mise en scène
Scene's visual design
Mise en scène is the arrangement of everything visible in a film or theater frame—sets, props, lighting, costumes, and actor positioning.
The French term literally means "placing on stage." In film criticism, it distinguishes visual storytelling from editing and sound: The director's mise en scène creates a claustrophobic atmosphere.
The term extends to any carefully arranged setting or situation: the mise en scène of a formal dinner.
Impeding forward progress
- tableauStriking pictorial arrangement
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- set designCrafting theatrical environments
- spatial arrangementPositioning of elements in space
choreography · direction · rehearsal · proscenium · backdrop · props · curtain · setpiece
Structural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- lightingArt of illuminating spaces
- depth of fieldZone of acceptable sharpness
- color paletteRange of selected hues
production design · set decoration · costume design · wide shot · close-up · camera angle · dolly · tracking shot
Art of illuminating spaces
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- propsTheater accessories or praise
- set dressingItems placed on sets
- color schemePlanned set of hues
textures · décor · furniture · architecture · windows · doors · mirrors · shadows
Implicit meaning beneath words
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
visual metaphor · theme · exposition · context · dramatic irony · power dynamics · relationships · status
blocking
Impeding forward progress
- tableauStriking pictorial arrangement
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- set designCrafting theatrical environments
spatial arrangement · choreography · direction · rehearsal · proscenium · backdrop · props · curtain · setpiece · wings
framing
Structural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- lightingArt of illuminating spaces
- depth of fieldZone of acceptable sharpness
color palette · production design · set decoration · costume design · wide shot · close-up · camera angle · dolly · tracking shot · aspect ratio
lighting
Art of illuminating spaces
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- propsTheater accessories or praise
- set dressingItems placed on sets
color scheme · textures · décor · furniture · architecture · windows · doors · mirrors · shadows · wallpaper
subtext
Implicit meaning beneath words
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
symbolism · visual metaphor · theme · exposition · context · dramatic irony · power dynamics · relationships · status · tension
mood
Prevailing emotional condition
feeling · tension · intimacy · claustrophobia · warmth · coldness · eeriness · dreamlike · naturalistic · stylized
mise en scènescript
Written words for performance
screenplay · dialogue · libretto · text · written word
mise en scènecinéma vérité
Naturalistic documentary approach
unstaged · found footage · raw footage · naturalism · fly-on-the-wall
mise en scènemontage
Assembled sequence of images
editing · post-production · cutting · CGI · special effects
scene, scenery, scenic, scenically, sceneries, mise-en-scène