5: Mise-en-SceneThis is a featured page

Chapter 5: Style and Setting: Mise-en-Scene
  • Butler, Jeremy G. " Style and Setting: Mise-en-Scene." In Television: Critical Methods and Applications, 131-158. 3rd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2007

Chapter Outline/Notes

Set Design

  • Studio sets fall into two broad categories: narrative and non- narrative.
  • The main function of narrative sets is to house actors engaged in a story.
  • In non- narrative sets do not create the illusion of an everyday room.
Costume Design
  • Costume is one of the first aspects of a character that we notice and build expectations upon.
  • Costume design is in both narrative and non- narrative sets.
Lighting Design
  • Describes the different variables of lighting and illumination that takes place in television programming.
  • Cameras are more sensitive than in the past and this allows videographers the ability to manipulate lighting for a variety of effects.
  • Some examples of this manipulation include, backlighting, three point lighting, high key lighting, low key lighting and lighting diffusion.
Actor Movement
  • Actor movement is the way a director moves an actor around the set to incorporate them into a scene.
  • Blocking is the pattern of this movement. The various types of blocking are deep space, shallow space and deep focus.


Terms/Concepts to Know:
  • Mise-en-scene
  • Set Designer
  • Sound Stages
  • Studio Sets
  • Objective correlatives
  • Location Settings
  • Narrative icons
  • Actualities
  • Exterior Scenes
  • Interior Scenes
  • Verisimilitude
  • Illumination
  • Three-point lighting
  • Key Light
  • Fill Light
  • Back Light
  • High key lighting
  • Low key lighting
  • Blocking
Intro Staging and scenes from the films prospective and later televisions perspective was borrowed from theater who call this mise-en-scene, being all the physical objects on the stage. It is very important in television because it forms all the basic principles and components of a show.
Set Design The set is the physical place where the show takes place and the decorations or props used in the scene. The scene can either be in a studio or at an off site location or anywhere the director and budget allow it to be
Studio Set Design Types of studio set Narrative Signify narrative meaning to viewer Mostly sitcoms and fictional television shows Generally shaped shallow and wide Usually shot with more than one camera
Non Narrative News, Sports and game shows Desks and shots usually faced at viewer as if they are being addressed Not so concerned about hiding lighting and other cameras
Location Set Selection Sports and news shot on scene to help capture it for viewer, and make it feel as we are there Shots of a city or familiar place to viewer can be played in credits to make us feel more associated with the show
Lighting Design Early TV used lots of light and cameras were not very good at displaying it, which limited outdoor shots to daylight times and in studio to be done under powerful lights Four Basic Characteristics or Properties of Light in TV Direction Intensity Color Diffusion Three Point Lighting Key Light High-Key Lighting Low-Key Lighting Fill Light Back Light Note the use of shadows to fully or partially cover a characters face for different reasons
Lights can also be colored or diffused using different lens covers or bulbs
Actor Movement Pattern of movement by actors Tend to be at angles and laterally


Related Course Outcomes

  • Describe the functions and artistic responsibilities of each of the major members of a television crew. (1. Television Crew)
    • Functions of set design, costume design, lighting crew
  • Identify the technical elements of a TV show and explain how those elements are used to stimulate different emotional responses from the audience and to illuminate the lives of the characters. (3. Technical Elements)
    • Lighting and mise-en-scene
  • Analyze several significant TV shows to explain the techniques television artists use to express their ideas and values. (5. Significant Shows)
    • Mise-en-scene
  • Describe the characteristics and representative examples of major TV genres, such as sitcoms, social comedies, dramas, news, sports. (9. TV Genres)
    • How sets re designed differently depending on the type of program being filmed

Television Examples to Watch and Discuss




rrodrigo
rrodrigo 		Latest page update: made by rrodrigo , Oct 14 2008, 9:24 AM EDT (about this update About This Update rrodrigo Edited by rrodrigo

7 words added

view changes
- complete history)
Keyword tags: None
More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
kelkelly9 Camera Angles 6 Dec 17 2008, 4:43 PM EST by Brittala
Thread started: Oct 15 2008, 2:45 PM EDT  Watch
Why do you think it is important to use different focuses when it comes to shooting camera angles?
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Show Last Reply
kelkelly9 Are You Afraid of the Dark 8 Dec 17 2008, 4:39 PM EST by Brittala
Thread started: Oct 15 2008, 2:47 PM EDT  Watch
In Are You Afraid of the Dark, what mood do you think the director is trying to get across? How does the director accomplish this? Discuss in terms of set design, actor movement and lighting.
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Show Last Reply
kelkelly9 Set Design 14 Dec 17 2008, 4:35 PM EST by Brittala
Thread started: Oct 15 2008, 2:44 PM EDT  Watch
Discuss the set design used in your favorite show. How does the it help characterize the actors?
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Show Last Reply
Showing 3 of 4 threads for this page - view all