Mise-En-Scene

What is Mise-En-Scene?

Mise-En-Scene is everything in a scene. The following is mise-en-scene for a film.

How is Mise-En-Scene Designed

In a film, mise-en-scene would be integrated in the background, costume, makeup, and props.

Background Example:

-A sunny day in a field

-A rainy day on a sidewalk

-A beach near ocean side

Costume Example:

-Suits

-Hats

-Shoes

-Gadgets

-Jewelry

-Dresses

Makeup Example:

-Face Paint

-Lip Gloss

Prop Examples:

-Fake guns

-Fake Money

-Fake Gold 

-Fake Plants

-Fake Weapons or items used as a weapon

How I used Mise-En-Scene

What me and my partner had to do was to create a scene using props small items in class. I brought two toy cars and created a paper road to imitate a high car chase scene. I made a background out of construction paper and used a flashlight to imitate traffic lights. The following is my scene photo.

Cinematography

 What is Cinematography? 

Cinematography is everything in a film that involves camera angles and lighting. The following is the different types of shot angles.

The amount of shots and angles consist of:

-Close up 

-Extreme Long Shot

-Medium shot

-Extreme Close Up

-Long Shot

-Medium Close Up

-High Angle

-Low Angle 

-Medium Long Shot

-Straight Angles

-Tilted Angles 

-Establishing Shot

-Master Shot

-Cowboy Shot

-Reverse Angle

-Point of View Shot

-Single Shot

-Two Shot 

-Three Shot

-Tracking or Dolly Shot

-Crane Shot

-Hand-Held Shot 

-Pan Shot

-Tilt Shot

-Fade in Shot

-Fade out Shot

Genre Research

 October 5, 2021

For the past week in a half, my media studies class have been discussing the different genres in film. Our teacher had us choose a genre and present the history of the genre, the social functions, a comparison of a movie from the past to a current date film, and to choose a film that my group and I chose best represents our genre.

We would also have to take notes of the other genres the other groups presented. For example, my group and I chose the gangster genre. My class chose the following genre's:

-Action Genre
-Romantic Comedy Genre
-Sci-Fi Genre
-Crime Genre
-Comedy Genre
-Horror Genre

Once I have written down notes for the following genre's, I processed them and got a better understanding of the different genres.

Action Genre

-Action genre is a broad genre that shows a story through fights, vehicles and weapons.

Romantic Comedy

-Romantic Comedy is usually light hearted, two lovers usually young split apart and then come back together.

Sci-Fi Genre

-The purpose is to  bring up  technology advances in society.

Crime Genre

-Involves a criminal act, morally upright and isolated protagonist, and danger an or conflict faced by a hero       

Christmas Music Video

 Music Video Project

Last week, me and my fellow partners was assigned a music video project. We started working on the project  from the 6th, to the 10th of December. We had choose a song, script it, storyboard, film and edit our music video. My group partners were Christian, Josiah and me. The following is a description of what we did each day.

December 6th

This day, me and my group partners chose a song to work on our project. Our choice was Frosty the Snowman by Michael Buble. Later on, eventually we changed our song to Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano. We were also suppose to begin our script but my group didn't start it in time.

December 7th

This day me and my group were a day behind so we had to work on the script and storyboard at the same time. That day we completed the script but we had to redo the storyboard because it was done incorrect.

December 8th

This day we got right to work and completed the storyboard and began recording our scenes. We began editing but later found out we had to redo some shots.

December 9th

This day we finished the shot and finished editing our music video. We used WeVideo and edited the film at home.

December 10th

By this time me and my group were completely finished and submitted our video. 

The Video

Editing Software's

My Media Studies teacher assigned us to choose a editing software in order to edit the our first scene we recorded last week. The following blog is my research about three different editing software's that I chose from.

The 3 Software's

-Adobe Premiere Pro

-Clipchamp.com

-OpenShot.org

Adobe Premiere Pro

PRO:

-Integration with great image software like photoshop and after effects

-Ability to import and export between software without rendering or losing layers

-Good color correction and audio tools

-Mac and PC compatibility 

-Support multiple file formats

-VR support

-Responsive interface 

-Support RED, Arri and Canon cameras

Cons:

-Only rent the product

-Clunky and buggy

-Lacking 360 stitching tool

ClipChamp.com

PRO:

-User interface is easy for beginners

-Software is fast

-Video compression's lowers the size of file

CONS:

-Bugs

-Compressing videos can lower quality

-Only available on google chrome extension

OpenShot.org

PROS:

- 3D Titles

-Curve-Based Time Mapping

-Non-Linear Editor

-100% Free

-No watermark

-Frequent Updates

-Easy to use

-Multi Lingual

CONS:

-Unstable Performance 

-Limited editing features

-Less Powerful Hardware

-Obsolete Interface

Sources:

1. https://epic-tv.com/broadcast/blog/different-types-of-editing-software-the-pros-and-cons-of-final-cut-pro-adobe-premiere-pro-and-avid-media-composer/

2. https://alternative.me/clipchamp

3. https://www.videoproc.com/video-editor/openshot-review.htm

The Film Opening of "Norbit"

 Last week, around October 21, my media studies teacher assigned us a discussion about our top 5 movies and what we like about them. 

We also had to tell if we had a preferred genre and how their conventional.

Fast forward to this week, October 25-29, my teacher assigned us to create a blog about the top 3 movies we selected and talk about there opening scenes.

My favorite movie and the movie I chose was "Norbit" 2007

The following is an analysis of the opening scene from the movie.

The Film

The film "Norbit" is a romantic comedy, about a child (Norbit) who was an orphan his whole youth. He lived with Mr and Mrs.Wong  who were owners of the orphanage and the Chinese restaurant next to it. During his youth in the orphanage, he found himself a friend named Kate. While young Norbit would "marry" Kate under the tree next to the orphanage when one day, Kate was adopted and had to leave Norbit at the orphanage. The film opens as Norbits upbringing how how he eventually met Rasputia. One day during Norbits teen years, Norbit was getting bullied by these twin brothers when Rasputia came and stopped the bullies by throwing them across the sand box. When Rasputia saved Norbit, she told Norbit that he is her boyfriend. They continued to be a couple and eventually got married. They both also worked for Rasputias three big brothers Big Black Jack, Blue, and Earl, working as a bookkeeper at their construction company. The Latimore brothers run a security business, instilling fear in the entire community except Mr. Wong, who refuses to sell them his business. Norbit catches Rasputia cheating on him with her dance instructor Buster Perkin, throws away his wedding ring and vents his anger at a puppet show for the orphans. He is stunned to see Kate for the first time since childhood, and his affection for her reignites as he learns she is buying Mr. Wong's orphanage, but is disappointed to learn she is engaged to Deion Hughes. With help from ex-pimp friends Pope Sweet Jesus and Lord Have Mercy and other townspeople, Norbit meets Kate without Rasputia's knowledge. Deion is revealed to be helping the Latimore brothers to turn the orphanage into a strip club. The brothers dupe Norbit into getting Kate to sign papers to renew the restaurant's liquor license in the Latimores' name. Norbit's meeting with Kate leads to helping rehearse her wedding, where a kiss between them makes her reconsider marrying Deion. Norbit returns home to learn Rasputia witnessed their kiss and threatens violence towards Kate if he ever sees her again. Kate goes to confront Norbit about the deal and sees him being held prisoner by Rasputia (who masterminded the orphanage plot) in their basement. Norbit reluctantly, deliberately drives her away to protect her from Rasputia. Satisfied, Rasputia lies that Norbit has tricked Kate since she came back to town. Heartbroken, Kate runs away, and Norbit decides to permanently leave town. Then he finds a letter from the private investigator he hired, discovering Deion is rich from various divorce settlements. The Latimores reveal their plan to Norbit, and lock him in the basement again. Norbit escapes, reaching the wedding just in time to inform Kate of Deion's schemes. Though his proof of Deion's divorce settlements was destroyed after falling into a pond, Norbit reveals Deion's ex-wives and children, and Deion flees as they give chase. The Latimores attack Norbit for ruining their plans, but the townspeople take up arms to protect him. Rasputia fights her way through the crowd and prepares to kill him, but Mr. Wong harpoons her in the rear. The Latimores are chased out of town, and Norbit and Kate reconcile. They buy the orphanage and marry under the same tree where they played as children. The Latimores move to Mexico and open up their strip club "El Nipplopolis", where Rasputia becomes their most popular and lucrative stripper. 

The Opening Scene

The opening scene is a prologue with voice over. If you want a better understanding of this type of opening scene, take a look at my previous blog of my research of 5 different types of opening scenes.

The opening scene shows Norbits up-bringing and the environment he grew up from. The opening scene ties in with the rest of the movie due to the fact of how he met Kate. 

If Norbit would have not met Kate, then he would remain in the same broken marriage with Rasputia and the orphanage would most likely get sold to the Latimore's.

The 5 Different Types of Opening Scenes

For the past week in my media studies class,  my teacher has assigned us to create a blog on the research I have gotten about opening scenes in film. 

This is very important because in this quarter in school, we will get a chance to create an opening scene as if its in a movie.

The following is all the research that I have found about the different openings in film. My source is  "The 5 Types of Opening Scenes: An Analysis of 80 Films" created by Laurie Stark. 

Everything I found is based off her analysis. I recommend viewing her post to get a deeper understanding of the types of opening scenes. 

The 5 Types of Opening Scenes

1. Prologue
2.Inciting Incident 
3.Day in the life
4.Cold Openings
5.Flash Forward

Prologue

Prologue was defined as a montage or scene to create backstory that happened in the past. Prologue was cut into two parts. Prologues with voice over, and prologue without voice over.

Prologue with Voice-over

These types of prologues were viewed as a montage with voice over narration. This usually gives the audience a lot of exposition of the story.

Prologues with voice overs can be effective when used thoughtfully.

Common in fantasy and epic movies.

These films commonly hinge on unique voice and point of view of the main character.

Prologue without Voice-over

When a prologue without voice over is done well, it can be very effective at catching the viewers on important background and building sympathy for a character.

Another form of prologue without voice over is flashbacks.

Flashbacks lack tension because the events that happened in that scene already happened.

Inciting Incident  

In some films, inciting incident happens on the first page.

Some opening scenes introduces inciting incident that sets  sets the story into motion.

Typically a wedding, funeral or apocalypse.

A Day in Their Life

(The Killing of a Sacred Deer 2017)

A scene that introduces the main character.

This scene usually reveals a key strength and key liability of the character.

Shows what the life is like for the main character before its changed by the main event.

Could be exciting or uneventful day in the life.

Cold Opens

(The Dark Knight to Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981)

In television its sometimes called a teaser.

The section of an episode that is shown before the opening credits.

Common in horror, crime and action films. 

The main purpose is to grab the audience’s attention and establish their genre.

Usually never involves the main character.

Separated from the events in the story.

Flash Forward 

When a movie starts with a scene in the present.

The rest of the movie takes place in the pass working up to the present.

The Elements of An Opening Scene

1.Introduces the protagonist to communicate their main skills, and weakness.

2.Introduces their world.

3.Offers the audience a before picture to later compare with the after.

4.Presents a “Save The Cat” moment for the protagonists, even if its very subtle.

5.Tense and suspenseful.

6.A surprise or big reveal.

7.Sets the tone and genre of the film.

Source:  http://www.storybreakdown.com/writing-great-opening-scenes/