IB LEARNER PROFILE 

Knowledgeable: Learning terminology, e.g. Mise-En-Scene, Lighting, Cinematography. 

Risk-Takers: Choosing to create or study films you do not usually go for. 

Balanced: When creating a film, focus on more than just one genre or filming type.  

Open-minded: Be open-minded to different ideas and thoughts, especially when working in a group. 

Reflective: When watching films try to reflect on what you are watching and the techniques that the director used in the film.  

Caring: Care about the feelings of others in your class.  

Principled: Admitting to your wrongdoings and being open-minded to the ideas of others.  

Communicators: Be open to communicating openly with teachers and students in your class—organising group projects.  

Inquirers: If you have writer’s block or do not understand something in class, do not hesitate to ask for help and speak up.  

Thinkers: Having to think of film ideas and being creative with your scripts and cinematography. 

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Mise En Scene is the arrangement/setting of the background and scenery in a film or any sort of theatrical production.
Mise en scene can be anything you can see on the screen when watching a film; this can be any props that actors handle during scenes.
The colour and state of the props and the overall aesthetic all adds a hidden/deeper meaning to the scene.

A film can be placed in categories such as Mainstream Film, Art Film or Historically Significant Film. An example of an Art film could be Alphaville; art films typically portray the work of artists in the form of a documentary and they are independent films rather than mass market films such as “Love Simon” which is a mainstream film.

BOX OFFICE HITS- This is also a way that films can be categorised based on economical contexts and budget and also based on the most popular and viewed genres/types of film.
From the top ten 2022 films based on worldwide box office returns we can see that sequels and franchises such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

The way these categorisations work depends on the target audience the films are aimed at but also on the cultural context which could be:
Geographical- where the movie is directed/produced and the actual location within the film

Economic- The budget needed/used for the film and profit made

Historical- what historical events take place within the film or the time it is made (past)

Institutional- the specific film studio or streaming company that produced/released the film eg Netflix

Technological- this includes development of technological advance during years eg. black & white films, CGI, aesthetics, high definition movies; these all helped to make the audience feel as if they are in that specific place and enhance their experience.

Social- this could refer to any social interaction between people in film eg. body language between the characters that could indicate a deeper meaning which can be used to analyse the social context of that film.

Political- this could be any political references in the film and what impact the film might have on the political opinions of the audience.

Open minded- being open minded in film is being curious to what other people have to say while taking their ideas into consideration.

Knowledgeable- be aware of the basics of film production and filming

Thinkers- think of what makes a film good and all of the steps to take to achieve that

Reflective- reflect on what you have done wrong/ right and how to keep improving

Balanced- know what will appeal more to viewers/ the audience and have a balance between the themes you choose for your film also be aware of when you need to reflect on feedback.

Caring- take into consideration other peoples opinions and avoid producing content that is offensive.

Risk Takers- be creative with your film and always go beyond your ideas; use different camera techniques/ angles etc

In filmmaking, mise-en- scène introduces viewers to the world of a movie. This refers to all elements used within a single shot and how they are arranged. This is done using techniques such as set design, lighting, sound, costume, props and movement to give viewers an understanding of each scene. 

‘What is put into a scene or frame’

What makes a film “good”? 

Looking at the recent release of Baz Luhrmann’s glitzy biopic of Elvis that has left many viewers enthralled, all the while creating a stir in the media, but what entices viewers to consume this and leave with a positive review? Biopic films instantly lead to attention within Hollywood; this “difficult” genre shines within the Oscars as highlighted by previous years with wins ranging through multiple categories, perhaps due to a nostalgic familiarity audience feel when watching them, along with a prior understanding. 

The recent release of the ‘Elvis’ Biopic partnered with Luhrmann’s signature flamboyant style has bloomed a piece of “cinematic dynamite”.  This repetitive technique Luhrmann displays in his films along with the blend of a complex romantic subplot paired with his extravagantly bold lightning-fast editing and cinematography helps him to gain a particularly unique, stand-out style keeping viewers intrigued and connected throughout the duration of the film. The Mise-en-scene in Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ is quite spectacular from the revival of the iconic, flashy (stage) costumes to the recreation of Graceland; in the scene of the 1968 special the crew “matched all of the extras to what the real people on that stage looked like. The costuming, the hair, the way that they sat” this attention to detail aids in accentuating the storytelling and leaves the film with an aura of authenticity and rawness, leading it to be put on a pedestal against past ‘Elvis’ biopics.  

Furthermore, lighting helps guide the audiences’ reactions. Displayed in this film during moments of tension, rage, sadness where the lighting seems to become neutral or even dull/dark, in oppose to Elvis on stage in the limelight illuminated by these bright lights almost projecting the same vibrancy and energy the audience felt as Elvis would take the stage delivering an electric performance.   

Additionally, a film cannot be deemed “good” without a great performance from the actors which is exactly what we receive during this biopic. An all-star cast can hugely impact the budget for a film (this could result in the difference of it being seen as good vs bad) with Tom Hanks fantastically portraying the role of the Colonel and Austin Butler magnificently embodying the central character, Elvis, from his singing to his mannerisms, along with the creative use of makeup to aid this transformation throughout decades, resulting in a sense of realism which is integral for a biopic.  

Sound also plays a crucial part in films as it engages the audience whilst guiding an emotional response. Sound is central in making this film good, from the live singing by Butler along with the blended sound between both his voice and Elvis’s as he ages; the use of upbeat remixes over montages; dramatized stage performances all align in making this film powerful and heart wrenching. 

Transporting viewers into the film by engaging them through cinematography is another key aspect and it’s done ingeniously in this biopic where viewers are exposed to this era of ‘Rock and Roll’ whilst experiencing Elvis’s influence throughout decades. This look is achieved with multiple lenses, with different ones for different time periods. The first part of Elvis’ life is shot spherical to give a desaturated look with pushed blacks, contrasting to Las Vegas where an anamorphic lenses with period specific glass is used to make the colouring pop. However, when Elvis collapses in the hallway and for his dream and drug experiences a Petzval lens was created to focus onto the centre, resulting in extreme edges, giving the audience an insight into this disorientation/disassociation that’s being experienced. A Steadicam shot, done in one go, was also used; this fantastic 360 shot mirrors Luhrmann’s fast-paced style making this film intriguing. The strategic use of a moving camera acts as if the audience is following Elvis on this journey, which is essentially what Luhrmann desired as the fans were crucial. Overall, many micro and macro elements are needed in a film to make the outcome “good” from a carefully picked genre and narrative to the final editing along with the director’s signature style resulting in a unique viewing experience.  

A film I think demonstrates excellent use of mise-en-scene is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Throughout the entire Harry Potter franchise small details such as large numbers of realistic props adds tiny details which allows the audience to become immersed in the fantasy world as it is more believable that people actually live there. This is shown through scenes such as ones in the great hall, where the large quantities of prop food and background actors help paint a realistic picture of a real boarding school. The realism and verisimilitude is also added upon by the costume, as everyone’s uniform is worn a little differently to create the impression they are all individual people.

Additionally, the lighting is an aspect of mise-en-scene that enhances the film. For example, the warm orange colours of scenes, such as the great hall being lit by candles, allow the audience to feel comforted, warm and safe. This contrasts the unsafe and uneasy tone of the dementor scenes. The dark lighting during these scenes create an ominous tone and sense of dread through the cool shadows. This is especially prevalent in their introduction scene, due to its train setting, which in previous Harry Potter films were a bright, safe and comforting place. This means to shock the audience. The dementors’ chilling presence is enhanced through how they cause the props, as well as the cheerful atmosphere to freeze. These aspects of mise en scene put together present dementors to the audience as frightening creatures, which can take all light, warmth and happiness from a scene, hinting how the dementors can physically take the happiness away from humans. 

As well as realism, costume adds to the audience perception of the characters’ personality. This is used with most characters in the film but I think is best shown through the character of Sirius Black, who was originally presented to the audience as a crazed prisoner and a dangerous man. This is done through his dark and ragged costume, as well as his manic gesture codes and expressions. The use of this helps deceive the audience of his nature, so when it is revealed he is not who he has been presented to be it is a shock to the audience. I also think spacing is used well in the film, especially in this scene. This is because it shows how Sirius and Harry are distracted by one another and not focusing on the character of Peter Pettigrew, far behind them and ready to escape.

The mise-en-scene also influenced the film through symbols and iconography, such as the repeated symbol of the dog that hints at the way which Sirius Black is hiding and evading capture. My personal favourite is the iconography of clocks, mainly shown through the clock tower, which, as well as shows time passing, foreshadows the time travel that will happen in the second part of the film. The Whomping Willow tree is also a symbolic presence throughout the film, its primary purpose showing time passing and seasons changing during the school year, as well as showing off another element of the fantasy world’s magic. However, it additionally foreshadows the significance of the tree later on in the film without being too obvious about it, as well as showing its danger.

Parasite  

To begin parasites director Bong Joon-Ho uses a combination of the mise en scene techniques to shape the story extremely well. Staircases play an important role in signifying promotion and demotion in Korea. Director Bong displays the physical and metaphorical distance and descent between the classes and homes by repeating shots of the Kim’s descending into their home below ground and the Park family ascending into their home up a set of modern looking stairs, this is a use of set design and visual architecture. 

 In the making of the movie Bong aimed to use the sun as a metaphor for the two family’s. For example High key lighting is used when focusing on the Park family through natural light of the sun and Low key lighting Is used when focusing on the Kim family, this reflects the contrast in wealth and happiness of each family, The use of lighting helps convey the tone of the film. 

 Bong also portrays this contrast through colour scheme, the natural green tones of the Park family’s house and garden displays their freedom and wealth. On the other hand the dull tones of the Kim family’s home represents the devastating poverty in Seoul, this is called colour theory.  

 Director Bong-Ho planned every detail of the film extremely wisely using storyboards to plan the composition and lay out of each shot. Each home was designed with windows, For the poor family a small window with a view of a drunken man in the slums. Whereas for the rich family a larger, luxurious and expansive window looking out over a beautiful lawn.   

Finally Bong uses physical elements such as windows, background furniture or textures on glass to divide the families in each frame therefore further conveying the tone of segregation of classes.