What does the term "mise-en-scène" refer to in film?

The term "mise-en-scène" refers specifically to the arrangement of visual elements within a frame, which includes everything that appears in the shot: settings, props, lighting, costume, and actor positioning. This concept encompasses how these elements are organized and presented visually, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and meaning of a film.

By effectively utilizing mise-en-scène, filmmakers can create specific moods, emphasize themes, and guide audience attention. For example, a cluttered set design might suggest chaos or disorganization, while a carefully composed shot could evoke beauty or serenity. This aspect of filmmaking is crucial because it lays the foundation for visual storytelling, allowing audiences to interpret and engage with the film on a deeper level.

Mise-en-scène is distinct from other elements of filmmaking like the script or dialogue, which comprise the written narrative, and the pacing of film editing, which impacts the rhythm and flow but does not concern the visual presentation itself. Genre classification, meanwhile, refers to categorizing films based on shared themes or styles and is unrelated to the specific arrangement of visual elements within a frame.