Identifying 'Mise en Scene' in Teen Comedy Films

 1)Easy A
(2010)

Director: Will Gluck

Starring: Emma Stone and Amanda Bynes 

1) Settings and props.

The setting of this scene in 'Easy A' is in the house of Olive Pendagast, she has just returned from school on Friday afternoon. The scene shows what Olive has been doing all weekend, which is sitting around in her house listening to the music from her birthday card. It is important later on in the film why the director has decided to show Olives weekend as Olive tells a small lie about what she did on this weekend and it becomes a big deal that changes her life. Director Will Gluck wanted to show the audience what Olive was really doing on this weekend so that we experience the film from Olives point of veiw and feel the same fustration and humiliation that she feels throughout the film. The setting of a house is a very regular and stereotypically a calm and cosy place. The setting of Olives house in comparison with the lie she told about what she did on this weekend contrasts the scene wildly, as Olive tells people she has a "crazy weekend with a bunch of collage guys". Perhaps the director has done this on purpose to really highlight the difference of the actions of Olives real weekend and the enterprise of  her made up one.

Alot of props were used throughout his scene, including a birthday card that Olives recieves when she walks through her bedroom door. The card plays "The worst song ever" when it opens. The birthday card plays a sing called 'pocket full of sunshine'. The use of this song in the scene is extreamly ironic as despite the films comedy elements, Olive is stressed, angry and upset throughout most of the film even though she does a good job hiding it from eveyone. Other props used were the shower head, when Olive was in the shower, nail vanish as she paints her nails, needle and thread to sew up her top and a paint brush to paint her room. All of these props used are house 'staples' and a lot of her weekend activies are chores. These props just help communicate to the audience how bland and casual Olives weekend was.

2) Costume, hair and make up.

Olives hair and Make up is minimum reflecting on her weekend, not very exiting and boring. The merest bit of make up Olive is wearing however shows the audience that the film is set in the present and also gives a rough idea of how old Olive is. The costumes that Olive wear are mostly jeans with a t-shirt. Again its nothing exiting yet it helps broadcast Olives age and fits with her weekends activities.

3) Facial exprssions and body language.

Olives facial expressions in this scene do not vary very much. When she opens the borthday card at the begining of the scene she screws her face up and quotes "Yuck! worst song ever" It is clear that Olivie finds the song annoying at first yet she warms up to it throughout the weekend. For most of the scene Olive is singing a long to the 'pocket full of sunshine' tune while dancing around her room. This clearly shows the audience thta Olive is happy as 'dancing around your room' is a bit of a happy cliche. 

4) positioning of characters.

Olive Pendegast is the only character in this scene, besides her dog which is shown sitting on her bed while she painted his nails. There is not a wide variety of different camera angles in this scene. Most of the scene is shot in a 'medium shot' camera angle. Director Will Gluck might of done this to concentrate on Olives facial expressions, so that the audience see her being happy and silly. The audience can clearly see Olives hair and make up which again highlights her age and gives the audience an idea to when this film is set. This camera angle also allows the audience to see what Olive is wearing without focusing too much on the costume. Furthermore the location of the setting (Olives house) was earlier introduced to the audeince, therefore it would be unnecessary for the director to add in other cmaera angles such as 'extreme long shots'. Another camera angle used in the scene is a 'long shot', this ws most likely used to show the audience what Olive wore on Saturday and Sunday as this can help disclose her status and help express her attitude. Will Gluck might of also added in 'long shots' so that the audience can watch Olive dance around her room. Even though this is not so important to the story, its funny and it adds in the 'comedy' to the scene, which is the audience intension, to make the audience laugh.

5) Lighting and colour.

The lighting throughout this scene was high key, this was used so that we could see Olives facial expressions and actions well so that the audience understand how she feels at this point in the film. Natural lighting was also common in ths scene as it helped communicate to the audience what time of day it was when Olive was in her room all day. A lot of 'back lighting' was used through 'natural lighting' especially when Olive was sittig on her bed and dancing on sunday afternoon. The use of natural sunlight to light up the setting of the bedroom could also mirror Olives emotions as she was feeling happy all weekend, it could be looked at as the director used sunlight lighting to show her hapiness. Another reason why the director perhaps used natural sunlight was becasue of Olives birthday card song 'pocket full of sunshine', the use of 'natural lighting' echoed the song as well as her feelings.
6)Sound.
The only music in this short scene is the 'pocket full of sunshine' tune from Olives card. Olive does hum and sing over the song as well. The card tune starts of as being sound just coming directly out of the card then gradually as the scene goes on the tube becomes part of the movies audio.
Easy A is a film targeted mostly at teenage girls from 15 to 25. It is a niche audience film however has been very successful. It is very relatable to girls of this age as Olive goes through teenage problems that most girls will have gone through at some point.
Easy A has won 9 awards, nominated for 1 golden globe award and another 19 nominations.

                       

2) Superbad
    (2007)

Director: Gregg Mottola
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Emma Stone

1) Setting and props
The setting in this scene has two locations. The first location in this scene is set in a liquor store, the teenage boy (Fogell) is only 17 but has brought a fake ID that states he is 25 years old so that he can buy alcohol for a girls party and impress her. The scene was filmed in a real liquor store. The props in this scene include a lot of alcohol, a basket that Fogell carries around and the checkout till. All the alcohol that are used as props are real alcohol bottles and cans.
2)Costume,hair and makeup
Fogell is dressed in a shirt and trousers, he dresses in this way to try and appear older than he is so that he can buy alcohol. His hair and face hasn't changed much though. Fogell also wears glasses, this adds a bit of humour to the scene as he is trying to look adult however apart from dressing in his fathers clothes he looks the same. This makes the audience laugh as it is totally unrealistic.
3) Facial expression and body language
Fogell's facial expressions vary throughout this part in the scene, he is grinning a lot to try and look normal and not suspicious to the woman at the checkout desk. He cannot keep eye contact with the checkout desk lady as it makes him feel uncomfortable because he knows he is in the wrong.
The woman's facial expressions while she is serving Fogell looks suspicious. She doesn't take her eyes of Fogell as she most likely has a feeling that he is underage.
Fogells body language is awkward, he is looking around the store and swinging his arms around slightly to try and look casual. When he speaks to the checkout lady to make conversation he stutters a lot,this clearly shows the audience that he is nervous and he choking on his nerves,strugeling to create a more easing atmosphere. He also coughs before speaking to the lady,this again highlights his nerves to the audience ans also to the checkout lady.
4)Positioning of characters
The characters are positioned in a fairly basic position. Checkout lady is behind the counter and Fogell is standing on the other side. The camera angles used during this section of the scene do not vary much. Its a close up camera angle for most of the scene on Fogell and the checkout woman, this was done specifically to exaggerated the characters facial expressions, especially Fogell so that the audience can really look deep into his insecurity. When Fogell first comes over to the checkout, the camera is lowered slightly on the checkout woman,this is to show the audience that she has more power than Fogell at this point. If she finds out his real age she could get him into a lot of trouble, that power is in her hands.
5)Lighting and Colour
The lighting is high key to clearly show Fogells facial expressions. It also makes it obvious to the audience that it is early afternoon.
6)Music and sound
For the first part in this scene there is no music or sound effects, only the conversation between Fogell and the checkout lady. The reason why there is no music or sound effects is most likely because the director wanted to create a more naturalistic moment between a underage teenage boy trying to buy alcohol and the suspicious checkout lady. If music was added in,it would make the scene potentially more 'cheesy' than it really is and the scene itself is already awkward without overwhelming music. The use of music would take away the funny moment. Its also known that music helps take away awkward moments and that is really not the objective that the director wants in this scene. The more awkward the more funny.
Superbad is a film targeted at both genders however edges more toward teenage boys between the ages of 15 to 30. The film has a lot of bad language in it as well as sexual references/scenes and moments of violence.Therefor this film is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 15. The film edges more toward boys rather that girls mostly because of the use of 'boy humour' and the main characters are boys therefore most teenage boys can relate to their conversations and the problems they experience throughout the film.
Superbad has had 14 award wins and 21 nominations.


3) Kick Ass
  (2011)

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Aaron Taylor Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz

1)Setting and Props
The setting in this scene, is in a small flat room. The room is full of  drug users and Kick ass has gone there to try and stop a man named Rasul from bothering his girlfriend. Th flat room is most likely a set however the props added into the scene make it look like it was shot in a real flat. The director most likely chose to set this scene in a top floor flat as its stereotypical that drug users are poor because they splash all their money on drugs. It also crates a tense atmosphere as the room is full of people who are potentially quite dangerous so to be in a confined space such as a small flat room makes the audience feel uncomfortable for Kick ass. There were many props used during this scene. Most props were drugs,alcohol and cigarettes that the drug dealers were either using or dealing. kick Ass also used a machete to threaten Rasul, he keeps it on his back, he also used a taser. Later on in the scene Hit Girl comes to the rescue and she has an even bigger machete that Kick Ass. It is also shown that she has a knife which she also uses to defend herself.
2) Costume,hair and make up
Kick Ass's costume is divers suit, however he dresses up in to pretend that he is a super hero. The costume id blue with yellow stripes in it and he also wears the matching mask to protect his identity. The use of a colorful superhero costume contrasts with the real intention of being a hero, fighting crime. The colors that Kick Ass's costume represent are happy yet he is wearing it to fight crime such as fighting drug dealers which is a dark topic. Hit Girls costume is equally as odd. She is dressed in a purple wig and skirt with a grey jacket Hit Girl also wears a mask to hid her identity. Again there is a contrast in color as she wears purple a bright colour yet she is a very dangerous and dark girl.
The drug users, who's flat the scene is set in, wear dark clothing. The dark clothing could symbolize their dark personalities and their dark actions (drug use). The only inhabitant in the flat who is wearing something bright, is the girl. She is wearing a red dress and boots. Perhaps the director wanted to contrast her as not being 'in' with the other people. She was also the only female in the room, by making her the only character to wear something bright makes it easier for the audience to point out her minority.
3)Facial expressions and body language
Because of Kick Ass and Hit Girl, the two main characters in this scene are wearing masks it makes it hard for the audience to see their facial expressions. The actors have to show their emotions more through body language and speech. However the facial expressions on the drug users face is very easy to read. They are clearly to stoned when Kick Ass walks in the room to even be concerned about who he is and why he is there. Yet when Kick Ass tells then he is looking for Rasul in regards to 'Katie', one of the inhabitants becomes interested in his arrival. The audience start to see his curiosity as when the name 'Katie' passes Kick Ass's lips Rasul slowly looks up, turns his head around and puts out his cigarette. This addresses the audience that he is Rasul and he knows Katie.
Kick Ass's body language in this scene is small, he is slightly hunched over, this could be to emphasize that he is insecure and scared at this point. The body language of Hit Girl however is very different. She stands straight and confident when she introduces herself in the scene and has a very wild grin on her face to indicate that she is happy with what she is done and she is leading up to doing something else mischievous. The body language of the inhabitants is mostly strong and confident, this is because they are in their own home, which already gives them authority over the setting and their is also more of them and only one kick Ass so they feel more powerful altogether.
4)positioning of characters
Most of the inhabitants are either standing up tall and proud or slouching into a chair sleeping. They are all scattered around the dirty flat room drinking, smoking and watching tv. There is one sofa in the middle of the room. Kick Ass is positioned standing behind the sofa when he walks in. Rasul the man he is targeting is sitting on the sofa so no eye contact has been made between them. Kick Ass dose not move from that spot the whole conversation, he takes a few steps back when Rasul threatens him however. We did not see Hit Girls entrance yet, she makes a big impression on the audience when she stabs her giant machete through Rasul's chest. After Rasul falls to the ground, Hit Girl is standing directly behind him and it becomes clear who killed Rasul. The camera lowers on Hit Girl to show she has dominance over kick Ass and the inhabitants. Throughout Hit Girls fighting scene, the camera is almost always 'low angle shot' to show her strength. Kick Ass during the fight scene is curled up in the corner shaking in shock from Hit Girl. When the camera shows him it is a 'high angle shot' to exaggerate his fear and weakness.
5)Lighting and color
The lighting used in this scene is 'Ambient'. This is when the lighting is not quite high key but not really low key. There is not much lighting in the scene, the setting is very dim. Perhaps the director did this on purpose to mirror the 'dimness' of the inhabitants. It is also set during the nighttime so the setting cannot be made to light as it would not look naturalistic to the scene.
6) music and sound
There is no music to introduce the new scene, there is only talking at first between the inhabitants and Kick Ass. Sound effects are used when Kick Ass tasers Rasul, an electricity sound exaggerates the effect of the taser. This makes the audience feel more shocked by the action. Another sound effect used is the sound of a sword slicing up something when Hit Girl penetrates the machete into rasul. Throughout the fight scene, the sound of knives sharpening continue to emphasize the pain of the inhabitants deaths. Music starts to come into the scene after Hit Girl say's 'Ennie, minne, miney...moe'. The music that was chosen for the fight scene juxtaposes the fighting. The music is juxtaposed as there is a serious fight scene happening with people dying, yet the music is happy and almost childish. This adds a bit of a comic twist on the scene making it not all dark. The music was also contrast because its a little girl killing people twice her age. The childish music is contrasted with gory fighting and reflects on the situation with a young girl (represents childish music) killing people much older and stronger than her (represents the drug users).
Kick Ass is a film targeted mostly at boys from the age of 14 to around 40 years old. Kick Ass is a marvel superhero film, the boys who follow this fan base are labelled 'Fan boys'. Kick Ass would not be suitable for anyone under that age of 14 because of violence, gory moments, strong language and sexual references/scenes.
Kick Ass has won 19 awards and had 57 nominations.