INTO THE WOODS

Belief in fantasies that change as reality becomes prominent is achieved through mise en scene in Rob Marshall’s 2012 film Into The Woods. Costume and makeup plays a key role in this and is shown effectively through the Cinderella character. In the opening sequence, she is in typical servant attire, a brown corset, blue grey skirt and knee high blue socks. This is contrasted with the costumes of her stepsisters, made up of lace, satin and patterns to indicate grace and wealth with an edge of artificiality.
 Cinderella and her stepsisters "Prologue"

Cinderella, portrayed by Anna Kendrick,
flees from the prince in her golden silver
gown (3) 

Audiences determine Cinderella’s position in the world through this and also understand the impossibility of her wish to attend the festival coming true. The limitations of the servant class  are clear and consequently, her wish is shown as only a dreamers fantasy. Although we do feel sympathy for her this changes through the portrayal of another identity within her in the costume she wears to the ball. This gown is more elegant than what was seen in previous scene with dazzling fabrics that work with colours of silver and gold to show movement from rags to riches.

On The Steps Of The Palace The costume makes us see this change has made the character unrecognisable as she has fabricated a lie and cannot be seen for who she is by us and the characters. By the films conclusion, however, after leaving the Prince, she wears costume from earlier scenes, this is said to be a disguise, but it does re-establish her sense of self. Audiences recognise her again, but with this and the knowledge she has received, one wonders if she will ever be the same. 

Cinderella confronts the prince, wearing a similar costume to that shown in the beginning (4) 

              

Jack, portrayed by Daniel Huttlestone,
pulls his cow out from it's paddock (5) 

   Lighting, set and colours’ relationship to characters demonstrates similar journeys, like that of Jack and The Beanstalk. In scenes where he is the focus, lighting and colour changes to show how his imagination alters, such the opening scene. Here, the set of paddocks is wide and coloured with blues and greens that create a sense of boundlessness and mystery to the world, but the mist that frames the set and actor Daniel Huttlestone’s ability to move away from the fields that he does not see the world beyond what he knows. During the Giants In The Sky number, focussing on his adventures in the sky, the set of a large tree allows the actor to wander over it towards the heavens and, through the yellow hue of the scene and the green leaves above, a natural light from above shines down only onto his eyes. 

Daniel Huttlestone "Giants In The Sky"

This illustrates that his imagination has become prominent in his life because he now sees the light and freedom of the world. However, at the films’ conclusion, while Jack climbing a tree speaking of revenge, the lighting is very dark and blue as his imagination to become twisted and wrong. However, when he is finally forced to deal with the loss of his mother, a bright light filters through the leaves of the trees again on Jack’s face and he sees what he did before, now knowing the consequences.

No One Is Alone

Citations
Into The Woods. Dir. Rob Marshall. Perf. Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden. Walt Disney Picture Studios, 2014. DVD. 

(3) Caldwell, Kayla. Peek-a-boo! Anna Kendrick Shows off Her Slender Figure and a Flash of Cleavage in a Belted Black Dress for Letterman in NYC Read More: Http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2876953/Anna-Kendrick-shows-slender-figure-flash-cleavage-belted-black-dress-Letterman-NYC.html#ixzz3YVVDPG2j Digital image. Mail Online. N.p., 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2876953/Anna-Kendrick-shows-slender-figure-flash-cleavage-belted-black-dress-Letterman-NYC.html>.

(4) DaemonAU. Cinderella confronts the prince. Digital image. Fandoms With Daemon. N.p., 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <https://threadbythread.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/into-the-woods-puts-twists-on-the-classic-tales.jpg>.
5) Into The Woods. Dir. Rob Marshall. Perf. Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden. Walt Disney Picture Studios, 2014. DVD.