The Production Diary (Assessment 1 Part B) Option 2 Mise-en-scene

Introduction

     The mise-en-scene is used differently for each film because each film has each characteristic. Depending on points which film makers want audiences focus on, the usage of the mise-en-scene varies from each.

‘The Great Gatsby’ (2013)

    The mise-en-scene of ‘The Great Gatsby’ (2013) enables viewers to see the magnificent, romantic character of Jay Gatsby, who is wealthy and lives in New York in the 1920s. In order to make the mise-en-scene describe Gatsby’s personality and economic status well, lots of money was spent. The budget is estimated around $105,000,000, and the costumes and jewels are from famous high brand products such as Tiffany and Co., Fogal, and so on (http://thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com ). The mise-en-scene makes Gatsby`s grandeur and rich impression more powerful.

     At the party at which Nick Carraway met Gatsby for the first time, the fireworks behind Gatsby are pivotal to show his grandeur (see image on the right). These fireworks enable viewers to see how confident and rich he is. If the background were just dark without anything behind him, audiences would not have the same first impression toward him. In addition to this effect of fireworks, the light on his face is also critical to show his grandeur. His face is lit brightly; there is no shadow. The audience perceives that he is positive, and satisfied with this current situation. Therefore, the fireworks and the large amount of the lights are important to show the audience that he is splendid and confident.

    These flowers, which Gatsby prepared for a tea party at Nick’s house (see the image on the left), let audiences notice his love toward Daisy Buchanan. The audience is able to guess that he has a special, romantic feeling for her. This is evidenced by the colours and the amount of these flowers. These light colours can be associated with romance, which describes Gatsby’s feeling toward Daisy. Also, the vast amount of flowers is a good reference of how much he still loves her. Judging from these flowers, Viewers might guess that Gatsby is still in love with her.  

     Through the mise-en-scene, the audience discovers the grandeur of Gatsby. The mise-en-scene is created with full of gorgeous and spectacular elements. They are essential to support not only his personality but also to describe his feeling in this film.

‘American Beauty’ (1999)

     The mise-en-scene of the film ‘American Beauty’ (1999) is used to reveal the hidden fantasies of the main characters, Lester and Carolyn Burnham. This film shows the audience the underlying stories of the characters. The Burnham family seems to have a satisfying life. They have a suburban house, grow red roses, have two cars, and own an expensive couch. It seems that they have reached the American dream. However, ‘looking closer’, audiences notice there are serious problems. As Paul Wunder from WBAI Radioa says, this film is about ‘a shattering, powerful and profoundly disturbing vision of suburban America’ (http://www.dreamworks.com/ab/), it focuses on aspects of daily life that cannot be found unless people ‘look closer’.

     In this film, red colour symbolises the secret feeling of the main characters, while white colour implies the perfect image for outsiders. For example, Carolyn took off her white clothes, and a red dress is shown from underneath before she starts to clean (see the image on the right side). On the surface, she seems to be a successful working lady because she has got her real estate job. But the reality is that her business does not go well. She struggles with her business alone. Although she can be regarded as a successful person by the society, she has secret feelings such as unhappiness and loneliness in depth.

     In this YouTube clip, audiences view Carolyn crying secretly in a room. Both wall and curtain are white, which means perfection. She cries alone in a world of idealism, being unable to escape from it. In addition, her clothes are also white. That means she also tries to be perfect, but she has a secret unhappiness in her heart, which is represented by the red dress underneath. Not only she cannot escape from the ideal, but also she attempts to put herself into the perfect world purposely.

   

  In Lester’s case, red colour represents a desire. After he gets laid off, he buys a red sport car. Red things are not found around him outside of the house before getting the car. He used to hide his opinion from the society until he quits his job. Therefore, his desire is not shown to the audience until then. However, since he gets freedom, his desire represented by the red car becomes visible to audiences. Not only his desire becomes visible to viewers, but also it is found outside of the house (see the image above). That means his desire is no longer a secret, it becomes apparently noticeable to the other characters in the film. His desire becomes stronger and bigger as the story goes on as this car represents.

     The mise-en-scene which emphasizes the contrast of red and white colour is essential to express the characters’ hidden feelings. Highlighting the two opposite colours, this film shows the two aspects of characters; surface and depth.

 ‘Casablanca’ (1942)

     The mise-en-scene of ‘Casablanca’ (1942) enhances the protagonist, Rick Blaine’s emotion. As the nomination in Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) evidences, the screen art is beautiful even though this film is not in colour. The screen art on this film broadens the characters’ emotion by employing techniques.

     This scene (see the image on the right) unveils Rick’s dark feelings. He remains in his bar, expecting Ilsa Lund, his lost love to come see him. Although his friend Sam insists him to go back, Rick just stays and drinks alcohol. Obviously, he does not look happy. Viewers notice that the alcohol bottle he is drinking is centered, which indicates he has become desperate. Also, the light technique is a significant point to look at. The light mainly lights on Rick although there is Sam standing next to him. The light on Sam is much smaller, which makes the audience look at Rick. It can be regarded that Sam is one of the background of this scene since he is in black and his skin is also dark. Therefore, the leading character in this particular scene is Rick. Film makers want the audience focus on Rick because the darkness in this room comes from Rick who has a dark emotion.

    

     The completely different techniques employed in this scene tell viewers his happiness. Their faces are lit brightly, representing that they are happy. Also, the camera technique used in this scene, medium shot only emphasizes on them since they are in focus. This implies that they only need each other in the world, as if they would not need anything except each other. Driving a car with her indicates that they can go everywhere they want to go together, as if nothing would bother them. It was the time they definitely love each other, looking forward to everything ahead of them. He looks certainly happy with her, as it is evidenced by these techniques employed here.

     From the contrast between the two scenes, audiences see the difference of his feeling. He is very desperate because he has recognised that she is no longer his in the upper scene. The bottom one, however, clearly shows audiences that how satisfied he is to be with her. The mise-en-scene gives an emphasis to show Rick’s feeling.

Conclusion

     As evidenced, the way that the use of the mise-en-scene is different for each film. Some films such as ‘The Great Gatsby’ use it to show his character, while some films such as ‘American Beauty’ employ it to show hidden stories of characters. There are some that use it to show characters’ feeling as well. In order to make a film impressive to the audience, different films use the mise-en-scene differently. 

The Production diary (Assessment 1 Part A)

1.The importance of the scene “Your baby has finger nails” from Juno (2007)

         The scene “Your baby has finger nails” from ‘Juno’ (2007) is pivotal to the film’s storyline. Before Juno’s confrontation with Su-Chin, she was conclusively determined to get an abortion. She was sure that she was not capable of being a mother because she is a teenager. Her mind slightly started to change after she listened to Su-Chin’s strong appeal.

A scene from 'Juno' (2007)

     At first she did not understand the fact babies have finger nails. Judging from her facial expression and the tone in her voice, it seems that she never thought about that before (see the image on the right side). However, she began to consider it when she was filling out the form at the hospital. She looked at everyone else’s finger nails there. Although they are only finger nails, a seemingly insignificant human body part, they are still evidence of human life. Looking around, young Juno becomes aware that her baby is also alive.

     Since she realized this, she has changed her mind completely, and decided to have a baby. She abandons the idea of abortion and starts to pursue adoption instead. This scene is a crucial turning point for Juno as a teenage mother, and changes the direction of the film.

2.Mise en scene analysis from ‘The Great Gatsby’

    The low camera angle employed in this scene from ‘The Great Gatsby’ (2013) illustrates the complex character relationships of the film (see the image below). This technique makes the audience feel scared at Gatsby, who is on the right. This angle is effective that he seems to be frightening. Viewers would sense an unusual atmosphere from him.

     In addition to the camera angle, the color of the ceiling plays an important role. If its color were bright, viewers would feel differently. Since it is dark, it attaches the scaring atmosphere from him.

     Also, the audience would notice Gatsby is not satisfied with this situation. The difference of the amount of lighting on Gatsby and Nick, who is at the middle, is a significant point to look at. The amount of the light which lights Gatsby is smaller.

A scene (44:54) from 'The Great Gatsby' (2013)

     From this difference, viewers can guess that Nick does not have a bad feeling against Tom, who is on the left. This is evidenced by the amount of the lighting towards Nick.

     However, viewers can notice that Gatsby’s face is in a dark. This implies that he does not like Tom. Interestingly, it seems that Tom does not know Gatsby’s feeling because he turns his back on Gatsby. Only audiences are privy to Gatsby’s feeling toward Tom. The audience would be interested in the relationship between Gatsby and Tom from this moment.

3.The plot structure of ‘500 days with Summer’

     The complex plot structure used in ‘500 days with Summer’ (2009) is effective in maintaining viewer interest. The story is not shown chronologically. Therefore, the audience is encouraged to concentrate on what is going to happen between the two main characters, Tom and Summer. Judging from fragments which are shown unchronologically, audiences need to consider the end, rather than see and  enjoy the end.

     It begins with the last part- 488 days have already passed since Tom met Summer. It is difficult to predict whether the relationship will come to a happy ending or not. Viewers, however, might guess their relationship will end as the title implies a limited time with Summer.

     Nevertheless, the film at first indicates that the relationship might end happily. At the beginning, audiences see the scene which Summer’s hand with a ring is on Tom’s hand (see the image below). It would be natural that the audience expects this film to end happily. Ultimately, it ends differently from the expectation that they will live happily ever after. It is unveiled that they are going to break up. At the last part, viewers again see the same shot as the beginning and finally discover how it ends.

A scene from '500 days with Summer' (2009)

     Telling the story unchronologically, audiences are urged not only to enjoy the film, but also to consider the story. Although this structure is complicating, the film succeeds in holding audience attention.