Mise-en-Scene
Topic Introduction
Mise-en-scene is a French word that means the visual composition of the shot. This could also mean everything that is within the frame. Two major components are design and composition. Design is the look of the setting, props, lighting, and actors. Composition is the organization, distribution, balance and general relationship of actors and objects. Mise-en-scene effects how we think of the characters and stories.
Background Research
Nearly everything placed within a frame is done very intentionally. Objects don't always have individual significance. Rather, it's the combination of elements that creates meaning. Many films challenge us to read the mise-en-scene to understand their themes and concepts. They allow the viewer to experience a certain place and time. Design is the way the actors, setting, and decor in a movie look is the most powerful impression we take from a first viewing. Design helps express a movie's vision , creating a convincing sense of time, space, and moods. Lighting is the only fundamental to the recordings of images on films but also has many important functions in shaping the way the final production looks. Costume is the clothing worn by an actor in a movie, sometimes known as wardrobe. Costume contributes to the setting that can suggest specific character traits, such as social station, self-image, the image that the character is trying to project for the world, state of mind, etc. Mise-en-scene is the critical analysis of movie terms that refer to the overall look and feel of a movie the sum of everything, hears, and experiences while viewing it.
Content Application
I applied mise-en-scene on a project where i was asked to create an arrangement of items to stage an illusion photo using mise-en-scene elements and to write a paragraph explaining all components of mise-en-scene and how I used them to create meaning in my photo. Me and my partner, Dana, decided on a beach disaster theme for this project. We drew out how we wanted it to look and 2 days later we built our project. We used Kinetic Sand, Barbie dolls, hair gel, food coloring, tiny drink umbrellas, pieces of cloths for towels, cotton balls, and blue construction paper. We placed the construction paper in out shoe box and hot glued cotton balls on it to imitate clouds. Then, we laid out the sand and placed hair gel in the corner to make it look like a beach. After that, we placed the dolls, umbrellas, and towels where we wanted them to go. After that, we took red food gel and placed it strategically around the set to make it look like blood. Finally, we took out pictures and uploaded them. 
Reflection
I got from this lesson is what mise-en-scene is and how it affects the way we, the audience, view the film. The different components like props/decor, setting, costumes, lighting, etc. break down the visual composition of the shot. After learning the topic, I was assigned a project and really got a hands on experience on how to set the mood for a shot.
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