Mise-en-scene Analysis Task

"The Boys" still image

Costumes:

-Everyone seems to be grounded in reality, there's no fancy outfits or whatnot.

-The main protagonist has a rather contrasting colour palette, the "Hawaiian" print-style shirt contrasts heavily with the black trench coat so it questions our trust in him.

-The other two characters are dressed quite casually, making us wonder if they've been forced to tag along with our protagonist. They look normal compared to him.

Lighting:

-Everything seems to be really grainy and dull, which perfectly captures the look of realism the show is trying to go for.

-There isn't anything vibrant and the only tones visible are greys and blacks and whites.

-The bright lighting gives little life to the tones but even with the lights everything still looks grainy and muddy.

Actor (placement and movement)

-The main protagonist is placed in the middle of the screen looking off into the distance. He looks neutral in this scene.

-The two side characters however are in positions of battle. They look ready to fight and contrast heavily with our main character - who looks dressed for battle but looks unfazed.

Make-up

-Theres not much to say here for make-up, the actors/characters look normal and don't have any crazy battle scars or cuts or bruises.

Props

-The same thing I said for make-up can be said for props, there are no props I can think of in this scene that give us any ideas of what could be happening.

Setting

-This scene is set up in a train station. It's sets an industrial tone and gives our characters a sense of claustrophobia - as train stations are always cramped.

-Having this scene take place in a normal place like this makes the scene more realistic.

-The setting is also parallel with the colour palette of the clothes our actors are wearing.

Gustavo Fring Death Scene (Breaking Bad):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MybaTnzu9AA

"The Only Man in The Sky is Me." (The Boys)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrbQRp7gw4g

-These scenes both start relatively calm, despite going left in the coming minutes. The characters introduced in the BB scene are "Drug Kingpin" Gustavo Fring, crippled "Cartel Owner" Hector Salamanca and his bodyguard. While in the TB scene we are introduced to our main hero/antagonist Homelander and someone who is about to commit suicide. In BB every character is dressed in expensive suits except Hector, who is paralysed and wheelchair-bound (therefore being dressed in hospital attire). In TB Homelander is dressed to suit the stereotypical superhero topped up with a cape that resembles the flag of America. Our depressed character is grounded in reality wearing heavy clothing as in the time of the scene it is around winter. In BB the only light present is the light coming from the mostly closed window blind, which gives us a sense of secrecy or business - so its quite dull. However in TB this scene takes place in broad daylight and contrasts heavily with the overall "dark" theme of the scene, this creates a sense of irony. The characters in BB are placed in front of each other and get closer and closer as the scene progresses. Hector faces away from the camera as Gustavo pesters him and tells him to look at him before his death, but then appears menacing in the closing seconds as he looks at Fring with determination before all 3 of their untimely deaths. However in TB Homelander spends half the scene trying his hardest to convince the girl not to jump off the building. But that all changes when he sees the coverage the media put out about him, and he snaps. Instead of encouraging her to stop he then encourages her to jump off to her death, he then flies into the sky when she keeps calling to God (therefore comparing himself to God) before delivering the one-liner and pushing her off himself. The only use of make-up in BB is right at the end of the scene as prosthetics and VFX is used to create the image of Gustavo losing half his face and his skull being exposed. Little make-up is used in TB to make Homelander's eyes glow red as he has laser eyes. The props used in BB consist of the syringe Fring receives midway through the scene and the door that explodes of its hinges at the end of the scene. However no props are seen being used in TB. BB is set in a Hospital for the Elderly, as that is currently where Mr. Salamanca resides, and specifically in his room. While TB is set on top of a building in a city crowded by people there to hear the fictional Hero company talk.