Oakwood Arts’ Spring Break Camp: mise-en-scène
April 3-7th, 2023
In this camp participants learned about mise-en-scène, the visual language that filmmakers use to translate stories to the screen. Mise-en-scene is a French term meaning “everything arranged in the shot”. This fun and interactive class gave participants the vocabulary and the opportunity to explore all of the elements of Mise-en-scène through hands-on activities. The class introduced students to the techniques that are used in filmmaking such as composition, framing, lighting, and camera movements, and to jobs in the industry that make it all happen.
Special Thanks to the following creative professionals for joining us during this camp. Overcoast Music + Sound, OA Staff and mentors Shannon Castleman, Jasmine Elmore, Taylor Robinson, Shane McFadden, Walker Moore, Alliannah Hamilton, Jasmine Bonner and Lindsey Paulette.
Course Overview
Day 1 - What is Mise-en-scène?
Introduce the idea of a French term meaning “everything arranged in the shot” and completely controlling what goes on in front of the camera by manipulating what happens behind the camera.
Day 2 - Production Design
We learned why production design matters and how set dressing, props, costumes, and hair & makeup adds to the story. Production designers build the physical world- Starting in pre-production they work with the director to develop the look of the film.
Day 3 - Camera
In our third day of Spring Break camp we focused on how filmmakers make CAMERA choices create Mise en scene. We learned about how great cinematographers consider how the shot size, framing, focus, camera angle, view point, blocking and camera movements will affect the story.
Day 4 - Sound With a field trip to Overcoast: Music + Sound
Day four of our Spring Break Camp was an exciting one!
Mise-en-scene is a visual language that affects the ways we read and feel when we WATCH a film. What is the sound equivalent? How can what we hear change how we interpret what we see?
Sound Designers also do things like panning,and all other sorts of things to create a soundtrack thattranslates the emotion the film is intended to. But it’s not entirely the same as mise-en-scen.
““[My Child] mentioned new outlooks on lighting and cinematography and sound editing!””
Day 5 - Lighting and Shooting the Film
On the last day of our Mise-en-scène Camp, we spent the day lighting, shooting and editing our films!
How did OA mentors inspire you?
“Everyone was really cool and Walker invited him to work on his short film!”
“Everyone was really involved and helpful throughout the camp”
Thank you to our camp partners and supporters!
