Mise En Scene in a Show
Tulsa King is a show about the protagonist, Dwight Manfredi, getting out of prison but soon after being sent to start a crime ring in Tulsa Oklahoma. Mise en Scene is used to present a "fish out of water," scenario where the New York-adjusted crime boss finds himself in a country town where he is completely out of place. For example, the most clear way this is expressed is through costume. The protagonist wears a suit throughout the show no matter where he is, this is in stark contrast to the "cowboy" style that the people in Tulsa wear.
This costume helps further the audience's understanding of the characters as well. For example, the suit that the protagonist, Manfredi, wears shows that he is a serious character who is possibly stuck in the old ways. The mellow basic colors of grey and black also show that Manfredi isn't an outgoing character but rather more to himself. If one were to look at a character like Tyson, he wears colors that match his bright and outgoing personality like oranges or yellows. These colors stand out and help the audience realize the type of person he is.
Another element of Mise En Scene is the location where the show is shot. Much of the show is set in the city of Tulsa or on the outskirts of the country. The show opts to film on location for much of it using a studio for scenes taking place indoors or in a car, this allows the audience to immerse themself in the setting a lot more as the audience actually sees Tulsa. In turn, much of the lighting for this show is natural lighting. This also allows a more grounded feel that an audience can connect to.
The genre of this show is a drama and a comedy. The setting and lighting help the audience see the drama genre as it provides a more serious backdrop that is grounded in reality. The costumes on the other hand are the first thing the audience sees, disregarding the dialogue, of the comedy aspect. The contrast helps the audience understand that the character isn't where he's meant to be and situations will occur because of it.
The Mise En Scene of Tulsa King is one of the reasons I love the show. I have always been a fan of dramas but also cowboy and gangster films. The show manages to tie in many aspects of this through the costumes and color, establishes the setting through location, and finally the tone through the lighting. Without the great use of Mise En Scene, the show wouldn't have been half as good as it is now.
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