Macbeth Thematic Trailer Final Project /25
Following the completion of the play, you will create a thematic movie trailer. Your trailer should
be engaging and encourages students to want to read the play.
Please note:
- You will effectively integrate text, quotes, symbols, video, pictures, and music to create a
compelling thematic movie trailer.
- Length should be approximately 90 to 120 seconds.
- Your trailer must be in digital format.
- You may use any software that you choose. If you use animoto, the promo/referral code is:
a4ehumm76a63c
Link to sign-up page on my wikispace.
Content – select one theme to explore in your movie trailer :
1. Ambition and Betrayal – Macbeth’s tragic flaw is likely his own ambition, which leads him to
betray King Duncan, and later, murder his friend Banquo. Inner betrayal of Macbeth is shown in his
famous soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7, lines 120-190.
2. Visions – There are several hallucinations in the play. In Act 2, Scene 1, Macbeth sees a bloody
dagger floating in the air. In Act 5, Scene 1, Lady Macbeth hallucinates that her hands are covered
in blood. Macbeth also sees the ghost of Banquo at the royal banquet.
3. Moral Ambiguity – The witches, servants of the devil, and their dark prophecy steer Macbeth
through the play. The evil in Macbeth grows throughout the play.
4. Deception – Deception is the heart of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Everything revolves around
what seems to be; however, the truth does not emerge until the end when all deceptions are revealed.
5. Insomnia – sleep is referenced several times throughout the play; Duncan is murdered in his sleep,
while the guards sleep. Indeed, following the crime, both Macbeth and his wife are cursed with
insomnia and sleepwalking.
6. Blood and Bloodshed – Macbeth is one of the bloodiest of Shakespeare’s plays. Blood might
signify the advent of a messenger, the admonitions of God, or a warning of the future. Shakespeare
uses the word “blood” 42 times throughout the play.
* Once you have selected your theme, find five quotations from the play that help support
your chosen theme. You will need to include these quotations in your video.
 Your trailer should introduce:
 principal characters
 plot
 setting
 Trailer is engaging, compelling, authentic, and persuasive with the use of:
 music that creates an appropriate mood and stirs an emotional response
 images and video that symbolically and literally convey your chosen theme
 text and quotes that grab the audience’s attention and connect to your theme
Timeframe of Project:
1. Introduce project and complete storyboard – this enables you to work out the interaction
between visuals, work out any dialogue for the images, and to work out the music that will
go with the images. Consider how long an image stays on the screen. All ideas for music,
text, quotes, pictures, and video should be on paper before creating trailer on the computer.
2. Computer lab – decide on software to use and get familiar with how to use it, locate music,
pictures, and videos to integrate into trailer.
3. Computer lab – all visual material to use in trailer is found. Start putting it all together.
4. Computer lab – text, quotes, and visuals are integrated.
5. Computer lab – final touches, emailed to teacher.
Rating /25
No Proficiency
1 – 2.5
Basic Proficiency
Proficiency
Above Proficiency
Storyboard
Minimal attempt to
complete the task.
Content inappropriate
and under-developed.
Partial completion of
the task. Content
appropriate yet
undeveloped.
Completion of the task,
content appropriate and
adequately developed.
Superior completion of
the task, content
appropriate and with
elaboration.
Presentation
- Persuasion
The scenes from the
trailer are choppy and
the transitions seem
abrupt. The viewer
may be left confused
and not inclined to
read the play.
The trailer flows
reasonably but there
are some transitions
that need
improvement in
order for the viewer
to be persuaded to
read the play.
The trailer flows
smoothly and holds the
attention of the
audience. The viewer is
left interested in the
play.
The trailer flows very
smoothly and captivates
the attention of the
audience. It compels the
viewer to read the play.
Presentation
Student explores the
theme of the play
with limited skill.
Student uses quotes,
images and
explanation to
explore the theme of
the play with some
skill.
Student uses quotes,
images and explanation
to explore the theme of
the play with a
considerable
degree of skill.
Student uses quotes,
images and explanation
to explore the theme of
the play with a high
degree of skill.
No attempt to match
the pace of the
storytelling to the
storyline. The viewer
was not engaged.
Tries to use pacing
and rhythm. The
viewer is not
engaged
consistently.
The music is
adequate and does
not distract but not
much was added to
the story either.
The pacing is relatively
engaging for the
viewer. The music stirs
an emotional response
that somewhat matches
the storyline.
The voice track is clean
and fully understandable.
The pace fits the
storyline. The viewer is
always engaged. The
music stirs an emotional
response that matches
the storyline.
Some of the theme
has been
represented. Little
symbolism has been
used.
The theme from the
play has been
effectively presented.
Symbolism has been
used.
The theme from the play
has been creatively
presented. Symbolism
has been used effectively.
Images /
Text
Presentation
-Soundtrack
The music is
distracting.
Content
An attempt has been
made to depict some
aspect of the theme;
however, no
symbolism has been
used.