Mise en Scene Codes (Research)

 Introduction

I worked on this portion of the research myself. I had to review codes given in the movies opening which tells features of Mise en scene. Codes are techniques used to communicate to the audience meaning. This part of the research was lengthy and goes into portions of Mise en scene like setting.

Research Part 5: Mise en scene Codes  

 

(Richard) 

 

1. Setting 

1. Define setting in film? What time and where the story takes place 

2. Where is the story set? Los Angeles 

3. Describe the setting of the film?  

 

Elements	Denote each element noticed in the film opening.	Indicate connotations that support the genre. How does the setting elements indicate or support the genre and storytelling of the film opening? Provide codes to support your answers.
Time of day	Daytime	Bright and happy. It’s purely day time in the opening and it builds a happy tone towards the genre.
• Time period	Childhood to present day	This catalyzes the story with it’s narration of her childhood and developing crush for her friends brother. The switching towards her childhood to her as a teen with her friend as well as gazing of his brother causes the connotation of growing love.
• Location	Outdoors-  Los Angeles/ Driveway/ School  Indoors- Arcade, House, Hospital	The hospital scenes built a emotional factor with the dull and slow music lapping the scene. The arcade has a bright background and pop music playing which builds a happy tone. The school has a neutral tone but with negative connotations of students giggling at the main character. These scenes all have something common and it’s love and relationships involved which supports the genre of the film.
• Climate / Season	Summer/ Late spring	It gives off connotations of freedom and joy. This builds the light hearted and comedic feel of the movie. The movie takes place in her 11th grade year and ends with the summer.
Geography• Landscape or Outdoors / City / Country / Sea / Land / Desert.	City	This takes place in the city of Los Angeles in it’s suburbs and school. This builds a feel of modern time.
• Culture / People (Moral attitudes/ core beliefs.)	OMG Girls and Cliche groups	The school has the popular/ mean girls, a nerd group, the outcasts, and more. This builds the feeling of the high school stereotype and also has notes of life and drama.
• Social and Economic status	Stable and middle class	Elle and everyone in the school show no signs of poverty and live in the suburbs. This of course has connotations of lavish and comfort.

 

2. Set Design 

• Define set design in film. Special field and environment of the film to be recorded. 

• Document and describe the set design for the film opening. (Add 2 images.)  Arcadey, multiple background characters, and bright lights 

• What connotations do you read from the décor? Joy and excitement, as well as a bond. 

• How does the set design illustrate support the characters, story, and/or connect audiences to the film’s genre? The set design is important for the characters arc and story as dancing is a big part of her character as well as is one of the bigger things they bond over. 

• Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre. Two player machine, eye contact, sync. 

 

3.Props 

1. Select props that are genre significant to the film opening of the film. Document how they support the genre and storytelling.  

 

7. Acting  

1. What is acting in the film? practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras 

2. What are the elements of the acting?

 

Elements	Definitions	How do the acting elements define meaning from the character and support the film’s genre?
		Document the acting elements of the chosen character.	Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.
Appearance	Visuals or looks of a character in the film.	Due to her school look, she needs to act and portray a younger persona as well as a more modern take on school.	Prom dress, hair is styled
Facial expression	The emotion portrayed on a actors face	This builds personality for the character.	Upset look
Body Language: Gestures, posture, and body contact.	Communication by movement and tells the actors emotions.	She looks away from the person in front of them and shows that she’s disappointed.	Lack of eye contact
Vocal qualities: Tone of voice, accent, the pace of speech.	Low tone, Fast paced speech	She is upset and angry at the person she’s talking to.	Prom background
Personality	Character Traits	Confrontational, Emotional in the scene.	Behavior
Role	A job within the film production depending on their experience	Main character, the scenes centralize around her as well as the story.	The shot is centered around her
Actions	The role of the character determines expected acts.	She goes up and confronts and talks about her feelings.  Her role as the main character is to tell her story.	Narration from her voice.

 

3. Based on your understanding of casting, do you think the actors selected to play the film's characters were good choices? List (2) actors and (2) reasons why?

 

8. Costume, hair, and makeup. 

1. What is costume in a film? A costume in film is the look the character takes on, the clothes connect towards the character. 

2. What is hair and makeup in film? Unique features of the characters.  

3. List 3 genre factors that influenced the costume design in this film? Romance, Teen Romance, High school drama 

4. Give a general description of the costumes used in the film in the table below.  Select main character. Elle/ School uniform, Dresses, Regular t shirt and jeans 

Images	Document visual signs by observing the time period, character’s station (social standing), sense of place, color, tone, style, etc.)	What does the costume indicate about the character, setting, and purpose of the story?
Hair and makeup	Her hair is loose and down and is red. Her hair is also styled parted to the side or tied which gives a modern look. Her hair is neat and kept which shows a decent wellbeing.	This indicates the character cares a lot about her appearance and this ties into the purpose of the story as she is pressured with high school 11th grade expectations as well as looking good enough to find love.
Costume	Her costumes of school uniforms, dresses, and regular clothes tell the period of time which is modern day. Her school uniform tells her social status which she is a student. Her dresses shows her personality and depends on the color as she wears colors like blue or pink.	The costumes directly ties in with the purpose of the story as they all have a part, her school uniform for when she plays her scenes in the school. The dress for when she has her prom. The regular clothes for when she hangs out with her friends. They all tell what kind of place shes in which shes in a highschool.

 

9. Color 

1. What is the definition of color in the film? Color in film is the color of the shot, color in film can tell the emotion of the scene. 

2. Indicate how color was used in the opening of the film. E.g., setting, lighting the scene and characters, costumes, etc. (Create a table to organize your information.) (Add images of each to support your answers. 

Codes	Meaning
setting	The setting has a bright yet realistic tone to it.
lighting	This scene has dark yet luminescent lighting. This builds the romantic yet somber tone.
The set design (décor and props)	The booth has red lighting which has romantic codes. Red stands for love on valentines day.
Costume, makeup, and hair	The yellow and white uniforms contrast with each other and are placed oppositely of each other. This has rivalry tones or opposing tones.