Matthew Dalby Page 1 of 3 Clash of the Titans (2010) Breakdown of Mise en Scene In the film Clash of the Titans (2010), there is a scene where the main persona or hero (Perseus) meets the mythological three sisters called the Graeae. Although this is not the opening scene to the film, it will be important to my research because the mise en scene represents the three witches well and this will be useful when I need to represent my character in my opening scene. To begin with, the start of the scene (shown above) includes a shot of a mountain with a claw/hand shape on the top of it. The audience may associate this hand position with grasping knowledge and immediately insinuates that they are wise. Also, the weather is very stormy and could suggest danger and caution, which in literature is called pathetic fallacy because it is setting the mood of the scene before the characters are introduced. The mist and fog surrounding the setting creates an eerie atmosphere for the audience and therefore generates tension. Furthermore, the lighting at the beginning of this scene is very dim and gloomy which adds to the overall mise en scenes effect. When Perseus throws a flaming torch into a pit and lights up the setting, the audience finally see the witches.

Clash of the Titans (Scene)

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8/8/2019 Clash of the Titans (Scene)

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8/8/2019 Clash of the Titans (Scene)

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Matthew Dalby

Page 2 of 3

Because the witches immerge from the mist/fog, drama is added to their arrival and their actual

costumes provide a representation of them for the audience to consider. For example, the witches

have no eyes, nose or ears on their faces; only share one eye between them. This shows that

although they are wise and intelligent, it could suggest that they are disabled because of this lack of their senses. Perseus then uses this against them when he threatens to drop their eye off of the

mountain (shown below):

8/8/2019 Clash of the Titans (Scene)

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Matthew Dalby

Page 3 of 3

The costume (above) was probably done by prosthetics on set and then enhanced during the Post-

Production stage using CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) for the eyes motion. By using rags for

clothing and messed hair, it shows that they do not live wealthily and maybe do not look after

themselves contrasting with the idea of them being wiser than everyone else. Moreover, the teeththat are displayed are cracked and some missing and overall the costumes add to the drama and

frightening appearance of the Graeae.

The minimalistic furniture/props in the scene ensure that the Graeae are represented as

frighteningly wise for such hags and as a consequence maybe do not have the luxuries that less

intelligent people do have which could ask the audience: Does intelligence come at a price? This

message could have been intentionally represented through the witches by the Director and the

mise en scene as a whole manages to create the idea of uncertainty throughout the scene.

This research has enabled me to think about the mise en scene that I may need to consider on

including in my film opening scene and how certain mise en scene aspects (such as weather,

costume and props) can create a representation of a character and create effective awkwardness

and tension between the characters.