Harry Potter Mise En Scene

Harry Potter Mise En Scene Analysis

Setting

The location of the sorting hat scene takes place in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. It clear as soon as the doors open into the room that it is a school  dining hall, with many students. You can see the ancient torches as the new pupils enter the hall, and whilst they walk in you can see the extravagance of the whole building, the whole fantasy genre really comes into place when you see the floating candles above the congregations, and the magical ceilings. You see the sorting hat, which is the hat that decides what house each pupil should join, and it talks, and has a conscious so it is able to think, already there are magical things occurring. 

The mood seems to be extremely welcoming, a very warm environment, the colours are relatively bright, the candles give off an orange glow, a well as the torches on the walls, you can see that the new pupils has entered a very special and extraordinary place. All pupils are wearing gowns, this suggests they are special, and different from an average human or ‘muggle’. Some props that are used include the floating candles and the sorting hat. These props suggest that extraordinary things happen in Hogwarts.

Costume

The costume’s used for each teacher is different, they all look very old, yet elegant, and very smart. All pupils are wearing cloaks or gowns, this suggests they are special, or gifted in some way.

Dumbledore is clearly shown as a classic wizard, wearing a long cloak outfit, a long beard and hair, a hat and glasses, this suggests he is a very wise wizard.Professor Mc Gonagall is wearing a long velvet green cloak which swishes when she moves, making her character seem important, the richness of the fabric also indicates her status in the school. 

All these features of the actors costume suggest the genre is likely to be fantasy. Things like their pointed hats, long cloaks, etc, all suggest they are wizard-like.

Dumbledore’s costume is extremely elegant, and smart, whereas Hagrid’s is quiet messy and looks maybe homemade. You can see between these two characters the importance of each member of staff in the film. Some characters are very neat, and tidy, like Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall, and then someone like Filch, the caretaker is relatively messy.

Lighting

The lighting at the beginning of this scene is relatively bright, which shows Hogwarts is a very warm and welcoming place. The lighting also helps the mood of excitement and anticipation of what the new pupils are going to experience.

The lighting throughout the scene stays the same, which shows that the whole of this scene is bright and cheerful, a celebration of the beginning of a new school year and the selection of new pupils into their new school houses. 

Character Movement & Expression

Dumbledore is located right in the middle of the Great Hall, in a large chair, showing he is the most important member of staff, he has a very serious, but calm look on his face.