On set!
We all enjoy a good film, right?
But we all look at the credibility of the film – we read criticism on it before we see it, we check the ratings, we judge on commercials and previews, we read the reviews, but none of these things can truly tell us if it is a good film. Only yourself as a viewer can decide that!
And what makes a “good” movie you may ask?
People that aren’t into film or that aren’t educated on the aspects of the film industry often judge movies harder, and judge solely on the story line. Film is a more beautiful and complex art than simply story telling. Although, yes, a strong story line is a necessity.
There are many aspects to film, which may be referred to as mis-en-scene. Aspects of mis-en-scene include the acting, makeup, clothing, lighting, sound, props, and set composition. I encourage you to pay closer attention to these different aspects in scenes of movies you watch.
Take a moment to think about how the music completely affects the actions in a scene. For example, a man sitting alone in a diner, writing in a notebook with sad, dramatic, low-toned music is a depressing scene. However, a man sitting alone in a diner, writing in a notebook with up beat music like a 90s one hit wonder may create a more nostalgic mood, and you may infer that he’s reflecting on something, waiting for someone, writing a love letter quite possibly, the music makes you feel like he’s not a loner.
What would film be if we didn’t have great costumes? Imagine seeing The Great Gatsby and not having any of those fancy dresses and hats and suites and ties. The film just wouldn’t make sense. The costume tells you WHO these people are (rich vs. poor, boy vs. girl), and often help bring you into the world of the time period, or the world of the character’s life. The dress is essential to being engulfed in the story and the world that is created.
Lighting is under appreciative in film. Try to understand the struggles film makers face with lighting. If you’ve ever had the pleasurable experience of being on a set, there are so many sources of lighting its crazy how directors hide it in a scene. There are often lights hanging from over head, lights shinning by the camera, as well as attempting to produce natural light, and even light fixtures (i.e. lamp on a night stand) that are in the scene. It’s often hard to get the right lighting, because lighting highly affects the mood. Some times we need darker lighting, for say, scenes where a child is hiding in hide-and-seek. You want to be able to use enough lighting to distinguish the character and other props (clothes in a closet, shoes under a bed) while trying to set a soft, dark light, since the character is hiding. At times a scene calls for bright bold lighting, to go along with a Big Revealing Moment. Lighting contributes to the mood, as well as quality of the film, as well as helping create the idea of the “space’ or “world” that we as the audience need to put ourselves in.
Don’t even get me started on make up … Lord of The Rings … ‘nough said.
Props and set composition is obviously important, as it is what we are seeing mainly when watching the film. We notice without even noticing what we’re noticing … Does that make sense? When a character walks into their house, you notice how the house is set up room to room, along with furniture, the color of the walls, the paintings on the walls, we take it all in within a few seconds of seeing it. And we don’t even realize how much is really there. Every tiny detail you see isn’t there by mistake. Someone created that just for this film you’re watching. Sometimes directors put very tiny details in scenes and it actually foreshadows something. For example, I once watched the directors edition of Twilight, and the director said he put pictures of wolves in scenes in Bella’s bedroom because, as we all know, Jacob becomes a werewolf. There are always hidden secrets in a scene. The set and props make the scene, they help create the story.
Acting, of course, is the most important part. Casting great actors affects whether we feel the film is good or not. If I can’t fall in love with the main character, or if I can’t despise the main character, than it is a bland film. We have a
protagonist and an antagonist in virtually every story. We as the audience need to feel like these actors ARE truly the people they are playing. The acting in a movie will either make you feel that the story is real and make us feel like their world is the real world (for the time), or will not capture you enough. You can also have a great story, with bad acting, and your story won’t come across as nice. The actors are the main attraction, which is why they get paid the big bucks.
There’s a lot that goes into making a film, with all these contributing factors that can make-or-break the quality of the story line. Next time you go to the movies, keep in mind all aspects of mis-en-scene. You’ll understand and appreciate film on a greater level.
Film Frenzies 
