Film Elements Graphic Organizer

My Favorite Genre - Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c71Ve6m4bxw&feature=youtu.be

My Favorite Genre - Powerpoint

Mise-en-Scene in The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale:

         I decided to comment on the mise-en-scene of episode 13 in season 3 of The Handmaid's tale. This is mainly due to the fact that I am currently watching this show but also because I've found that the cinematography used to progress the story and instill specific emotions within the viewers particularly astonishing. The way mise-en-scene was used in this show is extremely effective which makes it the obvious choice when commenting on these specific attributes.

          Setting: After the recap of the previous episode, the episode starts out with a dark screen and an alarm blaring. Lights begin to flash every so often making the setting a little more distinguishable each time. We can see the main character's face briefly every couple of seconds. She appears to be tired and disheveled and wears a weary look on her face, we can hear dogs aggressively barking in the background. By opening up the scene in a barely recognizable setting, the filmmakers mainly use sound to trigger a sense of confusion, tension, and panic within the viewer. After a minute, bright lights turn on revealing her location. It is shot from behind her with the source of light being in front of her, this creates a silhouette in which we can see the main character and several other women; finally realizing that she is not alone. In that shot we can also make out dirty transparent curtains in front of them which we would normally see at a butcher's shop or some scary hospital. This eerie setting sets the atmosphere for the rest of the scene and leaves the viewer with suspense.

          Lighting: As the opening scene progresses the film makers use low-key lighting in order to keep the suspense drawn out. They keep the light at a low level to cast large shadows and create a dark atmosphere in order to highlight the feel of the situation. The darkness coupled with the cries of fear let out by the women harshly being ushered away is enough to make the audience shudder in horror, this being the sought after reaction by the film makers. Soon we realize that this scene is in fact a flashback of when the main character (June) was first captured and separated from her daughter. By now the audience is aware of the dark beginnings that took place in other to birth the new nation so using low key lighting works as both a symbol and an effective method in reminding us of the horrors June had to endure. After that scene the episode then cuts to June in the present in which they shift into using high-key lighting in order to contrast her life then and now, one symbolized despair while the other symbolized renewal and hope. By making the following scene have a happier atmosphere and softer lighting it almost creates a sense of irony, this being because of the darkness of her reality and the metaphor for darkness being used throughout the episode despite the high key lighting.

            Costume: In this overall TV series costumes play a very important role into understanding the kind of society they live in. The women are dressed very conservatively, the show little to no skin and depending on the social status of the women the wardrobe differs slightly. The handmaids (often considered one of the lower classes) are responsible for bearing children for the barren wives in the families they've been assigned. Because of this as well as the beliefs held by the community they wear more 'ancient' or 'colonial' clothes if you will, their costumes consist of a simple long loose red dress (signifies fertility, passion, and courage) that  reaches their ankles with long sleeves paired with a type of white bonnet and high brown boots. The wives are among the higher class within the women in the community, their costumes are slightly more modern and futuristic while still using tradition fashion values; their wardrobe consists of long loose teal dresses (signifies subservience and sadness) with varying designs that stop just before the ankle along with sleeves that stop at their elbows, they also wear high heels of the same color. The commanders, which are the most influential highest ranking officials are dressed different in the sense  that they wear regular 'suits' which aren't old in any way, this also symbolizes the way men are prioritized in this society within the TV show. The costumes in this series are used to showcase social status within the community but they also each symbolize something in the show depending on the colors and styles. 

            Staging/Acting: As always all the actors in this show continued to play their characters extremely well. They all delivered their lines in a way in which was believable and in some performances portrayed such raw emotion you couldn't help but feel exactly what they did. Elisabeth Moss specifically, the actress who plays June, really sells her character through her expressions. She truly is an amazing actress and plays her part extremely well; this is especially evident in the scene where her 'commander' tells her the escape mission is off. The way she spoke and described the situation and how she felt about it was absolutely incredible, you could see the fear and anger in her eyes. You could hear the devastation in her voice. Clearly the style of performance which Moss perfected was method or naturalistic acting, she truly became one with her character. Judging by her outstanding performance it is obvious that she had to have adopted June's personality, thoughts, background and experiences in order to deliver such a convincing performance. During this scene blocking was also used in order to establish superiority, this was done when the commander walked in. He is seen standing over June while she sits in a manner in which he seems bigger than her making her small and unimportant in the matter. But as the scene continues, June starts to gain more confidence, towards the end of their conversation June finally turns the tables and asserts dominance by standing up and grabbing her gun all while menacingly explaining to the commander he doesn't get to call the shots anymore. This is an attempt at intimidating him into submitting to her, by having her stand up and overshadow him the blocking is switched and the film makers are successful at shifting the power from the commander to June in the audience's eyes.