Chess Film: Mise En Scene Through Costume

Before filming, our group needed to decide what our characters would wear. Costume is the most important aspect of mise en scene in our film. We chose costumes that reflected the deeper meaning of our film through color. Our main character would wear black, while the supporting characters, or bystanders, will wear gray. Although these colors seem similar, they carry two distinct meanings with the context of our film. 

The Power of Color Theory in Film 

The Meaning of Grey in Horror -Websites I used to explore the different meanings of color 

Main character: Black

The color black is powerful because it can symbolize a variety of different things. The color black can have a positive or negative connotation. In our film, black will be used to convey more of a negative connotation. Specifically, in our film black will be associated with mystery, isolation, and psychological depth. Mystery is a common theme in many thrillers, which is why most thriller films use darker colors to enhance the sense of suspense. The suspense in our film builds to the reveal that the main character has been playing chess against no one. This creates a theme of isolation, which is supported by the black clothes worn by the character. Since our character seems to fully believe they are playing a real game of chess, it suggests there might be a psychological issue affecting their perception of reality. This psychological depth is also supported by the colors the character is wearing.

Example: The color black used in The Matrix (1999) to represent mystery

Supporting characters: Gray 

Black and gray are similar in their association of darkness, but gray offers a more subtle approach when used in a film. In our film, gray will be used to convey a feeling of uncertainty, confusion, and isolation. When gray is used to symbolize isolation it is in a much more subtle approach. This occurs when one of our supporting characters attempts to confront the main character, who refuses to acknowledge any other characters in the film. When the supporting character is ignored, this amplifies the feeling of isolation. However, the supporting character quickly joins another, and together they exit the shot. So, unlike the main character, whose isolation is a theme throughout the film, the supporting character only experiences the feeling of isolation for a brief moment. Additionally, gray resembles the uncertainty and confusion the supporting characters feel as they observe the main character's chess game. 

Example: The color gray in Joker (2019) to represent isolation