Film studies vocab mise en scene

Mise-en-scène

Everything arranged before the camera: setting, props, lighting, costumes, makeup, and acting.

Diegesis

The imagined world of the story.

Realist Mise-en-scène

Natural settings and everyday details that make the world believable.

Stylized Mise-en-scène

Exaggerated or unconventional visuals used for emotional or symbolic effect.

Aspect Ratio

Image width compared with height.

1.33:1 / 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Nearly square format associated with older television and early cinema.

1.66:1 Aspect Ratio

Moderately wide format associated with European cinema.

1.85:1 Aspect Ratio

Common theatrical widescreen format.

2.39:1 Aspect Ratio

Very wide theatrical format, often called scope.

Costumes

Clothing that communicates character, setting, or change.

Makeup

Alters actors’ appearance to establish character or create effects.

Set Design

Choosing and arranging locations, scenery, and background details.

Acting

An actor’s use of expression, voice, and movement to portray a character.

Props

Objects used by characters or placed within a scene.

Practical Effects

Physical effects created during filming, such as makeup, explosions, or models.

Visual Effects (VFX)

Images created or altered digitally, usually after filming.

Framing

What the camera includes or excludes and how subjects fit within the image.

Horizontal Positioning

Placement left to right; can create balance, symmetry, or imbalance.

Vertical Positioning

Placement high or low in the frame; can suggest power or vulnerability.

Positioning in Depth

Placement in the foreground, middle ground, or background.

Proximate Positioning

Close spacing that can suggest intimacy or connection.

Remote Positioning

Wide spacing that can suggest separation or isolation.

Obstructed Framing

Foreground objects partly block the view, creating depth, mystery, or tension.

Composition

Arrangement of visual elements within the frame.

Blocking / Staging

Arranging actors’ positions and movements in relation to the setting and each other.

Depth

Foreground, middle ground, and background layers that create a sense of three-dimensional space.

Density

How crowded or sparse the frame is.

Lighting

Use of light and shadow to shape visibility, mood, and meaning.

Color

Use of hue, saturation, and brightness to create mood, contrast, or associations.