The Set Design
The two videos “Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Don Giovanni” and “DON GIOVANNI Commendatore” have the same set. The videos are similar because they are based on a scene where the Commandant’s statue appears and states that he has come for dinner. The scene takes place in the dining hall inside Don Giovanni’s castle. Construction, arrangement, and selection of a set give a director power of controlling the art. Instead of just placing objects here and there, directors often try to understand how these elements have significance regarding theme emphasis and meaning creation.
Stage Design
On the other hand, the two videos are different in many aspects. First, the stage in “Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Don Giovanni” is a big airy room with a huge statue from where the Commendatore emerges. Later in the scene, it is established that in the background, there existed conveniently concealed ghosts and spirits that revealed later as Don Giovanni struggles with his fate. On the other hand, the stage in “DON GIOVANNI Commendatore” comprises of a dining table set for dinner, cutlery coupled with food on the table. The stage also has a ground that opens up to sink Don Giovanni to his fate in flames. The flames represent the dramatic effect used to grace the character’s downfall in the story.
Costume
Another crucial element used in both videos is the costume. The directors in both videos express their concern for historical reality as they explore clothing styles as a way of safeguarding the authenticity of their production. Essentially, directors often manipulate costumes to facilitate their functions in a manner that suits the intended purpose. For instance, in “Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Don Giovanni” the Commendatore is a mirror image of the statue at the background. He is donned as a knight from an Italian order of chivalry. Here, the choice of clothing worn enhances the narrative as it suggests the social standing of the character in question. In the second video, the Commendatore is putting on a coat, complete with a hood that covers part of his face. The choice of costume is preferred since it perfectly portrays a disguise for the evil that later provides the vehicle for Don Giovanni’s entrapment. At first sight, Don Giovanni does not appear scared of the Commendatore as his counterpart and subject, Leporello. As Giovanni stretches his hands towards the statue as a promise that he would come to dinner with him, he gets trapped in the statue’s marble grasp before the proclamation of his fete that sinks him to the ground in flames.
Makeup
The makeup used in both videos are also effective. For instance, the Commendatore looks mysterious. The look is achieved by the blue paint that covers his entire body. Moreover, makeup is used in both videos to create the ghosts and spirits that torment the sinful Don Giovanni. As the protagonist, Don Giovanni, stretches his arms as a promise to the Commendatore, he experiences a cold, which sets the ball of his doom rolling.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the set, stage, costume, and makeup as described above are tools employed by directors to control their art. Between “Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus – Don Giovanni” and “DON GIOVANNI Commendatore”, the mis-en-scene design of the latter is the most effective of the two. The director in the video provides more props on stage, which show that the characters were just a few minutes from having dinner. In Mozarts’ Don Giovanni, the setting is not entirely accurate as it does not show the event in Don Giovanni’s castle dining hall at that time. In addition, the dramatic ending of the protagonist is depicted perfectly in “DON GIOVANNI Commendatore” through flames, smoke, and as the ground opens up to swallow Don Giovanni in flames.
