Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Modernised versions of shakespeare! Romeo & Juliet

Romeo & Juliet - Directed by Baz Luhrmann.



This modernised version of William Shakespeare's plays takes place in the modern setting of Verona beach, where the Capulet's and Montague's are arch rivals. at the start of this modern version of the play the opening scene takes place in a petrol station where the Montague boys led by Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, and the Capulet boys led by Tybalt, Juliet's cousin. come face to face. they start to insult each other and one of the Capulet boys say to one of the Montague boys do," I bite my thumb at you", and that sparks a massive gun brawl between the two families which starts to cause chaos in the city. The Chief of Police, Captain Prince, reprimands the families, warning them that if such behaviour continues, their lives "shall pay the forfeit of the peace".

Benvolio meets with Romeo on a beach. Whilst playing a game of pool they learn of a party being held by the Capulet's that evening which they decide to gate-crash. Romeo agrees to come after discovering that his 'crush' Rosaline is attending the party.

The Montague boys meet their friend, Mercutio, who has tickets to the Capulet party. Romeo takes the Ecstasy pill Mercutio gave him and they proceed to the Capulet mansion. The effects of the drug and the party overwhelm Romeo, who goes to the rest-room. Whilst Romeo is in the restroom he fills up and sink and dunks his whole head into it. when he comes back up for oxygen he notices in the mirror an aquarium and he walks over to it. when he is there admiring the aquarium he notices Juliet on the other side. Tybalt spots Romeo and vows to kill him for invading his family's home, but Fulgencio stops him.

Romeo and Juliet sneak into an elevator and kiss. The nurse spots them when the doors open and drags Juliet away, while revealing to her that Romeo is a Montague. At the same time, Romeo realizes that Juliet is a Capulet. Mercutio takes Romeo from the party, but he sneaks back to the mansion, hiding under Juliet’s balcony. Juliet emerges into the yard and proclaims her love for him before Romeo sneaks up behind her. Juliet is horrified that he has risked death, but Romeo tells her he does not care whether he is caught. Knowing her nurse is looking for her, Juliet tells him that, if he sends word by the following day, they will be wed to each other. Romeo visits Father Lawrence, telling him he wants to marry Juliet. He agrees to marry the pair in hopes that their marriage will help ease the tensions between the families. Romeo passes the word on to Juliet’s nurse and the lovers are married.

Tybalt encounters Mercutio just as Romeo arrives. Romeo attempts to make peace, but Tybalt assaults him. Mercutio intervenes and batters Tybalt, and is about to finish him off by hitting him with a log when Romeo stops him. Tybalt slashes Mercutio with a shard of glass. Mercutio, in denial, laughs it off as a mere "scratch", but soon realizes that the cut is deeper than he thought. Angered over his pending death, Mercutio curses the warring houses. He storms off in anger only to die in Romeo's arms a few moments later. Angry that Mercutio, neither a Capulet nor Montague, has been murdered, Romeo chases after a fleeing Tybalt to shoot and kill him and he succeeds.

Captain Prince banishes Romeo from the city. Romeo, hiding with Father Lawrence, claims he would rather die than be banished. Father Lawrence, in turn, sternly lectures Romeo about the fact that the end result of his actions could have been his death as opposed to banishment. Father Lawrence treats Romeo's injuries and says that, after some time passes, he will help Romeo and Juliet return to the city and reconcile with their family and friends. The nurse tells Romeo that Juliet is waiting for him. At the Capulet mansion, Juliet prays, horrified by what has happened. When Romeo climbs over her balcony, she kisses him and they have sex. Fulgencio decides Juliet will marry Paris, the Governor's son.

The next morning, Romeo narrowly escapes as Juliet's mother tells her that the family has promised she will marry Paris. She refuses to marry, so her father threatens to throw her out. Her mother and nurse insist it would be in her best interest to marry Paris. Juliet sees Father Lawrence, imploring him to help her and threatening to commit suicide. The priest proposes she fake death and be put in the Capulet vault to awaken 24 hours later. Romeo will be told of the plot, sneak into the vault, and once reunited the two can travel to Mantua. He gives her the potion which mimics death. After saying goodnight to her mother, Juliet drinks the potion. She is found in the morning, declared dead, and placed in the vault. Balthasar, one of Romeo's cousins, learns that Juliet is dead and tells Romeo, who is not home when the messenger arrives to tell him of the plan.

Romeo returns to Verona, where he buys poison. As he goes to the church, Captain Prince finds out he is back, and tries to capture him, without success. Father Lawrence learns that Romeo has no idea Juliet is alive. Romeo enters the church where Juliet lies and says a farewell speech. She awakens just as Romeo takes the poison. The two then see each other before he dies. After he dies, Juliet picks up Romeo's gun and shoots herself in the head.( dying instantly). The two lovers are discovered in each other's arms. Prince condemns both families, whose feuding led to such tragedy, and coroners are shown removing the two bodies.

The House of Montague
  • Brian Dennehy as Ted Montague: Romeo's father
  • Christina Pickles as Caroline Montague: Romeo's mother
  • Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo Montague
  • Dash Mihok as Benvolio Montague: Romeo's cousin
  • Jesse Bradford as Balthasar Montague: Romeo's cousin
  • Zak Orth as Gregory Montague: Romeo's cousin
  • Jamie Kennedy as Sampson Montague: Romeo's cousin
The House of Capulet
  • Paul Sorvino as Fulgencio Capulet
  • Diane Venora as Gloria Capulet
  • Claire Danes as Juliet Capulet
  • John Leguizamo as Tybalt Capulet
  • Vincent Laresca as Abra Capulet
  • Carlos Martín Manzo Otálora as Petruchio Capulet
  • Miriam Margolyes as Nurse
Others
  • Harold Perrineau as Mercutio Escalus
  • Pete Postlethwaite as Father Lawrence
  • Paul Rudd as Dave Paris
  • Vondie Curtis-Hall as Captain Prince
  • M. Emmet Walsh as Apothecary
  • Quindon Tarver as Choir Boy
  • Edwina Moore as Anchorwoman (Narrator)

 





Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Modernising Shakespeare - Macbeth - duncans death - Establishing shot!

Myself and Claudia came up with the idea of setting our scene in the college. Basically Gary the head of our department is king Duncan and Alex and Yusuf are his guards. So earlier in the play lady Macbeth drugs his guards so they fall asleep so Macbeth can go kill the king without any issues.

the establishing shot is going to work like this. Gary is sitting at his desk with the camera facing him so he is facing the camera. like this -
 
 
the camera angle that says eye level is the angle we wish to use.
so Gary is doing his work the behind him. and in an unfocused shot, I walk in slowly holding a glass bottle. I then slowly walk up to him and hit him over the head, but as I go to hit him with the bottle the camera blacks out. then the next shot is gonna be as if its through Gary's eyes so the camera will be on the floor facing up the its gonna see as if im hitting it. and blood is going to be splashed over me as im doing it. then as I walk of the camera will be facing the door as I leave, then as I leave Gary's hand is gonna come from the bottom of the camera covered in blood then suddenly drop to the floor the next shot will be Claudia in the foyae downstairs wating for me.