Definition: Mise-en-scène is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means “visual theme” or “telling a story”—both in visually artful ways through storyboarding, cinematography and stage design, and in poetically artful ways through direction. It is also commonly used to refer to multiple single scenes within the film to represent the film. Mise-en-scène has been called film criticism’s “grand undefined term”. (Brian Henderson, 1976)

In film study, it refers to

SET
the setting of a scene and the objects (props) visible in a scene.

The Great Hall in Harry Potter

Setting is an important element in creating a scene. In this Hogwarts Great Hall setting, the candles, which fly in the air, are not after effect in the first film of Harry Potter. They are actually real candle hanging in the air. It helps to create kind of wizards feeling.

LIGHTING
all the light that appears in the frame. Lighting is useful for establishing the narrative of storytelling. It helps to create the mood and the make audience focusing on one thing.

 Voldemort’s meeting with death eater in Harry potter

Lighting can help to create a sense of mystery or fear. Almost all the scenes of Voldemort in Harry Potter are kind of low light. Although they did a lot of colour correction in after effect, we still can see that the light is in a very cold colour. And that is because Lord Voldemort is someone who remains death and dark magic, and lighting can create this kind of feeling.

SPACE&COMPOSITION
Depth, proximity, size and proportions of the places and objects in a film can be manipulated through camera placement and lenses, lighting, set design, effectively determining mood or relationships between elements in the story world. And the organization of objects, actors and space within the frame.

 As we can see that Harry and Ron siting in the middle of the frame staring at Hermione( who is not in this scene), and the Patil sisters sitting next to each of them. We can tell the relation of the 4 characters in this scene by the place they are sitting.

COSTUME, MAKE UP & HAIR STYLE
Using certain colors or designs, costumes in narrative cinema are used to signify characters or to make clear distinctions between characters. Make up and hairstyle help to establish time period, reveal character traits and signal changes in character.

ACTING
Benedict Cumberbatch acts dragon in The Hobbit