What is mise-en-scène? An essential filmmaking concept

What is mise-en-scène? That's probably the question that brought you to this article. Mise-en-scène is a term often left undefined. However, it deserves explaining because it is an essential part of a film director's work. It is, in fact, the culmination of all of a filmmaker's tools, skills and experiences used together to tell a story wrapped in a sense of atmosphere.

Possibly the vaguest definition of anything ever comes from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in his opinion on the case of "Jacobellis v Ohio." He was unable to define what would make a movie obscene and thus not protected under the First Amendment. He wrote: "I know it when I see it." This shoulder-shrugging definition has kept lawyers and artists pushing the limits. Nobody has known the exact dimensions of obscenity for nearly 50 years.

Mise-en-scène is similarly undefined. Only a few years later, film studies professor Brian Henderson said in his essay, "The Long Take," that mise-en-scène is "cinema's grand undefined term." He begins by listing directors who are masters at it. He included masters like Murnau and Orson Welles. However, he went on to write "one does not lightly venture a definition of mise-en-scène… of which each person, when examined, reveals a different sense and meaning…"

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Lessons from the field

10 video editing habits to give up

It's easy to get into a routine when video editing and as a result form some habits, and not necessarily good ones. Video editing is an art form with rules, or more realistically guidelines, that help define the difference between what's good and what's bad. Even though what is considered good or bad for video editing is subjective and somewhat arbitrary, there are some basic principles that can be followed to help make a video successful. When bad habits break the rules there's trouble to be found. Here are ten video editing habits to give up. Read more.

Creator Handbook: 7 ways to monetize your channel without a YouTube partnership

Posting to YouTube as a side gig could be a perfect opportunity to supplement your income. However, that can be easier said than done when you're not in YouTube's Partner Program — YouTube's program for channel monetization. But, even though you don't have a YouTube partnership, you still can monetize your efforts.

Here's how to turn your YouTube channel into a profitable side hustle. Read more.

Docuseries vs. documentary: What is a docuseries?

The documentary genre has always been a thriving part of film. Originally used by news journalists to capture the events happening in the world, documentaries—while still used by the news—allow professionals and aspiring videographers to capture a wide range of topics that are relevant on both a wide-scale level and a personal level. While we are all aware of what documentaries are, how does it differ from a docuseries?

Docuseries differ from the typical documentary. While similar, there are some distinct differences. We'll cover what those differences are and talk about a few examples of popular docuseries. Read more.

Green screen — 6 steps to pulling a good key

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