Taken Mise-en-Scene

Alfie Buisson.

Mise-en-scene:
Mise-en-scene is a french word with the meaning of, what is in the scene. 
For example. Setting, Costume, Actors(characters), Lighting and Props.(iconography)

I am analysing mise-en-scene in the film Taken. 
Taken is a thriller film written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. 
Directed by Pierre Morel and staring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen.

Storyline: Former CIA's daughter is kidnapped human traffickers travelling around France, Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) Sets out tracking his daughter to save her and bring her home safely.

Taken (Kidnapping Scene)

Firstly in the scene the audience are aware that the film is set in an unfamiliar house. This kind of setting is conventional to the thriller genre as its an unknown place, which can make the setting an easy target. Also because it is unknown can mean that anything can happen and whenever. This setting that is unfamiliar to the character is perfect for a thriller as it creates a great tension which will make the audience want to keep on watching and anything that happens in this setting will or could be a surprise, which is a convention in the thriller genre.

Secondly, the costumes of the characters in the scene are very stereotypical of who they are. First of all you see the girl on the phone, she is wearing bright colourful  and fashionable clothing. this is a stereo type of a typical teenager as they are normally; jolly, fun people and usually stick with fashion. Using this type of costume for the teenage girl will show the audience that she is vulnerable and an easy target for the villains. When the kidnappers come into the scene they are wearing dark, black colours, this is a stereotype for a villain as dark and black as a colour usually indicate danger. These types of clothing are conventional to the thriller film as it indicates who is who and gives the audience an idea of what is going to happen, this will make the audience want to watch more and also put them on the edge of there seat. (create a high tension).
This can also make the audience aware of the situation.

Actors in the scene are very conventional to the thriller genre. In the scene there were, villains a hero and two victims. At the beginning of the scene the audience get to see the victim and the hero talking over the phone. This is so that the audience get to see/notice the relationship between them. Further on the audience parts of the villain. Only seeing part of the villain is conventional to the thriller genre so it keeps the mystery in the film. Doing this will create a high tension for the audience as they will be wanting to know what is going to happen with them and who they are throughout the film. The victim in this scene look very scared and surprised with what is going on. Kim (Maggie Grace) listens to her dad over the phone which shows when in danger she will do what she is told. When she is told she is going to be taken she will freeze in surprise and cry, this is conventional to thriller because it shows the audience that she is scared and worried and will make the audience feel sorry for her and want her to be safe, which again will create a high tension in the scene. As the victims in the scene are two young female adults will make them most vulnerable to the crime that is in the film. This is conventional to the thriller film because they are shown as easy targets. The victims look like they are wanting to go on this holiday to have a good time together, this is set so that what happens in the scene is a surprise to the audience. The purpose of them in the scene being kidnapped is to set the story of them trying to be saved throughout the film. This may not be a thriller convention but with the mystery of what is happening throughout the film sets the thriller conventions. 

The hero of the scene will be Kim's farther Bryan Mills, who is one of the victims in the film. This is a great thriller convention in the scene because it shows they victim and the hero have a strong bond and will show the audience that he will not give up on his child. This will create a high suspense as the audience will want to see what he can do to save his child.

Low key lighting was mainly used in the kidnapping scene of the film, when she was taken from under the bed and when her farther is on the other side of the phone. This is conventional to a thriller film as it shows a dark area of which makes it easier for more surprising acts to happen.The audience would expect to see this sort of lighting in this thriller film as the dark hides and prevents the mystery from showing, this will create a great tension for the audience as in the dark you are more aware of your surroundings but in this case as it is a small enclosed area it is hard to escape so it is easier for the surprises to happen.

High key lighting in the kidnapping scene was shown at the beginning when the female character was on the phone to her farther in the bathroom. The high key lighting was in this scene as she was by a window in daylight, this can also be a conventional type of key lighting in the thriller genre as it shows a more natural feel. This was also used to show that the female character can see what is going on in the house and can describe clearly what is going on to the audience and her farther on the phone. Using this sort of lighting in a thriller film will give the audience an idea of what is going to happen. For example if the lighting is high key you can see more which opens your mind out to greater possibilities. This will create a high tension in the scene because the audience will be bringing there own ideas into the film, therefore they will be wanting there ideas to happen which will put the audience on the edge of there seat.

Iconography items in the scene was use very effectively. The iconography was mainly use by the hero and the victim. The mobile phones in the scene is the main iconography. The phones are used in the scene to show a relationship between the victim and the hero also to create a start of point to save the victim.
The hero is shown with a briefcase, this represents business, elite and a understanding. This iconography item is a key convention to this type of thriller as it show that the hero knows what he needs to do and that he could of done it before so it shows experience. This also shows he is confident in what he is doing and that he will stand out. The phone in the scene is a key convention to a thriller film because it is normally a start of point to any type of crime. In the scene the phone is used like a pathway for the hero to meet the villain and save the victim. The villain was no using any weapon which is not a thriller convention but in another view it can be for example the villain showed of his strength in the scene by taking not only one woman but another by dragging her out from under the bed. This is conventional because it could give the hero a challenge which will create tension for the audience because they don't want the hero or victim in danger.