The Art of Mise-en-scène

Costume and set design are crucial to any production, which is why today I will go into detail into our planning of mise-en-scène.

Set Design

In terms of set design, the void scene at the end of the short film will be the most dependent on construction and arranging it into the creative vision we had in mind. I suggested to make the final scene something similar to the void scenes in Stranger Things (2016), which had a pitch black background yet had the subject covered in light.

Example of the void effect in the show.

While researching how to pull off a similar effect, I realized that if we were able to order a black photography backdrop, hang it up, and place lights in front of it, then we should be able to recreate this dark space in an empty room. In this case, our set will be in Oliver’s garage like I had revealed in the previous post. Another element in the void scene is the table where the Protagonist begins writing their own story. I was able to find a nice tablecloth that we can cover a plastic table with, that way it is much easier to carry while still looking formal. On the tablecloth, we had the idea of using a small plant on one side and a skull on the other, which would represent life and death. By having them placed at the ends with the Protagonist’s script in the center, it subtly implies that the Protagonist is taking control of their own fate. 

A quick test shot of the table.

Costume Design

On the topic of costume design, this short film requires a lot of planning due to switching between different stories and genres. Edward has already been preparing his outfits for the role of the Protagonist, which look great! Oliver and I both think they match their respective scenes and were well done. 

Edward's action star costume.

There is a specific part of the film I would like to discuss in relation to this facet of mise-en-scène, which is the action segment. The action segment has the most characters on screen, meaning that Oliver and I have to plan outfits for ourselves. Oliver will wear a suit to match his character of a millionaire, all while being tied up with duct tape with his mouth shut and wearing a blindfold. As the villain, I decided to go all out. I will wear a bright red jacket with a matching ski mask on top. This will definitely be eye-catching on screen, while also visually communicate to the audience that the character is an antagonist. 

Me as the fearsome villain Deathclaw 👹.

There is an important element to Oliver and I’s costumes that might not be caught by many, but definitely do hold a symbolic purpose. By obscuring our facial features, we will seem more like generic background characters rather than actual people, which is an important contrast to have when the Protagonist is supposed to be the star of the show. The Protagonist is also the most human in terms of having their own thoughts and emotions, therefore having them have a clearer face makes sense.