Assignment 1b : MISE-EN-SCENE in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

  For this assignment, I have chosen to watch the movie "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2" to analyze aspects of mise en scène: costume, setting, staging, and lighting. I chose this film to analyze because it is very easy to analyze, I believe I have seen an advertisement for the universal studio, and due to the fact that I ain't have anything better to watch.

  SETTING: 
   The set designers from this movie chose to use multiple different settings, but all relates back to the idea that the movie takes place in a fantasy world, For instance; Hogwart, Gringotts wizardry bank, and Diagon Alley. To go more in depth, the beginning of the movie kicks thing off moments where part one ended, on the beach where Harry and friends are burying Dobby the Elf, who sacrifices himself to save the crew, giving off a more greyish-dark and serious tone that follows throughout the majority of the film. The setting of the movie is important because it creates both a sense of place and a mood which helps the audience pick up the Harry Potter film is going to be very dramatic and very magical.

LIGHTING:
   Majority of the film was in the low-key lighting due to the fact to match the tone of the main theme and story. Elaborating on the last statement, since the main antagonist, Lord Voldemort, became introduced in the cinematic series, the plot became to take a more dark tone rather than being as joyous and vibrant, such as it was in the first three films due to the reason there has not been a major threat yet. Low-key lighting is the fill light at a very low level, causing the frame to be cast with large shadows. This causes stark contrasts between the darker and lighter parts of the framed image, and for much of the subject of the shot to be hidden behind in the shadows, making this lighting even more efficient since the protagonist are being hunted by the dark forces as Voldemort grows more powerful in the wizarding world. Overall, this lighting just does the film more justice then the other lighting choices, such as three-Point lighting (although was sometimes used) and high-key lighting (which was rarely used) because it just set the mood for the movie from the beginning of the movie to the final battle in the movie.

COSTUME:  
  The use of costume conveyed during the entire film help to convey the plot of the story: a group of young and rogue wizard on the loose for seven Horcruxes to defeat a murderous and manipulative dark wizard out to rule the magic word. In other words; Harry, Ron, and Heronime are all wearing dirty clothes and looked exhausted, which may be the intention the makeup artists were going for. However all the other wizards and magical lifeforms all seemed to be wearing robes and hats, since the setting mostly takes place in the wizarding world. the costume is an important part the film because it helps to apply to the setting and plot. 

STAGING AND ACTING: 
  Better explain from the website of college and media studies: " An actor or actress’s performance can make or break a movie regardless of how engaging the story is or how well the editing was done etc… It is the actor’s duty to bring his or her character to life within the framework of the story, and his emotional input dictates how strongly the audience feels about the film. Acting depends upon gesture and movement, expression and voice."

  I felt like the whole acting from the entire cast was flawless as the movie progress you feel a certain way about certain characters, or in simpler terms, you either hate them or love them.  There is a reason after all how the Harry Potter cinema has over eight movies. The Staging felt realistic also as half the scenes were taking in real life locations but sometimes on set too.