File - Mrs Dixon TGS

Standard Grade Media Study Unit

Director:

Baz Luhrmann

Mission:

To create an up-to-date version of Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Romeo and

Juliet’ Themes:

Conflict, the generation gap, love, vengeance, destiny, death

Language:

Shakespeare’s English (400 years old)

1597

1997

Plot / narrative The main events of any film (what happens) can usually be summed up in 10-12 points. After viewing the entire film once, write down your 10 point plot summary in your jotter.

• The Montagues and Capulets fight •Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the Capulet ball •They get married

•Tybalt kills Mercutio •Romeo kills Tybalt •Juliet’s dad orders her to marry Paris

•Juliet fakes her death •Romeo kills himself •Juliet kills herself

Which of the themes can you see here?

Summary part 2 There is short-lived happiness when Romeo Juliet in a ---------ceremony. At the beach Tybalt kills -----------. To avenge his friend’s death, -----------kills Tybalt in a blind rage and is -------from Verona as his punishment. Meanwhile, Juliet angers her father by -----------to marry Paris. Assisted by the Priest, she plans to fake her own ------then escape but a message fails to reach Romeo and when he hears she is dead he returns to Verona . He kills himself by drinking----------. In turn Juliet commits--------. In this way the warring families are -------for their continued hatred.

poison Mercutio suicide banished death secret Romeo Punished refusing marries

Our objectives: Develop an understanding of the role of these techniques in creating meaning in film: • mise-en-scene • montage

• camera work • set • props

• costume and make-up • lighting • sound

Task 1 How do we read a film? Here is a jumbled list of film techniques which let you ‘read’ the film. Divide them into three categories.

What you see

Camera work

What you hear

Zooms

actors + actresses

stationary camera

silence

accents

Expressions

costume/clothing

editing

dialogue movement

lighting Positioning

Colour

cutting

scenery musical score

sets fading

computer graphics

Angle shots

props

close-ups

Soundtrack

moving camera

sound effects gestures

What you see

Camera work

What you hear

... Actors + actresses expressions gestures props costume/clothing Lighting Colour sets / scenery positioning movement

Editing zooms fading Cutting Computer graphics high angle shots low angle shots wide angle shots close-ups moving camera stationary camera

Soundtrack sound effects Dialogue Accents musical score silences!

THE PROLOGUE Objectives: 1.

To understand the media technique miseen- scene.

2. To analyse how Luhrmann employs miseen-scene to aid our understanding of Shakepeare’s language and introduce the idea of destiny’s role in bringing about the tragedy.

The director of any film uses combinations of film techniques to create meaning. This is particularly important for Baz Luhrmann . Shakespeare’s words are difficult for his audience to understand so everything he chooses to put into a frame takes on great significance. This aspect of film study is called miseen-scene.

Mise-en-scene: Everything you can SEE within the frame, including set, props, costume, make-up, lighting and camera work and the positioning and facial expressions of the characters.

Analyse how mise en scene helps us understand the words of the prologue.

Two households both alike in dignity In fair Verona where we lay our scene

Luhrmann allows you to hear the prologue twice. During the second time (spoken by the priest) he uses images to help you to understand the words.

Task 1: Write down everything you can remember about the mise-en-scene during the two readings of the prologue. Task 2: In particular, what do you see when you hear these words? “Break to new mutiny” “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life”

Remember: everything you SEE on screen creates meaning.

The Prologue sequence • What do we seetechniques

• What message/impact is created?

Remember: everything you SEE on screen creates meaning.

The Prologue sequence • What do we seetechniques

• What message/impact is created?

Remember: everything you SEE on screen creates meaning.

The Prologue sequence • What do we hear techniques

• What message/impact is created?

Remember: everything you SEE on screen creates meaning.

The Prologue sequence We might not understand the words of the prologue but in this opening sequence of the film the techniques used -both the mise-en scene and the soundtrack- help us understand the violence and conflict the film will deal with. We understand that the setting of the film is a modern one. We are given help with recognising the characters when they are introduced to us using captions. The fast moving camera work, images from a modern city and dramatic music preview the film as action packed and appealing for a young audience.

Objectives:

1. To revise the term GENRE 2. To analyse the markers of different film genres 3. To analyse Luhrmann’s inclusion of various genres in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ 4. To understand WHY Luhrmann has borrowed from other film genres. What was his purpose?

Genre Luhrmann knows that his audience may not be keen fans of Shakespeare – in fact they may never have seen a Shakespearean play before, but he knows they will have seen action movies, comedies, cowboy films, horrors and so on. Cleverly he borrows from all these genres (types) of films when he is making Romeo and Juliet because he knows these scenes will keep our attention. Task: Think about the markers of a genre of film that you particularly like: Western, comedy, musical, romance, action, thriller, science fiction etc. e.g. Horror markers would be blood and gore, masks, cloaks, monsters, murderers, ghosts, demons, darkness, teenagers, knives, saws, dungeons and so on.

Watch the scene at the petrol station. Try to pick out the markers of the three different genres outlined below. Complete the table for the action and western genre. Action

Costume

Dolce & Gabanna suits, gangster style

Make-up

tattoos, crosses shaved into head

Set Props

Comedy

Steel heeled boots pink hair

Petrol station

Fast cars, guns, petrol pumps,

Action

Shoot out, explosion, car chase, riot helicopters

Camera work speed

Slow motion / match falling Sword 9mm + coat of arms

close-ups zooms Soundtrack

Western

Nine Inch Nails ‘Pretty Piece of Flesh’

Tin cans, tin sign, dust, guns Shoot-out, gun twirling, bullet hitting sign, cans slow motion = Grinding out

cigarette close-ups =

nuns disgusted at Montague’s rude gesture, handbag bashing’ Tybalt pretends to shoot the kid: “BANG!” fast speed various incidents close-up on panicked expression of Montague (pink hair)

Eyes of Tybalt & Bevolio like a duel

Guitar, pipes, recognisable cowboy score

blasts of opera add to sense of exaggeration

To sum up….

Baz Luhrmann uses familiar film genres to help us with the unfamiliar dialogue. We may not understand the Shakespearean dialogue but we easily realise from our knowledge of action and western film genres that the two gangs – Montague and Capulet - are in conflict.

www.stpauls.it

Romeo – the hopeless romantic Romeo must of course be young and extremely attractive. Leonardo de Caprio is right for the part. However, more importantly, Romeo must be portrayed as a hopeless romantic, someone who could fall so deeply in love that an ancient feud and deep-seated hatred is rendered meaningless. How does our first view of Romeo help us form this impression?

APPEARANCE

-

smart suit, but shirt undone, hair tousled

ACTIONS

-

writing poetry in a journal, smoking

SETTING

-

beach, crashing waves, dilapidated stage

LIGHTING

-

luminous sky at dawn, soft pastels – romantic

CAMERA WORK

-

slow motion again romanticises him

SOUNDTRACK Above makes him seem deep, moody, a loner in the style of

Set apart by his disapproval of violence and belief in love. We find out that all this moping is over a woman named Rosaline who has spurned his advances.

Note that his use of poetic language is so over the top that it makes Benvolio snigger. The impression from the start is that Romeo is a fool for love.

Objectives: 1. Understand the meaning of fate and destiny. 2. Think about how this theme is explored in the film. 3. Explore how lighting affects atmosphere. 4. Understand what montage is. 5. Explore how montage contributes towards our understanding of destiny.

Fate and destiny Romeo and Juliet are called “starcrossed lovers” by Shakespeare. 1. Look up the words fate and destiny and write down their meanings.

worksheet

2. Do you read your horoscope? Do you believe your future is mapped out in the stars? Do you believe God or the heavens decide your path in life?

Listen to Romeo’s speech just before the Capulet ball. Benvolio complains that they will be late. Romeo replies:

Romeo’s speech Act 1 Scene iv

I fear too early; for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels and expire the term Of a despised life clos’d within my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He that hath the steerage of my course Direct my sail!

Complete the Worksheetsheet 5

Copy down this definition: MONTAGE - the way shots are linked together in sequence using cutting, fading or dissolves.

The Capulet Ball 1. Analyse how costume and make-up contribute towards the creation of character.

2. Analyse how set, colour and lighting affect meaning. 3. Analyse how camera work highlights the significance of Romeo and Juliet’s encounter. 4. The soundtrack-explain what this adds. Mise-en-scene: Everything you can SEE within the frame, including set, props, costume, make-up, lighting and camera work and the positioning and facial expressions of the characters.

“ The

ballroom set was a way of contrasting the simplicity of Romeo and Juliet and their love to the harshness of the world that surrounds them – a world that is more concerned with appearances. It also makes it very clear that there is a reason they are together. They are both outsiders in the extra-ordinary over-the-top place.”

Kym Barrett, costume designer.

• Romeo is dressed as a Knight in Shining armour – romance and chivalry are personified. It is significant that he removes his mask as Juliet enters. Why? • Juliet is an angel – purity and innocence.

“Speak again bright angel”

• Capulet is Caesar/Greek God • Lady Capulet -Cleopatra – wealth power • Tybalt – Satan(evil) • Paris – Astronaut(US Hero) • Mercutio- in white again to suggest innocence • Montagues – Vikings raiding the ball

Vibrant, deep reds, garish colours. Setting is ostentatious and excessive.

Massive mansion, marble staircase. Capulet family crest is evident everywhere. Expensive furniture. Wealth

Dim and dark, suggests a sinister atmosphere, moral corruption.

Close ups, spinning cameras, blurred focus, speeded up and slowed down. Romeo’s point of view. Impression that he is drugged.

Light, pastels, pinks, blues – romantic colours

The bathroom away from the other characters – sets them apart. Water is a recurring symbol. When else do you see it?

Lighter, but soft - again suggesting a romantic atmosphere

Point of view shots from R + J perspective/ We see them through each others eyes. Close-ups show love.

What fate has in store for Romeo becomes clear in this scene. The happy mood from the wedding is short-lived, and is brought to an end with the violent death of Mercutio at the hands of Tybalt. Vengeance is the major theme here. Why does Tybalt challenge Romeo?

What is Romeo’s response? Does he want to fight?

Technique fast moving camera blurred focus close-up

What you see

fighting between Romeo, Tybalt and Mercutio

facial expressions of Romeo and Tybalt close-up on Romeo’s hand

slow motion

Tybalt stabs Mercutio

low angle

looking up at Mercutio “A plague on both your houses.”

high angle speeded up special effects & lighting

Purpose effect of confusion in the scuffle as the characters are experiencing it creates tension, shows Tybalt’s hatred and Romeo’s reluctance to fight shows his wish to make peace dramatic, emphasizes seriousness of this action

underlines significance of Mercutio’s words as if god is judging him

looking down at Tybalt thunder, lightning and wind as Mercutio curses the families sky darkens and finally the set (a stage!) goes dark

pathetic fallacy suggests role of destiny / heaven’s displeasure recalls Romeo’s words: “Let he who hath the steerage of my course direct my sail.” His fate is sealed.

• This scene takes place on the beach and we see the build up to the murder of Mercutio. The us of a fast moving camera is found when…

The director uses various techniques to convey rage, madness and confusion.

Before he shoots. SOUND LIGHTING . CAMERA

After he shoots SOUND CAMERA WORK SPECIAL EFFECTS

Before he shoots. SOUND A deafening sound screeching tyres and roaring car engines can be heard. LIGHTING It is pitch black. Associations of horror and a sense of foreboding go along with this. Light from street lamps and car headlamps is blue, cold and frightening. CAMERA Slow motion and fast moving in places, blurred focus, and different viewpoints all convey a sense of everything going out of control. Close –ups on Romeo’s face show him screaming deliriously, the whites of his eyes the only clear image in the dark frame. After he shoots Silence and slow motion heighten the drama as Romeo and the viewers realise what he has done. A high angle shot looks down on him from above as he throws his arms backwards in the wind and rain and screams

In the final scene of the movie, Luhrmann uses several cinematic techniques to highlight the sacrifice these two have made for each other. However the scene also reminds us of the role of destiny in bringing about the tragedy. Captain Prince says: “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” 1. Comment on how the set,props and costume reinforce the idea of sacrifice. 2. How do camera angles relate to the role of destiny? 3. Study the close-ups of Juliet just before Romeo drinks the poison. Why does Luhrmann have her wake up before he is dead – unlike the original play.

4. How does montage increase the audience’s sympathy for the characters? 5. Comment on the effectiveness of the use of sound

fact There is a sense of doom. We feel the end is inevitable.

The audience is kept hoping that she might just wake up in time. Heaven/destiny is responsible for this. They were very much in love.

We feel Romeo and Juliet are innocents who have been sacrificed.

evidence

technique

fact

evidence

technique

There is a sense of doom. We feel the end is inevitable.

It is dark.

lighting

We have already seen this scene as Romeo predicted it before the ball.

cutting (montage)

The audience is kept hoping that she might just wake up in time.

We see her fingers move and her eyelids flicker.

close-ups & extreme close-ups

Heaven/destiny is responsible for this.

We look down on Juliet’s suicide and the bodies.

high-angle shot

They were very much in love.

We see clips of their happiest moments.

cutting (montage)

We feel Romeo and Juliet are innocents who have been sacrificed.

Aisle and tomb make a cross shape. Final tableau with clusters of candles looks like head of statue of Christ. Neon crosses, candles and statues of angels. White gown and lily

set props Costume

Yahoo images

www.kakiseni.com