colour and Mise en scene

colour
The first use of colour in films was in films such as Voyage A Travers L'impossible by the pioneer Georges Melies in 1904. Each frame was hand painted frame by frame.


the next development was the introduction of two-strip technicolor, this is only 2 colours red and green. a good example of the use of technicolor is in the film, Mystery of the wax museum.







The very first full technicolor film was becky sharp released in 1935. from the 1930s to the 1940s black and white represented reality and colour represented fantasy and spectacle. Today it is the opposite.

colour denotation and connotation
denotation is the literal description of an idea concept or object. connotation is what we associate with a particular idea, concept or object. colour works ton the subconscious mind to create mood.
example of this would when you think of the word red, its literal description is that it is a colour and you associate it with things such as anger, heat, blood, or danger. colour denotation and connotation is used a lot in films an example of this would be in the film eyes wide shut. the dark room is filled with a blue colour this represents that there marriage is sad and broken.

Mise en scene
mise en scene is a french term meaning "in the scene or frame", there are 5 parts of mise en scene
settings and props
costume, hair, and make up
facial expressions and body language
lighting and colour
positioning of characters and objects in the frame

1) Setting And Props
The setting is where the filming of the film takes place. For example parts of "Star Wars A New Hope" was set in southern Tunisia. Therefore the setting would be Tunisia.

The Props are the Objects we see in the setting of a film For Example in "Star Wars" one of the main props is a light saber and spaceships.

2) Costume, Hair and Make Up.
in certain films characters may wear certain clothes to indicate their personalities. For example a police men would wear his uniform and the victim he may be arresting would be wearing dark clothing and make up.

3) Facial expressions and body language.
when communicating we all use facial expressions and body language. in media this is very important when close ups and extreme close ups are used. Some examples of facial expressions would, screw facing which could mean you are angry, frowning which could portray sadness and arms folded and body leaned back could show you are relaxed.

4) Lighting and Colour
lighting is very important in media text as it can have a dramatic effect on the audience. For example if the room is very dark and dull the audience would be able to indicate the effects of danger and terror. they use these effects a lot in horror films such a "REC" and other horror films. Also the colour of the scene will help the audience understand the mood of the sequence better.

5) Positioning of characters and objects in each frame
positioning of characters and objects can be in the foreground, middle-ground or the background. the positioning can help the audience understand the situation of the scene. depending on the positioning of the object or character it can emphasis their importance in the media text and also the positioning of two characters can determine their relationship. For example if they are stood particularly close together it can be assumed that hey have a intimate relationship but if they were standing a far distance away we can assume they are enemy's.