Mise en scene

• Scene 1: car in flood

  High key, natural lighting 

  Beyoncé's slightly off centre, drawing attention to the flooding and devastation behind her. She's wearing a smock dress and combat boots- quite casual and conservative. Crouching on top of the car is dominating and typically masculine, which is empowering and challenging stereotypes. She is standing on top of a New Orleans police car, which could be symbolic of the lack of help that Black communities in New Orleans after Katrina.
• Scene 2: paparazzi

  Flashing camera lights, but otherwise low key dim lighting,to emphasise paparazzi flashes. All of them are grouped in the middle. They're wearing suits, which are quite formal and old-fashioned, and their cameras are old/ vintage, suggesting they are from another period of time.
• Scene 3: Givenchy dress

  Low key, lots of shadows, lamp as filler light- old fashioned. Beyoncé is centrally framed - she is the focus. She is wearing a white antebellum dress, symbolic of the period of slavery in southern USA. She is also holding a feathered parasol - which were used during that era by women with status. She is sat in a room with ornate wallpaper and pictures on the wall.
• Scene 4: corridor

  Beyoncé is in the centre. Dimly lit and dull-low key - old fashioned. Chandelier and candles are filler lights. Backlight from room behind focuses on Beyoncé. She is wearing a revealing red leotard, more stereotypical of popstars. The red complements the baroque interior of the corridor, including books, candles and paintings. The setting of this scene is an old plantation house, which is shown by the luxury interior, however cuts to painting show that Beyoncé has chosen to present the owners as black people, therefore subverting the narrative of black people as slaves.
• Scene 5: Blue Ivy and girls

  Key light focuses on Blue Ivy, making her stand out. Two wall lights are filler lights. Blue is front central, presenting her as a star, because Beyoncé is attempting to make her daughter famous. All three girls are in white fancy dresses, but Blue is wearing a more revealing dress, which could again be drawing attention to her. She also appears to be wearing a veil, similar to a brides. She is posing with her hand on her hip and smiling, he other two girls are standing and looking shocked. This separates her from the other two girls as a confident young star.
• Scene 6: porch

  Central and in front of the men. High key lighting- outside- natural. Beyoncé is wearing a black dress and a large black hat, which she hides behind for much of the video, only showing her face clearly at the end. She's wearing a lot of expensive looking jewellery, connoting her wealth and success. Her hair is plaited in two long braids, which are blonde. All the men around her are wearing formal suits, and standing like bodyguards, which shows her importance and fame. She is standing on the porch in front of a manor on a plantation, which again references slavery in America.
• Scene 7: wig shop

  Light is focused on the three women, who are framed centrally. The ceiling lights could be seen as filler lights. The three women all have vibrant hair: blue, orange, purple. They are wearing fashionable clothes and posing for the camera in the middle of their shop, the middle woman holding a wig. Shows that black people can have successful businesses despite their mainstream media portrayal.
• Scene 7: wig shop

  Light is focused on the three women, who are framed centrally. The ceiling lights could be seen as filler lights. The three women all have vibrant hair: blue, orange, purple. They are wearing fashionable clothes and posing for the camera in the middle of their shop, the middle woman holding a wig. Shows that black people can have successful businesses despite their mainstream media portrayal.
• Scene 9: Living room

  Back light from the window, low key lighting- dark and dim other than on Beyoncé, who is centrally framed in front of the main light source. All the ladies are sat elegantly, sipping tea or fanning themselves. This mimics how upper class women in the antebellum era acted, also reflected in their white gowns, which were seen as a symbol of status. The room contains paintings, lampshades and candles.
• Scene 10: car park

  High key, natural lighting. Beyoncé is in the centre of all the dancers. The dancers and Beyoncé are wearing 90s streetwear, which includes a lot of denim. 90s fashion was heavily influenced by black figures, so Beyoncé is paying tribute to that. The dancers are seen both in a circle, an X and a line, which are all versions of a “formation”.
• Scene 11: plant room

  High key, bright light coming from above. Beyoncé is centrally framed. They are all wearing bright costumes, which include masks, so this could be referring to the New Orleans carnival. They are surrounded by colourful lowers and plants, which contrasts the darker atmosphere in the rest of the video.
• Scene 12: police scene

  Dark, low key lighting, with the boy in the centre. He is wearing a black hoodie, which is sometimes portrayed in the media as being linked to crime, however he is very small (maybe around 6), which could be a binary opposition. All the policemen are armed, and stood in a line with helmets on, making them seem scary and powerful. The boy is breakdancing, which is sometimes seen as a symbol of rebellion.