Mise En Scene Glossary

Facial Expression A gesture done by the facial muscles.

This is used to show the characters emotions to the audience.

Performance An act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.

This can be done by actors to present a story to an audience.

Lighting A small light source produces hard, directional light, while a very large light source produces much softer light.

This helps set a scene so to show a horror movie it would be dark lighting.

Costume The actor is dressed in a style of clothes which is suitable for the time period it is set in or the particular place, or country.

This helps make the movie more realistic as everything is in that time period not jumbled up over a few centuries.

Make Up This is when cosmetics such as lipstick or powder is applied to the actors face. Used to enhance or alter the appearance.

This will give the actor an overall appearance which will set the characters face in audiences mind.

Colour Colours are used to create a specific mood. For example red is a sign of love ,romance ,blood ,etc.

Props This is a small object such as a book, weapon etc, used by actors in a play or film.

Props are the simple things in the movies that help create the detail. Weapons for example need to be props because they have to just look like a weapon, but not actually be functional like one.

Setting The time, place, and circumstances in which a narrative, drama, or film takes place.

Setting a scene is the most important part as it lets the audience know where the pace is.

Decor Décor is specifically placed object in the setting to amplify character emotion or the dominant mood of a film.