Mise en Scene

    Hello fellow bloggers! Today I'm excited to dive into an analysis of one of my favorite films by exploring its mise en scene elements. You might be asking yourself, "What exactly is mise-en-scene?" I'll admit I was a bit skeptical at first as well. This French term translates to "put in the scene," basically saying everything viewers see on the screen, from the setting to the actor's performances. So for today's blog post, I'm thrilled to focus on a great film that perfectly shows these concepts known as La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle. 

Lighting & Props:

    

    First and foremost, the lighting that's utilized in this film is essential for creating the musical masterpiece that is well known today! In these specific screenshots, the lighting here evokes a general mood of romance and focus as we see the character Sebastian in the spotlight of playing piano in the mind of all the love surrounding him when he himself is lonely. In the second screenshot, we can also see that Mia is in a moment of deep heartbreak as she looks at Sebastian, who plays the piano in the softly lit restaurant as seen in the first screenshot!

 Additionally, the piano symbolizes Sebastian’s love for jazz and his dedication to preserving its traditions. It serves as an important idea for his creativity and passion to pursue music, mainly opening his dream jazz club. The piano here also reflects his struggle to balance his arts and how successful he will be in the near future. For instance, in this scene shown above Mia first notices Sebastian when he plays the piano at a restaurant, even after being fired mid performance. This moment shows her curiosity about him that represents the piano literally with this special moment. 

Now that you have learned about the use of lighting in La La Land, the use of location is highly important to take in!

Location & Setting:

 

    Equally important to lighting, the locations and settings used in La La Land are genuinely an important aspect of making this film, as the broad area used in the background can help establish moods and emotions towards the characters. In these specific screenshots, the location and setting in this circumstance helps to evoke a romantic and sweet tone with the help of the vibrant purple sky in the background. In addition to the two following screenshots, we see how jaw dropping the beautiful landscape of Los Angeles is as seen by the characters Mia and Sebastian as they learn more about each other. These purple type backgrounds also help evoke a sense of love and attachment from one individual to another, which helps imply that the characters Mia and Sebastian are not alone and are experiencing true love. 

Thank you bloggers for reading my post about one of the greatest films in the entertainment industry!