Hello! :D
So, Emily's back at it again with the blog posts! (spicy man)
"What is setting?:
Setting is the surroundings around where something is positioned, or where something is taking place. It is the background for the where the characters act out the events, and is very important for any story. To make a film interesting, you must make the setting intriguing and interesting, as well as the characters. The setting hows the audience the context of the story. It does through three elements- place, time and social environment. It plays a key role in forming the mood of the scene and tells the reader where and when the story is taking place.
What are the conventional settings we expect to see in film openings of the following genres:
Comedy:
Due to the genre, comedic films can be set in almost any place. Usually, a comedy occurs in a bright, open place. Also, it is common for these films to be portrayed in a social, open area. For example, a school or a mall etc. An example of a comedy setting is, 'Anchorman', this is set in 1974, in a fictional television station. This is quite a typical setting as it is seemingly normal.
Horror:
Horror movies are almost the opposite- they are set in in darker, scarier settings. For example, in 'The cabin in the woods', the film is set in a spooky, dark cabin that is surrounded by a huge wood. This is quite a typical setting as it creates a sense of unease and fear right from the very beginning.
However, many horror films begin in less intimidating scenarios. They may begin in more natural situations, where they will steadily grow darker. This convinces the audience into the belief that everything is normal, which will then surprise them more when it becomes scarier. Also, a more normal setting in the beginning makes the audience believe that the events of the film could happen to any normal person.
Action:
Generally, action movies are set in large cities or built up areas. This is used particularly well as it helps the action seem fast-paced and it gives a better sense if the peace than if it was set in the countryside. An example of an action setting is in 'Batman, the dark knight'. This film is set in the fictional city Gotham. this is effective as it shows us some fast-past action and fight scenes. As well as this, the city setting shows how dire the situation is- far more people are in danger than if it was in the country. It adds a more dangerous feel, that shows the audience the severity of the situation.
Drama:
A drama movie can be set in almost any situation. It is not the setting that 'makes' the movie, but the dialogue and the actual action. For example, 'Titanic' is set on a large cruise ship- called the Titanic. However, another movie from the same genre- 'Forrest Gump' is set in a small town in Alabama. This tells us that Drama films can be set in a wide variety of settings.
Romance:
Romance films are usually set in very typical settings. Large Urban areas are quite common- such as- beaches, cities, offices etc. This is used so that the meeting seems like a 'chance encounter'. For example, the popular romance film 'When Harry met Sally' is set in New York. This is particularly effective as New York is a commonly known 'romantic' city. It is effective as it shows that audience that this can happen to anyone.
How important is setting in the construction of mise-en-scene and creating an understanding for the viewer?
Setting is very important in the creation of the mise-en-scene in a film. Mise-en-scene includes the 'behind the scenes' attributes of a film- this involves the setting, actors and even the costume, make-up, props and all of the more artificial details that create the scenes. This tells us that without the setting, the scene is simply incomplete. Without the setting, the scene doesn't make sense. For example, if you took a period drama, such as 'Pride and Prejudice', yet removed the setting, it would not make sense to the viewer. The costume and props would suggest a more dated film, but the set would be modern, which would confuse the audience. Moreover, the aim to many period films is to educate the audience, and if there was no set to the film, it would be less educational.
Removal of setting would also remove the mood of the film. The setting creates the pace, mood and emotion of the scene and removing this would leave the film incomplete."
Thanks again, Emily, appreciate ya :D
~ Noah :)
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