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
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