Mise en Scene (the machinist)

consists of:

-Setting

-Costume and Makeup

-Lighting

-Staging (movement and performance)

Chaotic vs Anally Tidy

Use of Mise en Scene in The Machinist (2004 by Brad Anderson)

Lighting:

Cinematography in Machinist – Time in Pixels

 Very little light is used, and we first meet Trev in a storm in the dead of night, and even indoor scenes are filmed with very little use of light. The only light we see is the harsh bright lights of the Airport Café. The camera cuts to the clock, and back. This complements nicely with the harsh lighting, giving us an insight into his inability to sleep. Close ups with a strong use of shadow are also used to portray Trev as a dark character. Virtually the whole movie is nearly black & white with a strong blue or green tint.

Costume and appearance:

 We always see Trev in dark clothing, and when we see him in his bathroom mirror is used to portray just how thin he his. The skin-tones are shot dark, often covered in deep shadows.

Shots:

The high angle shot above amplifies the drama and helplessness of the character.

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