Modernization of Classic Literature:
Video Project
Modernizing classic literature takes place in many forms and crosses many lines of genre. From
the modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet to Gnomeo and Juliet to The Scarlet Letter and
Easy A, there are many ways in which people find joy in taking what was once considered old
and bringing it to life with the advancements that have been made since the origin of the story.
For this assignment, you will make a video/movie that updates the classic text in order to
breathe no life into the source material and make it something that people in this day and age
will not only enjoy, but understand.
Your project will be graded upon these things:
● Script:
○ Accuracy of
■ the theme of the novel
■ The characters, their relationships, and their motivations
■ Important plot elements (though they may appear in a different way as it
is modernized).
● EX: Friar Laurance sending letters to Romeo in Mantua but them
not being delivered can be replaced with something more current
like Romeo’s cell service dropping out and he is unable to get the
friar’s texts.
■ Integration of at least one symbol in some manner while retaining its
meaning.
○ 5 double-sided or 10-single sided, double-spaced pages
○ Pages are formatted as a script with thought out stage directions, location, time
of day, etc.
○ A polished piece that is obviously revised and denotes time and effort
● Video:
○ Edited for visibility
○ Shows an intentional progression of scenes (costume/background changes, etc)
○ Is rehearsed and shows an attempt at acting style, not just monotoned and
robotically reading lines and moving across the screen
○ Is about 8-10 minutes long, averaging about one minute for every page of script
that is prepared.
Rubric:
Coming Soon