Mise en scene Codes

 

1. Setting – Matthew Gomez 

1. Define the setting in the film. 

2. Where is the story set? 

3. Describe the setting of the film. See chart below. 

 

 

 

 

Elements	Denote each element noticed in the film opening.	Indicate connotations that support the genre. How do the setting elements indicate or support the genre and storytelling of the film opening? Provide codes to support your answers.
Time of day	Bright and early in the morning	The morning gives us a sense of safety and comfortability as we see each character's morning routine
• Time period	1986	The films time period being in the late 1980s provides a new perspective on the film since America’s 1980s is known for the economic recession that almost reached the heights of the Great Depression in the 1930s, which provides a reason for the main character to move to the UK and his economic problems later
• Location	Outdoors – The main characters house	The location being the house where the characters live shows the audience that the characters are all related and that they all are happy with each other
• Climate / Season	Autumn	The season is slowly changing to winter which can provide some tension as winter is known for being the season of sorrow and depression, which may interrupt the family’s happy life
Geography• Landscape or Outdoors / City / Country / Sea / Land / Desert.	New York countryside	The geographical setting being very bright, happy, and spacious allows the family to seem wealthy and happy with their lives, however it also gives a sense of isolation as they have lots of land dedicated to themselves, and they plan to move soon to an even more isolated area in the UK
• Culture / People (Moral attitudes/ core beliefs.)	Misogyny	The attitudes of 1980’s America were very misogynistic as stay at home wives were considered normal and that if a woman were to try and achieve a job or any form of economic growth without a man, she would be seen as “in over her head”, all of which are contributing factors to the main characters beliefs about his wife
• Social and Economic status	Wealthy	The status of the main cast being wealthy allows the main character to get away with doing what he wants with his and his family’s life, which provides tension between him, his wife, and his children

 

2. Set Design- Sofia Alseco 

• Set Design: the creation of the physical space where a performance takes place, including the scenery, furniture, props, and overall look of the stage.  

• Document and describe the set design for the film opening.  

Dark wood with a large portrait from the 18th century  

                     Large dark wooden table with a lamp in the background  

   

                          What connotations do you read from the décor? 

• The dark wood in the back creates a historic setting. The portrait reinforces the historic atmosphere symbolizes family legacy. 

•   The large, dark wooden dining table dominates the space, symbolizing family, or group dynamics. The lamp in the background provides warmth to the scene enhancing the feling of intimacy. 

 

• How does the set design illustrate and support the characters and story and/or connect audiences to the film’s genre? 

                             The set design illustrates detachment and strained relationships. The warm yet dim lighting from the lamp creates an intimate but melancholic atmosphere.  

 

 

• Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.  

The large, framed painting of a woman in the 18th century attire reinforces an atmosphere evoking the sense of heritage, the placement suggests importance of connection to the past or family legacy. 

 

 

3. Props- Sofia Alseco 

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

  

 

A simple table lamp provides warm, directed lighting, enhancing the feeling of intimacy while leaving parts of the room in shadow. 

 

 

10. Acting 

1. What is acting in the film? The acting of the film was Mysterious and eerie. 

2. What are the elements of the acting? The father, who name is Rory fits the atmosphere of the acting.   

3.  

 

Elements	Definitions	How do the acting elements define meaning from the character and support the film’s genre?
		Document the acting elements of main character.	Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.
Appearance	He wears sweaters when he is at home, that are long sleeve and cover his body. He also has long pants, because of the time being in the 1980s	Him having those clothes on and later wearing suits to show that he is a working man. He is very proper and clean with its look.	He later gains more access to success, wears fancier clothes and acts eerier.
Facial expression	He tends to have a relax facial expression, to indicate that he is a respectable man.	Him being relaxed and calm, it hides the mysterious aspects of him. Like why he is moving a lot with his family.	Him talking to other businessman and later hiding facts about his job from his wife, it goes into the thriller aspect of the film.
Body Language: Gestures, posture, and body contact.	His body posture it tall and status, because of the false sense of class and elit he wants to have.	Him having those senses of being a successful man by going to London for business opportunity.	He is hiding the facts about the move to London and leaving the house at odd hours. His wife slowly loses trust in him.
Vocal qualities: Tone of voice, accent, the pace of speech.	When he talks to businessman his voice gains a lot of confidence in his Knowledge of the business world.	Him being excited with his pitch to his boss, by having a higher tone in his voice.	His need of success by high risk for high reward, causes him to be more diluted with his ambitions.
Personality	He is mysterious, through his actions. And he later becomes aggressive, when he realizes that his plans are going toward the worse.	He yelled at his boss, when he did not take the pitch. He shows how lack of control he has.	With this slope he headed towards, he becomes aggressive with his wife. With that she wants to leave the marriage.
Role	Him being the dad/husband that is one of the main characters. His actions are the main ones we see. Because he is affecting the plot.	He wants to move to London with his family, for business opportunity and success. He is causing a rift in his family.	His wants for success cause him to be obsessed with the need of wealth and the perfect family.
Actions	The role of the character determines expected acts.	Him wanted to, marry an American woman, was a part of his obsession of wanting a successful life.	Him being obsess with the idea of success in the American way

 

4. Select a secondary supporting actor in the film and analyze them. 

Elements	Definitions	How do the acting elements define meaning from the character and support the film’s genre?
		Document the acting elements of  the character.	Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.
Appearance	Allison, wearing long big sweaters in the beginning of the film, shows her authentic self. But when she moved to fancy dresses.	The first scenes of her had her wear those clothes to show that she is a career woman. And how she was comfortable with her life	That comfortability soon will change, when see moves to London for her husband dream.
Facial expression	Later in the film, her face was stressed. With the move and her husband being broke from it. Cause her to change.	She later becomes neglectful of her children, because of the change.	With the change, it causes her to slip into untrust towards her husband Rory.
Body Language: Gestures, posture, and body contact.	Her body posture is relaxing in the beginning.	With her having a job and her family being close. She was at peace and happiness.	With that peace in the beginning, the shift that happens later. Goes with the genre
Vocal qualities: Tone of voice, accent, the pace of speech.	Her voice tone is monotone for the most part.	It is this way to show how she is as a person. For her being a serious character, she is passionate about horse riding.	With that passion she has is slowly decreases as the film continues.
Personality	She has a stern and passion personality	With her press Rory about the money he does not have. And why he	With that, it Shes how much freedom she had.
Role	A mother and wife	In the beginning scene she is married and ready to be with her family	With her being a mother, she provides for their needs. This slowly stops as she changes.
Actions	The role of the character determines expected acts.	She agreed to move, because she loved her husband.	With that change because other of her husband, she stops loving him in the process.

 

5. 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? The actors of the characters Rory and Allison were excellent. With there outsits fitting the period and their change in action. With the move to London changing them for the worse, they reflect that, by Rory being obsessed with success and Allison being neglectful to her kids. 

 

11. Costume, hair, and makeup. -Tatiana Medina 

1. What is a costume in a film? 

the clothing and accessories a character wears that help to establish their identity, role, and status in a film. 

2. What is hair and makeup in film? 

Styling an actor's hair and applying makeup to portray a character. 

3. List 3 genre factors that influenced the costume design in this film. 

Costume design in this film are influenced by wealthy American Families and a families of Status. 

4. Give a general description of the costumes used in the film in the table below.  Select the main character. 

	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		Hair and Makeup represents wealth and status. The makeup shows that the character is put together.
Costume		The costume represents wealth and shows that she is a suburban housewife.

 

12. Color-Trish Alexis 

1. What is the definition of color in the film? It is a way for the director/producer to evoke emotions in the scene. To tell a story. 

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.. 

Codes	Meaning
setting	The color theme of this scene is dark and dim, with a lot of dark brown and green. It shows how gloomy and mysterious that house gives off.
lighting	The lighting is natural, because she is currently working and outside. Witb the light being dark and bright with browns. Gives the feeling of a hard day at work.
The set design (décor and props)	With those items being covered by darkness, give that eerier feeling in the fillm.
Costume, makeup, and hair	Her hair is a blonde, it shows innocents, and her outfit shows that she is working. And the makeup is minimal to non because she is out working.
Character	The character wears red, to convey passion. It brings back the theme of success, and his craving for it.

 

3. How does color support the film genre? (Look at the tone of the setting, characters, etc.) 

 

13. Composition – Matthew Gomez 

1. Define composition in film. The placement of objects and characters in a scene or camera frame. 

2. Define blocking in film. Blocking in film is the placement of characters in the frame that communicates a message to the audience. 

3.  
   This composition shows the entire family together, with the women on the right and the men on the left, separated visually by the hanging light, showing a divide in interests between the family 

 

14. Lighting – Matthew Gomez 

1. What is the lighting in the film? The film is lit very brightly by the natural light shining through the large windows of the house and at the horse training. 

2. Document if the film opening established low-key or high-key lighting. The film's opening established high-key lighting as everything mostly takes place in the morning  

3. Select an image from the film opening to analyze. What type of lighting is used? How is lighting used in the film's opening, and what tone does it communicate meaning? 

 

The soft lighting in this image shows the main character facing the light of the morning while darkness is completely behind him, showcasing that he may have something dark in his past while he is trying to move forward 

 

The high-key lighting in this image has the children basked in light from the window behind them and the light above them while the dad is covered in darkness, which communicates a subtle difference between him and his children 

15. Tone – Matthew Gomez 

1. What is the tone of the film? The tone of the film is comfortable, elegant, yet unsettling 

2. What type of tone was created in the film, what mise en scene elements were used to make it, and does it support the story and genre of the film opening? (Color, lighting, camera angle, setting, etc.) The overall tone created in the film is an unsettling one, and the Mise En Scene elements that were used to make it were lighting, camera composition, and acting, all of which support the stories genre in the opening, that being a phycological drama.