Mise en scene elements

Introduction

In this blogpost, were going to discuss and write down our notes on the mise en scene elements which are going to be included in our one minute single camera production

mise en scene elements

Props:

• computer and accessories/laptop - to show the social networking websites (Facebook) so the audience can witness the conversations, pictures and profiles of the characters.
• ordinary props e.g. cups, files, folders, tables, chairs, etc - to set an ordinary realist setting of a typical teenage boy/girl's room and desk.
• hairbrush, make-up, hair dryer - to emphasize a point on how appearances can be deceiving and to help back up the moral of our story
• phones - to show faceless communication between the characters

The advantages of the props that are going to be used on our one minute camera production is that they help to set a natural and realistic mood/surrounding to the scenes, so the audience find the situation more relatable.

The disadvantages of our props are that it would be expensive to purchase some of these items (computer, laptop, phones) but we came up with a solution to use our personal items to resolve the problem.

Setting/locations: (Final locations have not been confirmed)

• 2 different houses - to set the scene/surroundings in a ordinary situation. We need two houses to show the differences in lifestyles of the boy and girl.
• 2 different bedrooms - to show the personal space of the characters. They are meeting for the first time, in secret. The bedroom shows the privacy of the situation.
• park - The park will be used to show when the boy is imagining how the girl will be. A park is used to show the open space/possibilities of thoughts as the girl's image is photo-shopped and edited to "perfection" (imagination on how the girl would be)
• restaurant/cafe/bar - The restaurant/cafe/bar will be used to set the "date area" between the boy and girl. A restaurant/cafe/bar because it is a typical meeting point for couples/friends/etc.
• living room - the living room will be used to show when the girl is imagining the boy. A living room is used to show the constrictions she has as the boy's picture is not edited/real.

The advantage of our settings/locations is that it has meanings behind the purpose and they are based in regular, reachable and cheap locations.

The disadvantages on some of our settings/locations is that some of the areas are public places (restaurant/cafe/bar), so we may struggle to get permission or interrupt other people.

Style/narrative structures:

• Romantic comedy (spoof/parody) - based on comedic romantic themes (because of attraction between the boy and girl, but comedy as it is not how they expect)
• linear, multi strand, realist narrative - it is a linear narrative because it will be in sequential/chronological order, it is multi-strand because it is the story is based on more than one characters and it is a realist structure because it will be based on real life situations.

The advantages on the style of our SC product is that the situation will be based in real life situations/contexts, so the audience will feel more engaged with the story.

The disadvantages on the styles of our SC production is that the story may be predictable and the audience may find it repetitive as a similar story has been done before, but we will add techniques such as split screen and effects to make it original.


Costumes/make-up:

• trendy clothes for the boy (such as chinos, aztec tops, knitwear, vans, blazer) - to make the boy look attractive, fashionable and in trend.
• geeky clothes for the girl (mismatched clothing items, neon/unfashionable colours), poor make-up techniques, special make-up for warts/spots/bad skin - to make her look unattractive and unfashionable

The advantages on the the make-up and costumes of the characters are that it portrays their personalities physically and again to relate to our moral of the story, which is "expect the unexpected".

The disadvantages on the costumes and make-up is that we must research specialist make-up shops/products to help achieve the required effect for the female character.


Characters: (actors/actresses not selected yet). Our one minute production will only consist of two characters. The male and the female. Both characters will be in the ages of around 16-20 years old. The male will good looking with a good fashionable sense. The male will be more attractive, whereas the female will be unattractive, with bad dress sense.

The advantages on our choice of characters is that it will relate to the target audience and it is appropriate for the context/situation.

The disadvantages on our choice of characters is that it is a broad description, so it will be hard to get specific ideal characters.