Settings and sets contribute to a film’s mise-en-scène by establishing scenic realism and atmosphere. In addition to creating realism – an accurate and truthful depiction of a society, people, or some other aspect of life – the mise-en-scène of a film creates atmosphere and connotations, those feelings or meanings associated with particular sets or settings. For example, a kitchen might connote warmth and domesticity.

Props (shorthand for “property”) are objects that function as parts of the set or tools used by the actors. Props are integral elements not only of storytelling, but also of genre conventions—what’s a gangster movie without machine guns or a Western without horses?

A film’s staging refers to the actors’ performances and to blocking. Performance describes the actor’s use of language, physical expression, and gesture to bring a character to life and to communicate important dimensions of that character to the audience. Leading actors play the central characters in a film, while supporting actors play secondary characters in a film, serving as foils or companions to the central characters. Blocking is the arrangement and movement of actors in relation to each other within the single physical space of a mise-en-scène.

An actor’s make-up and costume can play a central part in a movie – it can support scenic realism, highlight an important part of a character’s personality, act as a narrative marker, or signify genre. Costumes are the clothing and related accessories that define specific characters. They can range from common fashions, like a dark suit or a dress, to more fantastic costumes. Make-up refers to cosmetics applied to the actors’ faces and bodies that highlight or distort certain features and attributes to contribute to the mise-en- scène of the film.

Lighting is one of the more subtle aspects of mise-en-scène, and also one of the most important. Lighting can be natural or directional and can range from hard to soft. Natural lighting is derived from a natural source in a scene or setting, such as the illumination of the daylight sun or firelight. Directional lighting may appear to emanate from a natural source and defines and shapes the object, area, or person being illuminated. Three-point lighting is a common style that uses three sources: a key light to illuminate the object, backlighting to pick out the object from the background, and fill lighting that minimizes shadows. High-key lighting is diffused, low-contrast lighting that reduces or eliminates hard edges and shadows and can be more flattering when filming people. Low-key lighting is a high-contrast style that creates hard edges, distinctive shadows, and a harsh effect, especially when filming people.

All the various elements of mise-en-scène are brought together in the space and composition of a scene, which is put together by the design team.