Mise en scène
Mise en scène literally translates from French as ‘putting on stage’.
We use it in film studies to describe everything that appears in front of the camera:
- Actors (placement, movement, expression)
- Costume and make-up
- Setting and props
- Lighting and colour
You might find CLAMPS is a good way to remember these (Costume, Lighting, Actors, Make-up, Props, Setting).
Camera movement
Look for the following types of camera movement when analysing music videos:
Pan: A whip pan can create action, pace or excitement and works well when filming live bands for music videos.
Track/Dolly: Tracks action smoothly – look for in chases, walking shots or fast-moving sequences.
Handheld: Can add urgency, realism, pace or unease to a scene.
Editing
You need to revise the following for editing:
- Transitions
- Pace
- Juxtaposition
Transitions
Film transitions include the following:
Cut (Straight cut, jump cut, match cut)
Shot changes from one to another – the most common cut.
Dissolve
Shot melts into another.
Pace
The speed at which a video moves from one shot to another has a major effect on the audience.
High action sequences or music videos will have many fast cuts to create pace and add excitement.
Slower paced editing (e.g. a long tracking shot) may suggest other things to the audience: tension, danger, romance, sadness or a puzzle.
Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
Sound in film is described as either diegetic or non-diegetic.
Diegetic sound is sound that is coming from within the world of the film. The way to remember it is that the characters can hear it.
Non-diegetic sound is sound that is not within the world of the film – only the audience can hear it.
