Mise en Scéne

Mise en Scéne, is the term used for anything visual in front of the camera, such as props, actors, their placement of these objects, the lighting, all of that, this creates a mood or effect that can highlight or extenuate a characters mood, or feeling. But it could also contrast what the character could be thinking, but making the set light and having the character unhappy, this would be juxtaposing.

What I will analyse is a scene from The Karate Kid (2010)

During this scene we have two opponents fighting for the title of champion, previously the opponent is injured and has a broken leg.This is shown with the mood of the character, because he is feeling disheartened and hurt, so the scene to start is dark and bleak, but when he lifts his leg, and the audience realises what he is about to do, ( leaving appropriate time, to ensure this it is in slow motion, including the background ), when he is in the desired stance the camera pans up, and light beams down, showing hope and prospectful glory. Also during this scene, to begin with the camera is wobbly, just like when he is lifting his leg up into the desired stance, to maybe give the audience the emotion and nervousness and trepidation that he is feeling. Also, just before the attention is drawn away from the main actor, the background darkens, he becomes the highlight, he has reached "his zen".

Next, the camera changes between all the people that are resting and hoping that this child will win, and defeat his opponent, or maybe a few that want to destroy him. Also in this part, the camera flicks from the main actor to his trainer, and his astonishment on what he is about to do, but then to the previous winner and how nervous he is, this is then backed by having the camera change to the coach of his, and what the coach expects of him is reenforced.

After this, the whole scene becomes about the two opponents, and close ups of their face, almost like a cowboy film and a mexican stand off. But soon after this is broken by the flags of the referee, creating a break of the stand off and the camera zooms out and shows the realisation of the largeness of the stadium and his task, overwhelming the audience, to maybe make their mind hesitate about whether he will win, now his focus is broken.

The slow motion is broken briefly to highlight this, but then the slow motion is reintroduced and is slower to show the challengers move, his "finishing" move.

After the Previous champion is defeated, the camera pans to everyone, the coaches the previous fighters, his mother, all the people that he has faced, or he has had behind him supporting him.

Finally the slow motion is broken completely and the victor receives a trophy, at this point the room is very bright and loud.

To analyse this film completely I turned the sound off. But afterwards I turned the sound on, and the sound highlighted these effects and emotions futher.