Research Part 5: Mise en scene Codes

1.     Setting

a)     Define the setting in the film. - setting is the time and place where the story takes place.

b)     Where is the story set? - the movie dead kids are set in the Philippines.

c)      Describe the setting of the film. See chart below.

Elements	Denote each element noticed in the film opening.	Indicate connotations that support the genre. How do the setting elements indicate or support the genre and storytelling of the film opening? Provide codes to support your answers.
·      Time of day	All times of the day but mostly at night	The night establishes something sinister and plotting and scheming which ties into the movie since they kidnap the bully at night.
• Time period	21st centaury	The time period shows how things are in our present-day world
• Location	Philippines	The location of this being set in the Philippines is a commentary on what goes on in kids' lives in the philippeans.
• Climate / Season	winter	It's to represent the cold and the winter kind of depression.
Geography• Landscape or Outdoors / City / Country / Sea / Land /            Desert.	In the city outdoors and indoors	When you think of the city of the niceness of everything and the outdoors and indoors of the night is scary and creepy.
• Culture / People (Moral attitudes/ core beliefs.)	The movie centers around philippino culture	To show the mindset of the Filipino people and they’re mindsets of issues and problems
• Social and Economic status	People of the upper-middle class and the upper-class	To show the truth of how people in the upper-class are treated in Filipino culture.

 

2.     Set Design

o   Define set design in film. - set design is the art of creating the physical environment where a movie takes place, including designing, planning, and constructing the visual spaces where characters interact and events unfold

o   Document and describe the set design for the film opening

                      

 The set design features a dimly lit bar with warm yellow and red lighting, aged furniture, and cluttered tables. The crowded yet run-down look creates a moody atmosphere that reflects the characters' intention and the story's dark tone.

o   What connotations do you read from the décor?- the connotations that I read from the picture is that it has tension and foreboding, reflecting the teens' dangerous scheme and warm lighting and their distant body language hint at internal conflict and not knowing how to go about their plan.

o   How does the set design illustrate and support the characters and story and/or connect audiences to the film’s genre? - The set design supports the story and genre through its dimly lit bar reflecting the teens moral conflict and the dark nature of their plan.

o   Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre. ( Add Images)

The set design uses lighting, neon colors, and harsh settings to create a dark, dangerous atmosphere. The red glow and rundown spaces suggest crime, and desperation, supporting the thriller genre and reflecting the teens' risky plans.

3. Props

1.     Select props that are genre-significant to the film opening of the film. Document how they support the genre and storytelling. (Add images.)

he gun is a genre-significant prop in the film opening. It immediately establishes a sense of potential danger, suggesting that the film will be a suspenseful thriller with potentially violent elements.

 

b.     Acting

1.     What is acting in the film? -, acting is the performing art in which movement, gesture, and intonation are used to realize a fictional character for the stage, for motion pictures, or for television

2.     What are the elements of the acting?

Elements	Definitions	How do the acting elements define meaning from the character and support the film’s genre?
		Document the acting elements of the main character.	Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.
Appearance	the way that someone or something looks	Sta. Maria looks like an average guy, he doesn't stand out much and wears boring regular clothing.	He’s wearing a flannel shirt with the tag still on it and a pair of regular jeans. Which makes him pretty average looking.
Facial expression	are key nonverbal indicators of emotions and intentions.	He looks very concerned and nervous with his expressions	Since hes with a pretty girl and he keeps his head down to try and not look at her too much.
Body Language: Gestures, posture, and body contact.	is a type of nonverbal communication in which physical behaviors, as opposed to words, are used to express or convey information.	He is very shy in his body language and the way he carries himself.	He is bullied a lot because he’s poor and nerdy.
Vocal qualities: Tone of voice, accent, pace of speech.	Unique qualities of your voice include things like resonance, tone, and power.	He has a Filipino accent, and he talks very quietly and calmly.	Since he gets bullied it would make sense for him to talk quietly.
Personality	the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.	Quiet, shy, and nerdy	Because of the way he carries himself around others
Role	the function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation	Main character	Because the show mostly revolves around him and his struggles.
Actions	The role of the character determines expected acts.	He chooses to go kill his rich bully.	Because he is poor and needs the money.

 

3.     Select a secondary supporting actor in the film and analyze them.

Elements	Definitions	How do the acting elements define meaning from the character and support the film’s genre?
		Document the acting elements of the character.	Indicate the signs and connotations that support the genre.
Appearance	the way that someone or something looks.	Chuck appearance is very put together.	Because in the show everyone says that he always has the nicest clothes and shoes
Facial expression	are key nonverbal indicators of emotions and intentions.	He always has a very confident expression	He's always smirking and smiling and being overly confident
Body Language: Gestures, posture, and body contact.	Body language is a type of nonverbal communication in which physical behaviors, as opposed to words, are used to express or convey information.	He’s always standing tall and giving off a confident aura	In the show he’s always smiling and smirking.
Vocal qualities: Tone of voice, accent, the pace of speech.	What are vocal qualities or characteristics? Unique qualities of your voice include things like resonance, tone, and power.	He has a very stuck-up attitude when he speaks, in both English and Filipino.	Whenever sta. Maria would talk, he would always talk to him like he was a dumb child.
Personality	the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character	Stuck-up, rude, and arrogant.	Everyone in the show gives him those characteristics and its implied heavily
Role	the function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation	The bully and the victim.	Because he bullies a lot of people and the people, he bullies trys to kidnap him
Actions	The role of the character determines expected acts.	Trying to get with Sta. Marias crush and bullying a bunch of people	He does this because he likes Sta. Marias crush, and he bullies people because of the fun of it

 

4.     Based on your understanding of casting, do you think the actors selected to play the film's characters were good choices? List (2) actors and (2) reasons why? - Kelvin Manalili Miranda is a good choice for the role sta maria because of his face expressions and body language seemingly bringing the character to life and Vance Larena playing Charles Blanco was a good choice because of his quality to act and be real

 

c.      Costume, hair, and makeup.

a)     What is a costume in a film? - Costume in film refers to the clothing and accessories worn by actors, which serve to convey character traits, historical context, and thematic elements

 

b)     What is hair and makeup in the film? - Hair and makeup in film refer to the artistic and technical processes of styling and grooming actors’ hair and applying makeup to their faces and bodies to create specific looks that fit the characters and the overall visual aesthetic of a film

 

c)      List 3 genre factors that influenced the costume design in this film. - The costuming of the movie "Dead Kids" was influenced by a heavy Alfred Hitchcock influence, specifically "Psycho" and the pilot episode of Hitchcock's TV series "Breakdown

 

d)     Give a general description of the costumes used in the film in the table below.  Select the main character.

	Document visual signs by observing the time period, character’s station (social standing), sense of place, color, tone, style, etc.)	What does the costume indicate about the character, setting, and purpose of the story?
Hair and makeup	The women's braids, and natural makeup with defined eyes along with the men's varied hairstyles, suggest a contemporary setting with a focus on youthful energy and relaxed social expression.	The casual hairstyles and makeup of the characters in the image might initially suggest a lighthearted atmosphere. However, considering the story's plot, this appearance could mask their worse intentions
Costume	The costumes in the film depict very floral and colorful robes depicting the massage workers and how beautiful they are, and the actual characters' outfits are casual and expensive except the main characters.	The costumes in the image, while casual, might offer contrast to the story's plot. The relaxed attire could mask the characters' darker intentions.

 

d.     Color

1.     What is the definition of color in the film? - They use color to create mood, evoke emotions, and convey meaning

2.     Indicate how color was used in the opening of the film. E.g., setting, lighting the scene and characters, costumes, etc. (Create a table to organize your information.)

Codes	Meaning
setting	In the philipeans
lighting	Warm colored lighting
The set design (décor and props)	Very dingy and cheap
Costume, makeup, and hair	Very natural makeup and hair and their costumes are very casual
Character	All the characters are of Filipino decent and are of different classes

 

3.     How does color support the film genre? (Look at the tone of the setting, characters, etc.)

 

e.     Composition

1.     Define composition in film. - composition is the arrangement of visual elements within a camera frame to control the narrative and guide the audience's attention

 

2.     Define blocking in film. Document an example in the film opening and how the placement of characters illustrates their relationship.

 

f.       Lighting

1.     What is the lighting in the film? - lighting is the intentional use of light to create mood, tone, and visual impact

 

2.     Document if the film opening established low-key or high-key lighting. - the movie opening of dead kids has a low-key lighting and using red for it to have more mood to the opening

3.     Select an image from the film opening to analyze. What type of lighting is used? How is lighting used in the film's opening, and what tone does it communicate meaning?

The warm, golden lighting in the image creates a relaxed atmosphere, However, considering the story's plot, this inviting lighting could mask the darker undertones of their gathering

g.     Tone

1.     What is the tone of the film? - the overall mood or atmosphere of a movie and three words to describe it are mood, atmosphere, feeling

 

2.     What type of tone was created in the film, what mise en scene elements were used to make it, and does it support the story and genre of the film opening?

 

3.      (Color, lighting, camera angle, setting, etc.)- the tone of the movie opening was…., and the mis en scene elements used for it were color, lighting, and setting and it does support the story and genre of the film opening