Joker – Mise En Scene  

In the scene below of Arthur and Murray at the talk show studio, Mise En Scene can be seen through this scene very well. For example, the use of makeup for Arthur. You can clearly see that the makeup shows the joker and represent who the joker is. The use of costume is well represented as you can see the iconic suit for the joker- the use of yellow and red could connote clown and how Arthur used to work as a clown. Furthermore, the way the Murray has been dressed it shows that he is more professional and cleaner and takes his job very serious. The set design is of Murrays studio for his talk show. From the props being used like desk and chairs, you can tell that it is an interview for a talk show. The backdrop of the city is made to look like you are in a building and outside is this amazing view whereas it isn’t. You can easily tell that this has been created by people however it looks very similar to other famous talk shows which shows us that this part of the movie is quite relatable for people as many people might watch talk shows. In the scene you can see that there is space but not much. Most of the space has been filled with props like furniture for the show e.g., sofa, desk a few plants, a small table. Is this scene you can see that Murray franklin is Infront of the others telling us that he is the host but also making him seem more superior and more powerful in this moment. In this scene the lighting is high key lighting suggest that the talk show will be a comedy, and it bring a happy and upbeat mood however all the other scenes in joker the lighting is low key suggest the film is quite dark and the genre is more of a thriller and crime movie. The composition of this scene is quite balanced. You can see why the director may have chosen to film this scene from the angle and view it show who is superior and who is he guests. The aspect ratio of this scene shows that the way this has been filmed is a widescreen, this helps to capture the whole scene and shows the essence that the scene is trying to prove. The film stock has been shot in colour which really help to understand outfit choices and lighting, perhaps that why they chose to make the joker suit red and orange. Red could connote death and blood but also danger.  

In this scene it captures one of the main mise en scene categories, makeup. On his face he has been painted in white and there is red strike splattered on him from when was killing his friend. The use of red blood shows danger, blood and death. It helps emphasises what has just happened in the scene before. Normally the colour white connotes cleanness and innocence. However, most of the white face paint has been covered in red which could imply that Arthur is no longer innocent and clean. The might make the audience start to realise that he is turning into the joker.  

In the scene where he is applying his make up the lighting used is very low-key lighting this could suggest to the audience that the film is very dark, and the genre of the film is thriller and crime. The low-key lighting helps emphasises that Arthur is very depressed and sad and that he perhaps views his life as a sad, dark place. The depressing light is the starting to show how the joker is quite depressed which shows the audience that this film is about him being quite sad. 

In the Scene of the interview with Murry, the set design being used is of a studio. I like this seen for the set design because it looked very real. On the right there is a camera showing that this interview is being filmed. It looks like the set design has been made and built as it would be hard to find a place to use to film this seen, especially with a shooting seen. I really liked the use of props like a desk, sofa and table- this made the seen come alive as it looked very verisimilitude. This helps the audience to feel like that this will being a real interview even though they know something will happened at any time.  

The use of costume in this seen shows that there is a bit of happiness in the scene. We can see that Arthur is dressed in bright colour and is dancing for the children at the hospital. Through this scene you can see that Arthur seems to be innocent and is just trying to make the children smile by being a clown, however this contrast of how is normally. The scene might show the audience that he has a slight bit of innocent and wants to make those kids happy.  

In this scene, Arthur has just been fired from his job and is leaving the premises of his job. The tight and dirty space kind of represents Arthur as he is in a tight living crisis as he can’t afford many things and lives in an old apartment. This might make the viewer feel bad for him as that is how he lives.  There isn’t much in this scene except for some stairs and a sign that say, “don’t Forget to Smile”. However, Arthur rubs out forget to which starts to show his true joker self.  

The composition in Joker shows the arrangement of lighting, for example in the scene where Arthur is performing to be like a comedian. The lighting he is being used to make it look like he is on the stage with all the lights on him. The blurry background almost make it seem overwhelming for Arthur and it is quite hard trying to be a comedian. As the audience it makes you feel quite sorry for Arthur as it must be hard to be a comedian.  

Aspect ratio in this scene is used to create a tight space, in this scene the kitchen is quite messy showing that the joker is messy. This might show the audience that Arthur is quite enclosed and has not have the power to be more open and perhaps keeping his feeling quite close to him.  

In this scene Arthur Fleck was just mugged by kids in the street and brutally beaten up. The frame of the camera is effective as I makes the audience feel as if they are peeping around the corner to see Arthur. This is also a wide angle shot to she the depression and gloom to emphasise the emotion of Arthur at that moment in time.

This still shot of when Arthur Fleck had fully transformed into Joker makes his costumes and makeup stand out for the audience. The lighting in this scene is also very affective as it is dark around Joker with a bright lift light shining on his head to show the makeup and costume he is wearing. It also shows his facial expression clearly with a look of deep meaning. As the back drop is plane it makes Joker stand out for the viewer.

With this shot has an unbalanced scene with loads of the same colour in one. The composition helps the viewer understand who the directors want people to concentrate on. The Joker in the foreground is clear and easy to see for the audience. Whereas the rioters in Joker masks are blurred out so that we focus on the Joker apposed to the rioters.

Film Stock and Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio of a film is how the scene is shot. If it is a western for example, then the scene would be a wide angled shot to show the vastness of the landscape. If the scene is in a lift or a tight space then the shot of the camera will be tall and narrow to make the scene claustrophobic and small.

I really love the look of this scene because I think that the lighting in it looks really great. I like how the spotlight is on Fleck even though he is still behind the curtain in Murray’s studio before the interview. Furthermore, I love the look of the colourful curtains against how shadowed Fleck is and how it shines into backstage.

I like this reveal of Fleck’s new hair, makeup and clothes. I think that it is really fitting to do this in a dingy lift with the light flickering and a sad look on his face, which could hint to the deteriorating state of Fleck’s mental health after he killed someone he knew. Additionally, he was planning on taking his life on Murray’s show, where he was heading.

The set design in this scene reflects the disorder that is going on outside the building; the neat, high society looking building contrasts the riots happening in the city. This is really important to show the class divide in the film because people are killing each other and rioting violently outside the building, while these rich people are watching films, something not accessible for a lot of civilians, and not caring about their struggles. Moreover, I think that it is shot in a way that demonstrates this because Fleck is right in the centre of a completely symmetrical shot, which contrasts the discourse and violence happening outside.

I like the way Fleck feels really out of place in this scene because of his costume. I think that this works really well against the luxurious marble walls and brightly coloured flowers in the background, as well as how it contrasts Thomas Wayne’s suit. Similar to the set design showing the class divide in the city, I think this also does a good job at showing the class divide but a bit more personally.

This scene is filmed with a wide aspect ratio to show a lot of the mental hospital in the shot. This gives the viewer a deeper look into the world, and I think it contributes to the worldbuilding of Gotham City as you are able to see a wide view of the hospital as well as a bit of the cityscape.

I like the composition of this shot, as I think it looks really good with Fleck looking through the mirror at the words written with makeup off to the right side of the shot.

I like the over the shoulder shot here as it clearly shows Fleck’s expression, while covering the space of the rest of the shot. It also shows that he is having a conversation with someone, but not doing regular shots in front of his face.

Movie: Joker  

Director: Todd Phillips 

I have chosen this scene from the joker because I think the mise en scene really stands out. The director has chosen to use composition, as you can see the Joker is a vivid image and is in the foreground of the shot. However, the two police officers are blurred but you and just about still see their figures at the top of the staircase. This draws attention to the audience as it expands their viewing of the scene as the focus is on the Joker until the unfocused figures of the police offices appear in the background. The relationship between the costume and the stairs makes the iconic outfit stand out. The dull background of the stairs makes the joker in the foreground pop. 

This scene shows the make-up aspect of mise en scene. As the joker is in the reflection of the mirror you can see him doing his make-up. In this scene he is getting ready to do his original clown job on the streets. Seeing him do his make-up in the opening scene will create an impact on the audience as it reflects on how he looks in his iconic costume.  

The lighting is this scene shows several different types of creativeness. The lighting has both high key and low-key features. The main lights are off, but the above lighting is shining brightly down on Authur. The stage lights shining down is causing a shadow effect onto the black wall. This shows us he is the main subject of the scene.  

This scene is in Murray’s studio. In this moment we are waiting for the Joker to out from the wings. The set design is very over the top and has high key lighting. You can tell the set is a tv because of the stage lights, the sofas and the vast number of cameras on set. The audience also helps to create the atmosphere of a tv show.  

This scene is near the end after he has shot Murray. This scene represents makeup for a mise en scene aspect. The face paint around his mouth is originally red however, this time he is using blood to draw the smile. This shows the Jokers evil behaviour.  

Todd Philips has a wide range of aspect ratio in this shot. This wide shot shows the amount of people who disliked Murray as they are all cheering for the Joker because he shot him. The wide shot encourages the audience to look around New York city and see how busy it is and how many people follow the Joker. 

The film stock has used a grain over the scene to give it an eerie feel to it. This scene is with his therapist, and they are talking about his problems. The grain shows that this isn’t a positive scene between Arthur and his therapist.  

Joker – Mise en Scene 

I selected this moment from Joker (Phillips, 2019), to show how mise en scene can be utilised in film. It is set in the last segment of the film, just before chaos is unleashed, misleading the audience into believing that things will go right this time. 

1) This scene was shot in a built set, in the frame there are colourful curtains and vanity lights in the background, the camera clearly focused on Arthur Fleck who is in the centre of the shot holding a cigarette. His serious demeanor and dark appearance, being dimly lit in comparison to the surroundings, stands out; this indicates to the audience that something awful is about to happen, wherever he goes he brings a darkness with him. 

2) In this scene I find that the makeup is coinciding with the transformative aspect of Arthur’s character and physical appearance from the beginning of the film to the end. This scene is shown at the beginning of the film, showing how he goes from Arthur to ‘Joker’, and as the film progresses his personality and behaviour becomes more impulsive and bolder, lashing out in fits of casual violence. For the audience, the makeup can show that he’s finally coming into his own skin and embracing his nature, when the makeup is on, he gains a surge of confidence in his actions, an example of this would be during the talk show scene with Murray, Arthur simply shoots him on camera. 

3) This scene shows the audience a good usage of location filming, as well as giving us an infamous scene which will forever be associated with that location. West 167^th Street Step Stairs in the Bronx (New York) was used to film this scene, adding authenticity to the scene, and the film overall even though this world is fictional. For the audience, it could convey a realistic tone to the film, especially if they’re from that area, keeping them drawn into the storyline. Filming this stairs scene in the Joker in a real location, not a studio, successfully portrayed authenticity and a ‘too-close-to-home’ feeling for a portion of the viewers. 

4) Using a wide shot, the camera is unsteady, moving slowly as if it’s a person watching Arthur, effectively making the audience feel like they’re in the room with him. It’s unnerving to watch as Arthur lethargically empties the fridge, followed by crawling into the newly vacated space himself. Additionally, the perspective is shot just outside the room he is in, indicated by the doorframe obstructing the sides of the frame.  

5) The costuming in this scene purposely highlights the growing riots in Gotham city; The crowds all wearing the same clown mask, unionizing the hatred towards the overprivileged rich population of Gotham. Another thing to point out is that Arthur stands out especially, bright red suit jacket in the centre of the shot as he’s running away from the police, a costuming design choice made to highlight that Arthur does stand out amongst the general population, even out of his joker attire he stands out as a person. 

6) The set dressing in this scene shows the stark contrast between Arthur and everyone else; he doesn’t belong there. In the frame here is him and his mother, he is a looming presence even though he’s looking after her, the pink floral wallpaper and the warm lighting is nothing like him at all – it’s his mother’s space. This sense of exclusion is a common theme throughout the film, driving home the point that Arthur does not belong, and he comes to accept that in the end. 

7) In the opening chase scene there is a good use of sound effects in the background, this was made using sound stages. As Arthur is chasing down the group of teenagers who stole his sign, there can be taxis honking and V-8 engines heard blaring in the background, stacking onto the adrenaline in the scene, making the audience get a better understanding of how he is feeling.  

ELEMENTS OF MISE-EN-SCENE IN JOKER (2019)

Lighting

In this shot, the light from the fridge acts as a key light, casting light on Arthur’s scrawny physique. The dark room is illuminated solely by the blue light from the fridge, creating a dark, uncomfortable atmosphere. The room is in low key light, making the scene more dramatic. This scene succeeds the scene where Arthur finds out he is adopted, so the dark and blue also help build a tragic, depressing atmosphere.

Space

This shot utilises space to show the relationship between the clowns at the office. None of the clowns are close together despite the size of the room. The room also features a lot of empty space, creating a dull atmosphere in the shot.

Composition

This shot of Arthur attempting a performance at the comedy club is a good example of composition in the film. The lamps and people in the foreground are out of focus, making the audience focus on Arthur on stage. The people in the foreground are also silhouetted, creating the sense that you are in the club with them watching Arthur mess up his show.

Hair + Makeup

In this scene, Arthur is opening the door for two of his old co-workers midway through putting on makeup. His face is halfway through the clown make up process, giving him a patchy white face, which unnerves the viewer. His hair is freshly dyed green as well, making Arthur look unnatural and not human. It also represents where Arthur is in his character arc, as he is not yet the homicidal maniac in full makeup he is at the end, but no longer the anxious man just trying to scrape by in life like he was at the beginning.

Costume

The Stairway Dance scene is a great example of how costume is used in this movie. First there is Arthur in his full “Joker” persona’s outfit. It is wild and colourful and extravagant: there’s a lot going on, from the warm colours on his overcoat and waistcoat, to the decorated shirt, and the full clown makeup and green hair. He stands out and is very easily seen as eccentric. Meanwhile the detectives attempting to book him for the murders of the men on the train are in much more standard and boring clothing. Brown and blue coats, plain white shirts, ties: they resemble the men on the subway. They are dull and like everyone else, and Arthur’s outfit contrasts them by being loud and noteworthy.

 Aspect Ratio

Joker is usually shot in 1.85:1, giving the shots of the grimy Gotham streets more focus and importance. The above shot, for example, shows off the grimy streets of Gotham, showing the rubbish, the homeless, the sporadically placed cars etc. The wider aspect ratio is also useful in closeups as it gives us a better look at the actor’s facial expressions and movements.

However, for the scenes showing the Live With Murray Franklin program, the aspect ratio is shrunk to 1.33:1, making those shots feel like you’re watching them on an old CRT screen, thus putting you in the shoes of somebody watching the show, not a movie.

Film Stock

The camera in Joker is very sharp. The shots are very clear, and the camera shows detail as well as it can. Take the shot above: You can see Arthur’s face in extreme detail; the viewer can see the white makeup fading away, the smudging of the eye makeup, the lines in his face formed by his grin, the light reflecting off his hair. It’s a clear picture that shows a lot of subtle detail. Even the shine on the side of the police car and the reflection of the neon lights in the window are shown in a very high quality. However, similar to the aspect ratio, I love the changes made to the film during the Live With Murray Franklin segments.

Like how the aspect ratio was shrunk to simulate a CRT, a grain is added to the camera, these bars across the screen, as well as dampening the colours, to further emulate the style of an old TV set. This definitely adds to the impact of this intra-diegetic shot, as you are made to feel like you are watching this live on TV, not as part of a movie. It puts you in the shoes of the people in Gotham who have watched this beloved figure get murdered live on air. I love this detail of the CRT Franklin segments, as it adds some individuality and unique style to the film.

Example that uses all elements of Mise En Scene well

This scene/shot, which takes place directly after Arthur kills the ‘three wall street guys’ (as they are called in the film), is when Arthur flees into a dingily lit bathroom and melancholically slow dances to a moving score of cellos. The lighting within this scene is low key, which is most likely used to add to the dark mood of the scene. As I said earlier, the score accompanying this scene is very simplistic, with just a cello playing long drawn-out notes. This is once again to add to the poignancy and dark mood of the scene. In terms of composition, Arthur’s reflection is in focus, where his actual self is not. This may symbolise him seeing himself as this new persona of the Joker. Another element of the shot that may support this is the space of the scene, and where his real self and his reflection are positioned. His reflection is in the background, with Arthur, in the foreground, out of focus, looking upon it. This once again tells us that he is realizing that he is becoming something new, something that may gain him recognition in his world, which throughout the film he constantly craves. Furthermore, his pose is one of triumph, with his arms spread out, as if he’s receiving applause. This once again supports that he feels like the killing of these men is perhaps the first meaningful thing he’s done in his life. His costume and makeup are another element that symbolises his transition into the Joker persona, as compared to his makeup and red suit in the stair scene, and the last act of the film, his outfit and makeup here are partially complete and unfinished, showing he has not fully transformed into this joker persona.

Set Design

I think this shot is one of the best examples of Set Design throughout the film. It is taken from the scene in which Arthur is stalking the woman who lives in his apartment block. The things it does well in terms of Set Design is that it establishes a real sense of verisimilitude, as it is not only the real-world location of William St. in Manhattan, but the features that the Production Designer has assumingly chosen, the lack of lighting, the damage on the building, really pushes home the message that this city is uncared for, and unloved.

Costume

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker wears an outfit that still calls back to the Jokers of old, whilst bringing a uniqueness to the character, which this film, and Joaquin’s performance, perfectly does. Within in the film, Arthur’s outfit and appearance are one of the major visual tools which signify his transformation from the mentally ill Arthur Fleck to the maniacal symbol of the riots as the Joker. The costume consists of a red suit, a mustard waistcoat, and a blueish-green button-down shirt. He wears his peak lapel suit undone, which could perhaps signify his mental state.

Lighting

This shot uses lighting in an interesting way, as within the shot there are three different colours/types of lighting. The first and most eye-catching to the audience is the bright, white light shining down on Arthur as he writes his stand-up material. This probably used to bring Arthur’s frail body to attention and re-emphasise the poor physical condition he is in. The other types of lighting are blue neon light in Arthur’s kitchen, and an almost orange light coming through his window assumingly from the street. The use of these lights is up for interpretation, but I think they have been used to show the rundown state of Arthur’s home and the orange street may be used to foreshadow the rioting that will happen later in the film.

Space

Spacing is used effectively in this shot to show how, not only Arthur is disconnected from his fellow employees, but how they are disconnected from each other. This is shown by Arthur being isolated from the rest workers, but also the workers are spaced out from one another implying that they do not have any close connections with one another, which reinforces this theme of the city being rundown, and in a depressive state.  

Composition

In this shot, which takes place during the scene in which Arthur flees from the police officers on the subway station, the director unbalances the shot to bring the clown mask into focus, with the chaos of the mob beating up the police officers ensuing in the background, out of focus. The composition of this shot, I think, is trying to portray to the viewer the power that this clown movement can cause to society, which foreshadows the rioting that this movement will carry out later in the film. It also reinforces the idea of Arthur being the unknowing leader of this movement and how his actions, namely shooting Murray, a man in a position of power, lead to the climax of the film and the riots.

Hair and Make-up

Arthur’s ‘Joker’ makeup is the most obvious thing to talk about in terms of makeup, and that’s because it shows the audience so much. It shows us Arthur’s acceptance of this Joker persona, and that he now feels like he is finally his true self within society. The imagery of the clown makeup/mask that Arthur wears is that it hides his mental illness/inner struggle, which is why whenever we see Arthur as this Joker persona, he is much more confident.

Film Stock

The movie uses a grainier film stock throughout, to perhaps portray and build the atmosphere of this rundown city, which could reflect the state of Arthur’s mind and life.