audience cannot see what is in the rest of the scene makes the occasion even more exciting and tense. The low key lighting would also make the whole scene more dramatic mainly because it would create a sense of shock within the audience because they would be waiting for the sounds to reveal their identity to the audience. The lighting used within this clip has influenced the way in which I may make my own thriller opening scene, mainly because it creates many different emotions within the audience and creates suspense, shock and an awaiting surprise.


Another type of mise-en-scene used in the film, is settings and props. For example in the clip there isn’t much evidence of props used because it is meant to have the idea that their surviving on basic rations and therefore do not have much left from the crash. Also the fact that they don’t adds to the realism of the event and makes the audience gather the impression that Lee Nelson and the crew are truly surviving for survival. A few examples of the small props used are weapons such as a contemporary knife made from pieces of the plane which made it through the crash. I think that the minimalistic use of props in this clip really are affective mainly because it emphasises the life threatening issue in which their experiencing, and makes the audience more engaged as they are anticipating what is going to happen next. On the other hand the setting is important within this clip, it is based up high within the mountains far away from any form of civilisation. I think that the main intention of doing this is to highlight the opportunity for survival as being very small.  This would relate to the typical codes and conventions within thrillers as they denote the stuggle and also creates tension as the audience is reasured that not everything is well. Another prop that is used is the clip is the bag, this is used as an reasuring tool to the audience as it emphaisises the struggle that their facing and that paartially some of their life is in the bag (medical equipment etc). This would create suspense amongst the audience as they know that if in danger there are no weapons that can save them, but their bare hands. This would relate to the conventions of a thriller as they create suspense and tension in the audience.

In conclusion my research into mise-en-scene will help me when planning my own thriller clip as there are certain elements that I will be using such as costume, hair and make up this will enable my clip to look more dramatic and real, it will also make the  audience feel a sense of suspense as they're reasured with the situation, and dangers that the characters are facing. I would also like to incorporate lighting and colour into my clip as I think that it will add another level to the scene and create more that one emotion.