Mise En Scene

The elements to consider in Mise En Scene are:

• setting + props
• costume, hair + makeup
• facial expressions + body language 
• lighting + colour
• positioning of characters + objects within a frame 

Image that we interpreted 

In the lesson, we were given an image of a war scene from the film 'saving private ryan' and interpreted it.

• Men dressed in army uniform - setting of a war scene
• The man in the centre appears to be the captain, as he is upfront and the other men are surrounding him in the background.
• He is wearing a helmet, this could signify control and being in charge.
• I think a low-angle shot was used, which gives the image and the people power over the audience.
• The body language perhaps suggests that they have accomplished a mission and are walking away.
• The guns in the image connote a negative theme such as violence; however it could be a form of protection. 
• The ground appeared demolished as the area was full of rubble.
• The time period appears to be old fashioned, due to the shape of the houses in the background.

Setting:

In films, we often see shots of places without any action taking place. Filmmakers can choose to build a setting using the bare walls and floor of a studio set; alternatively a great deal of time and effort is put in by the location manager in the initial stages of making a film to find a setting which already exists. personally, sometimes you can tell when a fake set has been used e.g. when a car is driving and outside the windows you can't really see any image as the footage is usually repeated to look like your moving in motion. However, nowadays the technology is much more advanced and a setting has been created can look very realistic.

Props:

• Props can signify the time period e.g. a typewriter would display a old fashioned time period.
• Status of the character e.g. cars, jewels, expresses the character's wealth.

Incongruous: Something that does not fit in with the scene.

Preliminary Task: Test Filming

iPad footage

To use time productively, we spent the lesson using an iPad to film some test shots, this enabled us to practice how we would take the specific shots that are required. Next, we used 'iMovie' to join all the clips together, giving us a clear preview of what our real film will look like when we use the camera. I think this was a useful process for our group because when we use the camera, we won't waste any time thinking about 'how' it may be shot; as we have already practiced this on the iPad. Additionally, as a group we played around with the simple transitions available on iMovie to see weather is was necessary using fades or just straight cuts for this task. Finally, we also learned from our mistakes, as our teacher pointed out at one point, that we had crossed/broken the 180 degrees rule while filming.

Presenting Genre's Through Iconography

First Composition

Today, we learned how different genre's can be presented using iconography. Firstly, we were given a scene to analyse, where we then interpreted what genre it would be. The idea's I came up with were that it would mostly be under the crime/thriller genre due to the gun and alcohol which connotes a negative tone referencing words such as 'death'. Personally, I also had the idea of it being attached to the 'romance' genre because of the typewriter which is very old-fashioned and is linked with 'love letters' and the alcohol could portray the person being sickly in love.



Our Composition

Next, we got into groups and created our own scenario's using the props available. We used the objects and items to create a particular genre, in our case, we chose re-enact a 'romance' scenario. We positioned the objects specifically to create a romance based theme; as shown we placed the plates and cutlery opposite each other, with two wine glasses and acting as the centre of attention was the silver ring on the table. The ring was  used to portray a proposal occurring between two people. We also learnt that the way we compose the objects will have a dramatic effect on what is interpreted; for example if the wine class was full and was standing upwards, it connotes the elegant romance theme. However, if the wine glass was tipped over on it's side, it would connote a negative mood and tone e.g. a fight has taken place. Additionally, i thought it was effective how we positioned the light because it added to the romantic atmosphere, as if a candle was lit at night.

Destructing Images

Today, we discussed as a class, how we would destruct an image into various categories e.g. colour, lighting, body movement, scenery, tone/mood, characters, clothing, objects and camera/angle shots. 


Next, we were shown an image which portrayed a man walking to a house during the late hours at night under a lamp post, we then discussed our idea's in partners of all the alternatives of what each part of the photo could represent and created a mind map with our interpretations.

Camera Movement: Seven Types

Definitions 

• Pan (short for panorama)
• Tilt
• Cant
• Dolly
• Crane
• Handheld
• Zoom (telephoto)

We also learnt about these 2 terms: 

Deconstruct: this term means to take something apart and to analyse it's individual parts.

Elements: an important individual part of something.

Preliminary Exercise: Brief

We were given the original task exercise and found out that we had to include particular shots when filming such as 1. match on action: which means making sure it has continuity, 2. shot/reverse shot: which is when it will film one character point of view and then show the character's opposite and 3. 180-degree rule: which means keeping within that distance when filming and not crossing it. We also started to create a script so we have everything planned out before hand and we also decided to make a new storyboard to make the process clearer and guide us. Additionally, we booked the equipment as a group and made a plan of when we will use after school hours to start filming in our diaries. Our teacher gave us a deadline for research, planning and filming to be done by the 27th September, so we made our schedule working up towards this date.

Process Of Film Making

Here is what we created as a team,
contributing all of our ideas together.

As a class, we discussed the important stages of making a film. Each individual process leads to making the film efficient and successful. Making a film starts off with a director and includes choosing a genre, planning & timing, a script, creating a storyboard, setting (scenery & location), the cast, a title, special effects e.g. sound & lighting, camera/angle shots, clothing etc. This is a very important process because it guides the filmmaker onto making the film successful.

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - Friends  

Today, we learned the 8 different camera shots and where they would be used in a film and why they are effective:

• Long Shot (Establishing Shot)
• Close-Up
• Point-of-view Shot
• Mid Shot
• Low Angle point-of-view (mid-shot)
• High Angle point-of-view (mid-shot)
• Extreme Close-Up
• Black Frame 

Extreme Close Up - Charlie St. Cloud



Close Up - CSI



Mid Shot - Twilight



Black Frame

Scenario

Today, we were given a scenario stating: "A character opens a door, crosses a  room and sits down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue". In my group we discussed ideas of how it will be shot, the location/setting and started working on a storyboard to plan out what we were going to do. We also looked at you tube videos for inspiration, giving us more idea's to expand on. Initially, we contributed all of our idea's as a group and wrote them down; giving us a clearer vision of how we can create this scenario in the most effective way.

Key Concept

In the first lesson, we learned about the key concept of media studies. I also did some extra research to find out what some of the specific terms meant, to understand them better.

• Media Languages - camera, sound, mise en scene (colour, lighting, facial expressions, body gestures, setting, everything in the frame shot), editing - cut in film creates meaning/suspense
• Institutions - A formal organisation that creates and distributes media texts. 
• Genre - (categorized - form, style and context) type of film e.g. romance.
• Representation - The way in which the media 're-presents' the world around us in the form of sign and codes for audiences to read. 
• Audience - The people who are intended to read, watch, play and listen.
• Ideology - Set of ideas or beliefs e.g. text being described as feminist, meaning it promotes the idea that women and men are equal.
• Narrative - The way a story is explained.
  

I also learned these new terms:

• A Voyeur (ism) - this is when your watching someone and they don't know they are being watched.
• Exhibitionist (ism) - this is when they know your watching e.g. a music video.