Mise en Scene

It's the arrangement of the scenery, props, etc. on the stage of a theatrical production or on the set of a film. An expression used to describe the design aspect of a theatre or film production, which essentially means "visual theme" or "telling a story"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm3UGUpm_cM&safe=true

I have chosen this scene from once upon a time and when analysing this scene I can see they used props such as wands to signify magic. The costumes the people wear was very positive as they were all bright and positive colours and poufy posh dresses demonstrate the joyfulness and celebrations of the scene. in addition the clothing they wear portray wealth and now the power of the people and that they are now at the top when they were at the bottom. shows change. the flashback there was lots of costume change and lighting change of different characters which show the progression of there mood and what they have been  through not only in their clothing but all the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome it. The lighting is bright which again signifies the power of the people and reflects the mood of  how happy they are. The people are in a huge building with much mosaic in the scene. The characters are also wearing bright, sparkly and rich jewellery which can reflect their personality.  The makeup is very heavy and bright but also quite simple which symbolises its a big occasion but no need to go over the top like a night out in a club. its just a coronation.

10 Lessons from the Top Film Editors notes

10 Lessons from the Top Film Editors

1
- Don't just think about the great editorial choice, think about what it means for the story and project. Does it go together. Its not about showing off. 

2
- Trust the process

3
- Bad ideas lead to good ideas
- "Be willing to lay aside preconceived notions and re examine them in a new context"- Kelly Dixon  
-  Keep an open mind all the time and remember other people have ideas too.

4
- Editing is editing. Its just a process of revision. "Every scene is a Delicious course and then when you put them all together, you cant eat them all so you have to pick the ones you really like." -John Refoua

5
- Organisation=editing
- Break editing down into smaller chunks

6
- Just edit
- start small and get bigger. the idea is to first get your brain to understand how the story works and how the scenes are constructed and what you need as an editor

7
- story telling is a muscle that can be built up. storytelling is a skill that you can become better at through lots and lots of practice
- How do editorial decisions effect the story.
- The editing can tell a story

8
- Beware of reactions
- reaction shots are there like the audience. a persons reaction shot brings the audience into the scene.

9
- study the process

10
- when not to cut

Sounds

Sound

Diegetic Sound (natural) - Sound that can be heard by the characters within a scene/ sound part if the imaginary world. sound in the actual scene, so we would hear this if we were there. eg. a door closing, a band playing a performance. but if we hear like a heart beating that is not natural and is added by editing, if we were there we wouldn't hear this.
https://youtu.be/sbKL5g5i8MI

Non-diegetic Sound (not natural) - Sound that the characters cannot hear and is not part if the imaginary world of the story. coming from a source outside the story. No one can hear it but us, the audience. This includes musical soundtrack or a voice over (however this excludes a narration by character within the story, referred to as an internal monologue and is diegetic).
https://youtu.be/sbKL5g5i8MI

Score- The musical component of a programs soundtrack usually composed specifically for the scene.

Sound Effects- Sounds that are added to a film during the post-production stage.

Foley Sound- The reproduction of everyday sounds from footsteps, a door opening, or a creek in the floor, that are done on post production by Foley artist.
https://youtu.be/OONaPcZ4EAs

Synchronous sound (or on-screen sound) - is the sound that is matched or synchronized with what is viewed. eg. if the film portrays a character playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are projected. Creates realism

Asynchronous sound- Sound which is indigenous to the action but no precisely synchronized with the action. Makes audience feel uncomfortable. sound that doesn't fit in the pace/beat in the film.

Dialogue- Spoken between or by characters

Contrapuntal sound- Sound or music that opposes the action on screen eg. montage of a someones horrible life but the music is happy like "what a wonderful world"
https://youtu.be/pCGAYS08Do4

Camera shots, angles and movement

Camera Shots

Aerial shot- A camera shot taken from an overhead position. Often used as an establishing shot.

Close up- A head and shoulders shot often used to show expressions or emotions of a character. Also it can be a shot of an object filmed from close to the object or zoomed to it, that reveals detail.

Extreme close up- A shot where a part of a face or body of a character fills the whole frame/ dominates the frame.

Establishing shot- A shot that establishes a scene, often giving the viewer information about where the scene is set. Can be a close up shot but is often a wide/long shot and usually appears at the beginning of a scene.

Medium shot- The framing of a subject from waist up .

Two shot- A shot from two characters, possible engaging in conversation. usually to signify or establish some sort of relationship.

Point-of-view shot- Shows a view from the subjects perspective. This shot is usually edited so that the viewer is aware whose point of view it is.

Over the shoulder shot- Looking from behind a characters shoulder, at a subject. The character facing the subject usually occupies 1/3 of the frame but it depends on what the meaning the director wants to create (an example is, if the subject is an inferior character, the character facing them may take up more of the frame to emphasis this)

Overhead shot- A type of camera shot in which the camera is positioned above the character, action or object being filmed.

Reaction shot-  A shot that shows the reaction of a character either to another character or an event within the sequence.

Camera Angles

Camera angle- the position of the camera in relation to the subject of a shot. the camera might be at a high angle, a low angle or at eye level with what is being filmed.

High Angles- A camera angle that looks down upon a subject or object. Often used to make the subject or object appear small or vulnerable.

Low angle- A camera angle that looks up at the object or subject. Often used to make the subject or object appear more powerful/dominant.

Camera framing (or oblique)- Camera angle that makes what is shot appear to be skewed or titled.

Camera Movement 

Pan- Where the camera pivots horizontally, either from right to left or left to right to reveal set or setting. This can be used to give  a panoramic view. sometimes used to establish as scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P5nPMXtz6w

Track- A shot where the camera follows the subject/object. The tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of a subject or on a curve but cannot include complex movement around a subject. 'Track' refers to rails in which a welled platform (which has a camera on it) sits on in order to carry out smooth movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLuEskAhRGE

Crane- A crane shot is sometimes used to signify the end of a scene/program/film. The effect is achieved by the camera being put onto a crane that can move upward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMeP0aWbLRU

Steadicam- A Steadicam is a stabilising mount for a camera which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface. informally, the word may also be used to refer to the combination of the mount and camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnYJve0-3p8

Tilt- Where a camera scans a set or setting vertically (otherwise similar to a zoom pan)
https://youtu.be/Q1JW_YtSX44

Zoom- Using a zoom lens to appear to be moving closer to (zoom in) or further away from (zoom out) a subject/object when in fact the camera may not move (so strictly not camera movement). can be used for dramatic effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIlPrM3EU4Q

Sound

Diegetic Sound (natural) - Sound that can be heard by the characters within a scene/ sound part if the imaginary world. sound in the actual scene, so we would hear this if we were there. eg. a door closing, a band playing a performance. but if we hear like a heart beating that is not natural and is added by editing, if we were there we wouldn't hear this.

Non-diegetic Sound- Sound that the characters cannot hear and is not part if the imaginary world of the story. This includes musical soundtrack or a voice over (however this excludes a narration by character within the story, referred to as an internal monologue and is diegetic).

Score- The musical component of a programs soundtrack usually composed specifically for the scene.

Sound Effects- Sounds that are added to a film during the post-production stage.

Foley Sound- The reproduction of everyday sounds from footsteps, a door opening, or a creek in the floor, that are done on post production by Foley artist.

Asynchronous sound- Sound which is indigenous to the action but no precisely synchronised with the action.

Dialogue- Spoken between or by characters

Narrative Strand

A narrative strand is a story which focuses on certain characters. in a single narrative strand, the story only focuses on certain characters. In a single narrative strand, the story focuses on only on the main hero or heroine In the story for instance, superman. multi-narrative story focuses on many different characters like in X-MEN. 

Different types of narrative structure: 

- Linear narrative structure has a beginning, a middle, and an end, without flashbacks.

- Non linear narrative structures do have flashbacks and are not concerned with chronological sequencing of events.

- Parallel and frame structure is when we see different peoples stories and then later they all come together and it links.

An example could be switching to a different magical universe where the characters lives were different before they were cursed. There could also be flashbacks of Elena swift where the audience learn more about her background that links to plot.

pilot

Act 1: 

Elena swift is a private detective who lives in New York city all alone. She is an orphan and is celebrating her 28th birthday today. She is not fond of children and doesn't really want anything to do with them. When she was younger she used to steal to provide for herself when she used to run away from the orphanage. She comes home to her flat from a long day of  work and puts a candle on a cupcake, lights it, makes a wish and blows it out.

Act 2: night

As she blows out the lone candle, she hears a knock on the door. She opens it to witness a surprise from a young 11 year old boy claiming to be her son Henry. He says that their home is in trouble and needs them. she is confused and tells him to go home but the boy wont leave her so decides to drop him off home in Maine.

Act 3 night

Henry's mother opens the door when they get there and was very worried but he doesn't want her to go and claims she is Snow Whites daughter and his adopted mother, who is also the Mayor of the town is the Wicked Queen. they are in a cursed city where everyday repeats itself and no one ages. This is all a shock to Elena and she doesn't believe him and leaves to go back to New York. As she leaves the mother invites her in for something to drink.

Act 4: night

 Elena decides to go home and as she goes home she feels like she did the right thing of bringing the child home to his home and not leave him on his own. As she is about to leave the town. The sheriff stops her car and immediately puts her under arrest for theft

Teaser

Act 1:  school

Elena is a teenager, who does teenage things. she often gets bullied for being too shy and quiet but is too scared to stand up to them.  she not popular, loud and doesn't have lots of friends but has always dreamed to be the head of the military squad just like her mum would always tell her to be before she died. there are try outs and even though she is very quiet she decides to give to a go for her mum.

Act 2: school

the next day A new girl moves to school who becomes instantly loud and popular. Her name is Alex and she is amazing at everything she does. she tries out to be the head of the military squad even though she has not practiced or done anything that requires you to be part of the military, she gets the part.

Act 3: Home- school

Elena is furious when she comes home and collapses on the floor. she is rushed to hospital and told she has terminal cancer and around 6 months to live. her emotions are all over the place and is in absolute distrought but she can't get her not being the head of the military squad after working so hard out of her head. the next time she gets to school she has a rush and hits Alex and begins to bully and torment her.  she likes the power she has over someone else.

Act 4: outside

she feels really happy and like a changed person. all the fear has suddenly left her and she feels like she can do anything. she makes new friends at school and learns they are bounty hunters and makes lots of money. Elena gives what she is about to do a second thought but then ultimately knows she is gonna die soon so wants to make all the money she can make as quickly as possible and have fun with her remaining 6 months.