Mise en scene is what we see onscreen in a film. It is all of the elements that appear on camera and their arrangement. Setting is one of the primary elements. It is defined as time and geographic location within a narrative either fiction or nonfiction. It mirrors the theme, style and mood of the film.
Setting as well as characters holds equal importance as setting can play an instrumental role in identifying with the surroundings and self. It is a method that helps the audience interact with the film better. It also provides the necessary push to the plot. Setting gives the ambiance where story unfolds.
Setting also assists in defining the genre of the film. It helps the film makers decide on what genre their film falls into. The setting of the movie can help the cast and crew understand their respective characters as well. Setting and type of the genre combined can determine the pace of cinematic piece.
- Place: Choosing a location is compelling decision as other factors are decided on the basis of place. It depends on the budget as well as the requirement if there would be one location for the entire film or multiple locations.
- Time: It is about when is the story of the film set? It can be set in the past, present or future. The continuity of narrative is of priority.
- Context: Setting helps the audience interact with the film better by giving relevant information also perceive the storyline as per their conception.
In my opinion Setting provides the base on which the film makers can build a castle of their thoughts and leave the fate of their movie idea to the critics and the public reception of the project.
