Research into mise en scene-

In this blog post I will be researching mise en scene into thriller films. I will be discussing what it is and how it is used. Mise en scene is visual information in front of the screen and basically everything what you can see in the frame. It is made up of 5 elements which are:

1. costume hair and makeup
2. settings and iconography
3. facial expressions and body language
4. lighting and colour
5. positioning of characters/ objects within the camera frame

I will be analysing the mise en scene in the film old boy 2013 and discussing how mise en scene is used to create impact.



First at 0.08 costume is used as the protagonist is dressed smartly in a suit and the villains are all in there own lounge about clothes portrays the protagonist is higher and has more authority and power than the people he is fighting with. Portrays him as the stronger side even though there's more of them and this is proven when he manages to take all these people out on his own.

at 0.47 the setting is used to create impact as it is a trapping setting in a warehouse and there's no where for the man to run, he must defeat all the people on his own and this would build tension and suspense as the audience don't no if he can manage it as there is so many. would create a atmosphere also as people would think something bad is bound to happen.

At 1.02 the prop of the fence positioned in front of the camera with the fight going on behind it makes the scene more realistic and even like the audience and there when its happening watching from the side. Symbolises the man is trapped and how its a trapping setting which again builds suspense and tension because you still don't no what the outcome is going to be and continues the build up to the end result.

Lastly at 1.24 All the props used in the fight scene from the villains including the hammers, baseball bats crow bars all create a impact. The protagonist is using his bare hands and not only does he have about 15 people on one they all have weapons and he doesn't which puts into contrast for the audience what may happen and continues to build suspense    and tension for the audience.

2.38 the positioning of the camera from a birds eye view of the man laying on the floor with all the villains hovering above him in a circle shows the audience there is no way out for the man. They would think that this really could be it for the man and this would create suspense and build a nervous atmosphere again as well as they all have weapons and are not just using there hands so the consequences can be worse for the man and the audience know this but as they have seen what he is capable of creates a sense of hope that he is going to pull through and defeat the villains.

conclusion: from my research I can tell that mise en scene is essential in thriller films. from the clip I watched I now know that props play a big part in creating tension and suspense depending what scene you are filming and ill definitely be using them in mine now. I have also discovered that the positioning of the  characters plays a big role on the atmosphere of he film as you never no what to expect to happen. From this I will definitely be using at least 3 mise en scene elements in my film as I no that it creates suspense and tension and that is typical conventions of thriller films.