I’ve selected these scenes and shots from Joker (2019) to show how Mise En Scene can be utilised in film.
Composition
Arthur is shown in the centre of the frame from the third person perspective, taking a moment to enjoy the film being played in the theatre (played by the Loews Jersey Theatre in New Jersey). This scene utilizes the composition aspect of Mise En Scene, with the scene being symmetrically shot with Arthur being placed directly in the centre of the screen, parallel with the film screen and adjacent to Gotham’s film-goers.
Set Design
I chose this shot to show the set design aspect of Mise En Scene, as the cramped and trinket-filled office flooded in dim and dreary lighting helps to illustrate the personality and motives of the clowning companies boss before we even hear him speak, we understand that he is a greedy and personally driven man who doesn’t care for Arthur or his financial status.
Props
I chose this show to show the prop aspect of Mise En Scene, as the items displayed on the bedside table and bedroom floor help to illustrate Arthur’s story throughout the story. The gun and cigarettes are indicative of both his unhealthy relationship with substances and his future suicide attempts, and the newspaper titled “kill the rich, a new movement” is indicative of his arc throughout the movie, becoming the symbol for a rebellion.
Lighting
I chose this shot to show the lighting aspect of Mise En Scene as the lighting in this scene shows us how Arthur feels about this moment in the film. The spotlight on Arthur and the isolation of the background, apart from the 3 sidelights, shows that Arthur is feeling like the metaphorical light is being shone upon him in this moment, and that this is his opportunity to prove himself to his audience, all eyes are on him.
Aspect Ratio
I chose this shot to show the aspect ratio aspect of Mise En Scene, as it shows how alone Arthur feels in this part of the film. The almost square aspect ratio shows how Arthur feels boxed in and isolated after his comedy gig gets mocked and his mother dies, leaving him without any family or friends
Make-up & Costume
I chose this shot to show the Make-up & Costume aspects of Mise En Scene, as this is the first scene where Arthur really adopts the “Joker” persona. The classic clown make-up and green dyed hair shows Arthurs past as a clown-for-hire, and how he has split himself from the more fun and entertaining side of clowning, and his more sophisticated and professional look conveys seriousness to the audience, telling us that he has changed into “the joker”.
I have chosen this scene from the beginning of the film “Joker” (2019) to expand and explore my ideas on “Mise-en-scene”, this refers to everything the audience can see in the frame including elements such as: lighting, actors, props etc.
I chose to talk about this specific scene as it is a very low camera angle shot so you can clearly see the camera lens is almost on the ground itself, almost symbolizing the very low point in which Arthur was at in his life during this scene. The shot composition of this scene is also very powerful in a way as it makes Arthur the only thing fully in focus, therefore letting the audience know he is the main character in this movie as everything in the foreground and background of him is all out of focus besides from him implying his impotence. As this is one of the first scenes we see of Arthur in a costume, it will ultimately make the audience correlate the costume with Arthur’s moments of weakness, this however contrasts with the last time we see him in a costume, and he is taking over the influence on raging civilians who at the end of the movie are starting violent protests and destroying everything around them. This then makes a drastic shift in how the audience now views Arthur.
In this scene, the lighting is dim with bright streetlights as the only light source in the frame, making Arthur kind of blend in with what is happening around him as a possible way of showing his unimportance in this particular scene. This later contrasts to the next time we see the Joker going down the same set of stairs as not only the appearance of the character changes but also their entire personality and confidence.
I have also decided to talk about this scene because I think the coloring and assembly of the set design in this shot because it doesn’t only allow the viewer to see the interactions between the main character (the Joker & his mother) but it also creates more attraction point in the frame meaning the audience have more than one thing to focus on as everything is in focus. The brightly colorful elements in this shot such as the set design and props used also have positive connotations which implies that Arthur’s mother and taking care of her is one of his main priorities and source of happiness, compared to how other aspects of his life such as his job and meetings with his social worker are presented in colors which are more dull and dark.
I picked this scene to talk about makeup within this film as I think the makeup used in this scene such as fake blood on white face paint made the red pop out a lot making it attention catching for the audience as it stands out compared to everything else in the frame. The fake blood specifically created a sense of verisimilitude meaning what we see on screen is accurate to what it would look like if it happened in real life making it realistic and in some was more entertaining to watch from the viewer’s perspective.
The element of spacing is used effectively in this shot as we can see all elements within the frame such as the actors, props, cars etc. as they are all in focus allowing the audience to decide what or who they want to follow. This shot is also a great example of shot composition in this film because of all the elements in this shot and the way they are placed, specifically Arthur being in the middle of the frame the entire time showing his importance.
This shot represents the Joker as being a leader and even a role model to the citizens of New York as he is center-frame and also the only character in focus. This was used as one of the last scenes in the movie because it shows how Arthur rose above everyone when he became the Joker meaning he is very important as or right now but maybe also later. The Joker is also presented as powerful and even cruel using makeup and costume design making it look like Arthur has been through a lot to get to the top (which he has).
From my understanding mise en scene is the combination of all the aspects of a film that make up each shot. All the thought and time that went into each moment and aspect of the film, from costume to the lighting. All aspects of a film must be thought about with each shot, because all of them could have a second meaning that would push the story’s narrative more.
I’ve selected this moment from the Joker because it is a good example of the mise en
scene. I think this is because it has a realistic set design of a sound stage that is used on a tv show set. This medium shot encompasses Aurther’s desire to be seen as a comic, and later revealed, just to be seen at all especially by Murray. The shot is an almost point of view shot, but from a spectator. Aspects of this set could have been made for the movie, but I doubt that all of it was, i feel that the parts that specifically align with the Murray show where probably made for the movie, while the actual stage would have already been made for other talk shows. The composition of the shot brings attention to Aurther and Murray, while still showing the camera/film crew in the background, though the audience isn’t supposed to pay them much mind, as they have been blurred.
I feel the composition of this shot is very balanced, with Aurther in the middle and the alleyway on each side. It is clear that this is a real alleyway and not one constructed for the film, but the props and rubbish that are on the sides probably were placed there by the crew. The way that the sign is laid out broken on the floor could be read as a reflection for Aurther’s current mental state. The lighting is also slightly low-key and almost dirty looking, again to highlight the state Aurther is in, compared to a couple moments before when he is working, where it is much brighter.
I feel that the lighting in this scene is very strong, because it changes depending on where you are looking on the screen. Toward the staircase you have more low-key lighting, which lets the audience know where to look, making them focus on Aurther. Whereas the single florescent bar and the dim light from the window that are lighting Aurther are really standing out. Having Aurther be the only thing that is lit makes the audience know to look at him. While bright lights can often be associated with happiness or joy, here the bright florescence is more associated with hospitals and institutions of a similar sense. I also feel it important to mention that the camera angle that this is shot from could be a representation of Aurther’s spiraling mental health at this point, as he has just finished running down spiral stairs and finding out he is adopted, which could be considered as the catalyst for the rest of the movie.
The costuming for Aurther’s “Joker” persona is a very important aspect of the film. Most people who would have gone to see this movie would be expecting makeup like this on him for the whole movie because he is based off the Joker character from Batman. having this makeup be foreshadowed by the clown masks that begin to be worn by the people protesting because of Aurther’s murders is a very smart move. The makeup itself is a very classical clown look, something people will automatically know is meant to be a clown. As for the costume, I feel that having him dressed in bright contrasting colours was a choice made to have his actions happen after being even more surprising. This also could be so that the fictional audience of the Murray show would be more surprised because of his almost jolly look. The bright colours contrast with his dark actions and mind.
The use of space and lighting in this shot is very effective. The way that the officers stand up and Aurther sits down can wordlessly portray the power difference between them, their presence making Aurther feel smaller, or at least he is portraying that to them. BY having there be a lot of space between them, it creates a sort of “us vs them” mentality that Aurther is setting up by this point in the movie. By this point, Aurther has already started to think that the whole of society is against him, so having this very visible space between them shows that. The lighting in this scene is again reminiscent of that same florescent hospital lighting. By having the officers in almost complete darkness, shows the audience that from Aurther’s perspective, they are the enemy. While Aurther, has some light behind him, showing that he truly believes he’s done a good thing.
I feel the use of this film’s aspect ratio is done very well here. By having a slightly taller screen, you are able to take in the beauty of the theatre that they are in. But along with that, with the screen not being too thin, you are able to see the slight audience reactions from the people either side of Aurther. Aurther being in the center could be a slight foreshadow to how Aurther is at the center of all the chaos and destruction that will happen and mostly affect the people who are watching this film. In this show, the viewer is able to almost get into the mind of Aurther, by feeling how invisible he must feel because he was able to just grab a uniform and come into this screening.
I feel that the use of space in this shot is very telling of Aurther’s mental state. The way he is off center could be showing how mentally he is declining. As well at this, having the camera slightly blur out the background, it still makes sure the viewers eyes are drawn to Aurther and not the things in the background.
I have chosen this image because of the creative usage of colour grading. This scene is timestamped at one of the most important points of the film, this is after the joker kills 3 Wall Street traders and takes off to hide. In this scene there is a significance to the colours reflecting against the wall. The two main colours are yellow and blue. Most commonly the references that come with yellow are either “happiness and sunshine” or deceit and cowardice. We commonly see yellow in the film when Arthur is by himself or feels comfortable with himself. Whereas blue represents the society around him. In this scene we see Arthur transforming in and out of these two perspectives, shown through interpretive dance.
I have decided to use this scene to represent the use of makeup in this scene. In This film we don’t see a spectacle of special effects. There are small moments in the film that use makeup and special effects to its advantage, doing this pulls the audience in with small but extremely violent and realistic makeup looks and effects.
I have decided to use this scene to represent the usage of composition. In this scene there are two characters (Arthur Fleck and Hoyt Vaughn) the placement of both characters is very strategical as to keep the audience’s eye on all aspects of the scene. There is a triangle created with Arthur, Hoyt, and the small clown figurine at the bottom of the desk. Hoyt is placed at a lower angle compared to Arthur which gives the audience the impression that Arthur is a looming figure, a personification of the criminality in Gotham.
I have chosen to use this clip to represent verisimilitude in this film. In this scene we see Arthur shoot Murray point-blank in the head. This is a favourable example of verisimilitude, as we see the bullet penetrate Murray’s head on screen. If this were an off-screen death the audience would have a harder time believing Arthur’s insanity. An on-screen death will always shock the audience.
I have picked this scene to represent Lowkey Lighting. In this clip we can see Arthur in his “alter ego” The Joker. Arthur is just after killing a man in his apartment and has succumb to his illness. The use of Lowkey lighting in this scene foreshadows oncoming terror, (which does come in the next few minutes) The use of lowkey lighting gives the audience a sense of fear.
This scene is used to represent location filming. This specific scene was filmed at the West 167th Street Step Stairs in the Bronx. Many viewers from New York City or anyone that has knowledge on NYC will recognise these stairs. Location filming is important as using notable locations such as NYC (which Gotham was based on) gives a more authentic feel to the film
This scene is used to represent sound-stages. Todd Philips was creative in his use of sound in this film. For a sequence in which Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is beaten up by three Wall Street suits on a subway car, the sound gets more sinister as the scene progresses. It was building the scene, starting at a normal atmosphere and then amping it up as the torment increased on Arthur. In a way the usage of sound in this film is a separate character itself, almost representing the chaos that is in Arthurs’s head.
When the joker is in the public bathroom doing an unsettling dance. In this scene when the joker is dancing the camera follows his body movements very fluidly making you feel a part of the scene
For the most part I enjoyed this film. Visually it was entertaining, but it was a complete remake of the king of comedy (Scorsese, 1982) even down to Robert de Niro being in it. It follows the exact same story line. Also, very reminiscent of taxi driver (Scorsese, 1976) with the motifs of how loneliness and isolation will lead people to do crazy things like kill a talk show host or politician. The cinematography was beautiful, it captured the grittiness of 80s Newyork perfectly.
I chose this one because everything that is on Joker’s bedside table really represents his character- the gun could potentially be seen as foreshadowing or a hint of his madness. There are also cigarettes and a lighter which are precisely placed so that he can grab them at any time, portraying maybe his addiction. Finally, the newspaper on the floor is extremely significant as it is a silent way for the audience to understand what is going on within the world that this film takes place in (verisimilitude). It drives the narrative. It also raises tension, and the words “A new movement” are an indication of an underlying theme that the movie will address. Overall, it just makes the character feel more real and it connects the audience to the film much more.
Mise en scene element= Composition
This is the second screenshot, and it shows a lot of elements of mise en scene. Firstly, there is set design. In the alleyway there are plenty of trash bags that can be seen, just thrown carelessly, and this gives the impression that the city is dirty and filthy-this helps build the world that the film takes place in. Then there is also the poster which has graffiti painted on it that says “Resist” in an ominous black pen- this further emphasizes the feelings of the rioters in Gotham and adds to the story of the film. Finally, a wide-shot angle is used which makes the viewers feel like they are watching from afar as something very bad is about to happen, and the lighting is dim and dark, making it feel creepy.
Mise en scene element= Cinematography
In this shot, they are using a medium close-up shot (MCU). This shot is used to clearly show the emotions on Joker’s face in this specific scene while he hauntingly fakes a big smile while feeling the complete opposite. It focuses the viewer completely on the character as he is the central figure and helps them fully immerse themselves and understand.
Mise en scene element= Makeup and costume
The colours of Joker’s costume and makeup are stark and very vivid which add a lot of depth and visual impact- every time Joker is on the screen the audience is attracted to the bright colours so it’s very clear that Arthur is the focus. Also the makeup on Joker’s face can be seen as a metaphor for his hatred for society and how out of place he feels, like a joke, which clowns are seen as.
In comparison, at the beginning of the film the makeup and costume for Joker’s clown persona is much less serious looking and a bit goofy. The red nose can be seen as childlike, and the wig is misplaced and cheap looking- this can be seen as a reflection of Arthur’s feelings towards this terrible job. As we watch the costume develop throughout the movie, it tells the audience the story of Joker’s downfall spiral into the murderous character he becomes. It’s a subtle way of storytelling but it works very well.
Mise-en-scene is everything that you see in the frame of the camera, this can include the lighting, placement of characters, colours / costume and symmetry. This scene is from the key part in the middle of the movie where the joker starts the uprising after killing three men on the train. I chose this scene because of the variety of different elements that were used to capture this one scene. The first main element that stood out is the lighting, this is because the dim warm colored light gives and eerie sensation and adds more intensity to already action-packed scene, it also creates harsh shadows that make the scene appear bolder and more dramatic. Another element is the character placements in the scene, the Joker is much taller in the scene which shows his authority and power, while the man is on the floor crawling which makes him seem weak and helpless. They are both at an equal distance away from the camera which makes the audience look at both characters which signifies both of their importance in the scene.
Colours signify a lot in this film, for example in this scene it is primarily red which shows how evil the joker is. It also makes the joker stand out in this scene since he is just a shadow figure which gives him a more sinister look. The red lights beaming at the audience makes the color the focus of the scene which also makes the evil and blood the color could represent feel unavoidable, it is also the only light in the scene which highlights its importance, it also depicts how the joker is heading down a villainous root that he can’t return from.
Composition plays a big part in this scene because all the props, colours and characters complement each other well. The background of the scene is red and the joker (which is standing in the center) is also red .All the background characters are faded, this causes the joker to stand out, furthermore the light reflecting from the movie makes him appear brighter and more colorful which draws the audience attention to him. Everything in the scene fits together well, which turns it into a memorable scene, it is also showing its importance.
The makeup in this scene is particularly important and represents the whole scene. The standard clown makeup the joker normally wears is smudged which shows how great the impact of the crash was, it also represents society at the time since everyone was rioting and was falling apart. The use of blood to fix his clown makeup adds gore which reminds the audience about who the joker is and what he represents. You can also see people in the background with similar makeup to the joker which shows the revolution he is starting and how important the makeup is.
Costuming in this scene highlights how the scene is only in Arthur’s head, this is because Arthur and everyone else round him are all wearing formal clothing which we know is not normal for Arthur to wear since he cannot afford it. It also shows how Arthur views himself now, which is sophisticated and not much different from the rest of society other than his laugh. The blue colours he is wearing make him blend in with everyone instead of sticking out, which is important since it shows how he just wants to ‘belong’ with everyone. The blue could also represent his calm personality at the time and how outspoken he is because he is wearing a muted blue. The people around him are also wearing similar clothing to him like dark colored suits or polo shirts, this represents the class division in the movie where the rich are unaware of the poor and all the rich people are alike.
The use of location filming in this scene gives the audience a visual depiction of the city of goth ham that the movie is set in. It also allows the audience to see how large the city is and how dull the atmosphere feels. The road down the middle of the scene makes the image look more symmetrical and it could also show the divide between the rich and the poor. The taller buildings in the background line up so the highest points are in the center which draws the audience into the middle of the scene. This adds height to the scene which helps make it look less flat and more realistic for the audience.
The props in this scene are laid out towards the front, this makes them obvious and noticeable to the audience especially because of their brighter colours. The broken sign placed Infront of Arthur shows physically how he is feeling since the sign was important to him and his job. The overflowing garbage and the trash on the floor make the scene dirtier and shows how terrible the conditions of the city are especially for the lower class.
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.
