Mise en Scene

Brighton Rock - Camera Angles

Definition of Mise en Scene:  a phrase to describe the design elements in film or theatre. It is looking at  a film and investigating the visual aspects of the film.

Establishing Shot: An establishing shot in a film or television programme sets up or establishes the context for a scene. It shows the relationship between its important figures and objects in the shot. It is usually a very long distance shot at the beginning of the scene that shows where the scene might continue onto.

Long Shot: This shows a complete object or human figure usually in relation to its surroundings. This will show the scale and the proportion of the object/human figure in relation to the size of the surroundings.

Mid Shot: this is a camera angle shot from a medium distance and it is the shot between a long shot and a close up. It usually of a complete human figure, instead of just the waist up like a close up.

Close up: this is a tightly framed shot that shows an object or person close up. This shot shows the most detail and is used alongside long shots and medium shots.

Point of View shot: this shows what the character is looking at. It is usually represented by being positioned between a shot of  a character looking at something and then another characters reaction being shown somewhere else in the shot.

High Angle shot: this is when the camera angle is located above the eye-line, the camera looks down on the character. They are made to make the characters look vulnerable and powerless.

Low Angle shot: this is a shot where the camera is positioned below the eye line so you look up at the characters.