Mise En Scene Study

For this self-research study, I chose a more comedic coming-of-age movie genre to expand upon my research and explore the effect mise en scene has on a film.

 Billy Madison 

“Back to school night” scene 

Mood and atmosphere: This scene creates a sense of cringe and awkwardness. The atmosphere is chaotic. The lighting in the classroom is bright and even like the fluorescent lighting of a school. The light exposes Billy and reveals his awkwardness and discomfort. This emphasizes Billy’s immaturity and misunderstanding of the situation. 

Character representation: Billy is portrayed as childish. His clothes and his behavior make him seem childish and out of place. He wears mismatched colors and oversized T-shirts/basketball shorts that give the childish impression. Other characters are portrayed usually as annoyed, shocked, or embarrassed by Billy. For example, proximity plays a part as Billy stands too close to teachers and parents; invading their personal space to further emphasize Billy’s lack of social awareness. Blocking is used when Billy has erratic and disruptive outbursts, like suddenly jumping up to answer a question or wandering around the classroom. This contrasts with the formality and seriousness of other adults. The blocking makes Billy the focal point of the scene and draws the audience’s attention to his immaturity. Billy's body language is very childish and exaggerated. Aggressive slouching, fidgeting, or yelling; as well as other jerky and clumsy movements add to the comedic effect of the movie as well as his immature character. He also uses a wide range of very exaggerated facial expressions like wide grins, deeply furrowed brows in anger, wide eyes in confusion, etc. These expressions are additions to body language to exaggerate his emotions even further. 

Audience response: The audience is meant to feel amused and uncomfortable at the same time. They laugh at Billy’s antics but also cringe when things get out of hand. 

Narrative info: The mise en scene demonstrates Billy’s immaturity and lack of education. This helps set up the conflict of the story that he struggles to get through school to inherit his father's business, as well as give the audience an idea of just how unqualified Billy is to take the job.