Discussion of the Use of Mise-en-Scene

1. How does the chart for locations and character help you to better understand the ideas of mise-en-scene? How do the characters and locations for Our Hospitality function to enhance the film?

2. How does mise-en-scene create subtext in a film? Describe a scene from a film where you were able to understand a character’s background and personality before they even spoke a word. How did the filmmakers arrange the scene so you knew this?

Details the Elements Involved in Mise-en-Scene.

1. How helpful is this one sentence definition in your understanding of mise-en-scene? How would you define mise-en-scene in one sentence? What are the five categories necessary to understanding mise-en-scene?

2. In what ways does a scene's decor affect the way you interpret the characters and the action? What qualities does a lavishly decorated room tell you about a character? What about a sparse dusty one? How would you interpret the same scene differently in each of the rooms?

Discussion of the Aspects of Mise-en-Scene.

1. According to this website, what are the four aspects of mise-en-scene? Which one do you think should be given the most emphasis in a suspense film? What about in a romantic comedy? Which one is the most important in a musical? Is it possible to eliminate one of the aspects? Why or why not?

2. View the photos in the lighting section. What moods are created by each of the eight frames? What type of scene would utilize each type of lighting?

Modern Mode: Film Costume Design in the Here and Now.

1. Why is it easier to make contemporary costumes, rather than buy them? Why is it harder costuming a film set in contemporary times than a period film? What sorts of research go into costuming a show set in the present? In what ways do you think it would be easier to costume a show set in 2003 than in 1903?

2. How is fashion design different from costume design? What are the social challenges costume designers face when working on a film? What sort of merging of the fashion world and the costume world is there? In what ways do the two industries influence each other?

Resource For Links To Specific Costume Designers.

1. How does learning about the costume designers help you to better understand a film? What sorts of backgrounds do the designers have? What things do many of them have in common? How different is the design world of fashion designers and costume designers? How different is designing costumes for the stage versus for film?

Example of How Mise-en-Scene is Explored in the Film Nosferatu.

1. What is the effect given by using minimal decor, plain costumes, and specific, grand lights? What do you think the effect would be if the lighting was minimized and the decor or the costumes became the main focus of mise-en-scene? How would it change the meaning of the film?

2. How are images of still objects (such as rocks in a river) used to further the plot? What do they tell you about the characters? Is the symbolic use of objects more powerful in conveying a character’s emotion than the character speaking what he/she feels? Why do you think this is?

Example of How Mise-en-Scene is Explored in the Film Taxi Driver.

1. Why do you think the director of Taxi Driver does not reveal the events of the film? Why would a director want to create feelings of uncertainty and of confusion in audience members? How does the director use mise-en-scene to contribute to the unclear nature of the script?

2. Although the film gives no clear answers to the character and nature of Travis Bickle, there are deliberate choices in costume that give insight into the character. Why does the director so obviously use costume to reveal certain things about the character? What does it lead you to believe about the character? Does it enhance or detract from the vague nature of the character?

Exercise On Applying Mise-En-Scene To Film.

1. Conduct the experiment given in the essay by making a list of a person's room. What sort of character did you try to create? How easy would it be for a filmmaker to create an entire character personality based on your list? What do you think your living surroundings say about you? Does your bedroom fit your personality? How would a filmmaker perceive you after surveying your bedroom?

2. In a film such as Star Wars, where the character's living quarters are rarely shown, how do audience members learn about the characters? What other indication besides their living conditions give insight into the type of person they are? How do other elements of mise-en-scene (besides décor) help you understand the nature of the character?

Discussion Of Our Hospitality And Its Making.

1. What are some of the dangers of trying to create realistic danger scenes? Why do you think Buster Keaton would choose to actually use a dangerous river instead of recreating one when it could mean harm to the actors? Does real danger versus a controlled setting have an effect on the final product? Does knowing that Buster Keaton risked his life in the river change the way you view the scene?

2. How would shooting on location affect the mise-en-scene of a film? What sorts of control do filmmakers have? What control do they lose? Is it easier or more difficult to achieve the desired effect with location shooting?

Discussion Of Our Hospitality And Its Making.

1. Why is Our Hospitality considered an important film? Why was the film successful?

2. Do you think a director who also acts in his/her own films loses some quality of mise-en-scene since the director cannot view the entire scenes he/she is in as they are being filmed? What are the dangers of acting in and directing a film? What are the positive aspects of it? Can you think of examples where the director also acted in a film effectively? Ineffectively?