INTRODUCTION: what does mise-en-scène mean?
Who is Cindy Sherman? Look at this article:
https://www.1843magazine.com/features/cindy-sherman-the-person-behind-the-personas
Sherman had found her subject: “How people choose, unconsciously maybe, how they look in order to present themselves to the world.” For the first time, she felt like she was making art.
TASK 1: 5mins RESEARCH THE WORK OF CINDY SHERMAN
TASK 2: 5 mins Assign roles divide into 3 groups: producer (research Cindy Sherman work even more oversee production process and write up post), actor/actress/model, set designer, costume and make up artist/designer.
5 mins MM Show Cindy Sherman work and class discuss ideas. Introduce the concept of mise-en-scène, in terms of Cindy Sherman and possible approaches to a practical creative task.
TASK 3: Take 3 photos of the same person, as 3 different characters in 3 different yet appropriate backgrounds/settings.
- 15 mins brainstorm, recce, assemble -props, makeup & costume.
- 10 mins each shoot (take 10 photos for each shoot – embed as gallery – but select 1 shot from each as final image).
- Save images, post up to everybody’s blog. Producer to write up intentions and reflection – which each member of the group can copy.
- 5 mins put everything back.
LESSON 2: STUDIO WORK
Building on the work from last lesson, first of all make sure your work is posted. Then think about the importance of building a character and how that is possible?
One way is the use of the camera, often bringing faces and facial expressions into close contact with the audience. The other way is through make-up, costume, clothing – essentially mise-en-scène.
TASK 4: Once you have uploaded your first task, stay in the same groups and this time produce some close ups using the studio lighting system. Pay attention to make-up, facial expression, clothing. Again look to transform 1 actor into several characters.