Planning the mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is everything that is put into a scene or frame. It involves a lot of hidden meaning which creates an understanding for the audience of the characters feelings and emotions. During my two minute thriller opening, myself and the group have decided to set it in a isolated field, with nothing but the occasional train passing by, which then leads into a dark forest. During the scene when Ruby is seen to be walking her dog, she comes across suspicious iconography of a top crumpled up on the ground, with a knife positioned underneath. Ruby is shocked and decides to direct her route into the dark forest. The change from high to low-key lighting foreshadows bad events to come. Other iconography that is used within our thriller is a torch, phone and lead all held by Ruby. The torch was used after Ruby felt a presence from an unknown location within the dark forest. The phone was the only way of communication, which only used the once to phone her mother to inform her that there was something wrong. Once Ruby's mum answered the phone call, Ruby is attacked from behind and her mother hears her screams, knowing that something is wrong. Both setting and iconography are conventional to a thriller; with the location being abandoned with no one else to be seen, suggests to the audience that if a bad event were to occur, no one is around to hear the screams and attempt to help, therefore the villain being at a strong advantage. The knife is a commonly used weapon within a thriller during a murder scene; something small, that is easily hidden. The iconography used by Ruby are resources that could be put to use, in terms of survival with the target audience being aware of this, but due to Ruby's timing and her vulnerability these are of no use. This makes the audience feel sympathetic towards Ruby as she is helpless. How the lighting changes from high to low key, the iconography used and where the thriller is set is all conventional. This is because it follows all of the thriller codes and conventions, which all come together to make it clear that a bad event is to come when Ruby enters the forest.

Facial expressions within a film provide a clear indicator of how a character is feeling. Body language also has this effect, as well as indicating the relationship between two or more characters. During our thriller we made sure that our characters emotions were clear to the audience and they're trail of thought is understandable. Once Ruby prepares her dog for their walk and are ready to leave, she opens the door, looks round at her mother, smiles and says good bye. The way in which she turns around and has clear smile on her face portrays to or target audience that she is a perfectly happy child that is innocently doing her mother a favor. Once Ruby comes across the knife and top placed on the floor, she looks around for somewhere to turn; this portrays to the audience that she wants to change her route, away from the main path that goes around the forest. This foreshadows that her choice of going into a more icolated area, that she digging herself a bigger whole for any chance of survival for the events to come. Through her facial expression, showing worry the audience are aware that even Ruby is unsure if doing so was such a good idea. Ruby's body language; focusing her attention entirely on her phone once she suddenly comes to a hult, after running,  shows that she is dependant on the phone call that she makes to her mother in order to get some form of help or advise of what to do next. This backs up the idea of her vulnerability, as she is able to think for herself. The particular facial expressions and body language shown is conventional as the audience have a greater understanding of her thought and feelings she goes through before and during the attack. 

Within our thriller a lot of thought went into the decisons behind what the characters were to wear and the colour they would be wearing. Through the colour of clothing we have chosen, we have made sure it compliments the characters role and emotions. The victims mother that is focused on looking at a photo before the flashback, is seen to be wearing blue clothing. We decided blue was a sensible choice, as it reveals the hidden emotion of sadness due to her facial expression not being shown on camera. This makes it clear to the audience something bad has happened to the young girl in the photo. Ruby is seen to be wearing a variety of colours, with the main one being white. White portrays innocence and vulnerability, matching her role of being victim. Last but not least, we clothed sam in black and grey clothing. Dark colours such a black suggest dominance and power when comparing the victim and villain, therefore helping our target audience to have a clear understanding of who is who. This is conventional as the colouring of clothing links to the specific role each character plays, portraying their emotions clearly.

Positioning of characters within a frame is vital in order to draw attention to particular characters at certain times. It also helps the audience to determine relationships between characters. Ruby, the character that plays the role of the victim is often shown at a high key angle. During the opening scene, Ruby leaves the house to take her dog for a walk. One shot consists of clearly portraying the setting of an abandoned field from a high angle. Ruby is seen to be particularly small due to the shot being so high up, this suggest vulnerability especially as the audience are aware she is alone. The scene consisting Rubys attack is shown as a point of view shot, from her point of view. It portrays that she is being dragged from behind having no recolection of who is behind her. The fact that her feet are shown being dragged on the floor as she attempts to kick her way to freedom, the audience are aware that she is powerless; due to Ruby being closer to the ground, with the villain in full control standing. After Rubys murder sam, the villain is shown from his knees downwards at a low key angle, making his character seem powerful. He is seen to be turning off Rubys torch, which suggests he's covering up all possible evidence of the muder. Although his identity is still not revealed, building tension, the audience have a clear understanding that he is the villain that holds all the power and will get away with his actions. The positioning of characters are conventional as it creates clarity of what character plays which role, and who has the dominating power over the weak.