FILM & TV UNIT:WEEK 3 MODERNISING OUR SHAKESPEARE PIECES

WEEK 3

During this week all of us continued modernising our Shakespeare pieces. Also we continued watching clips from films and discussing with our pairs on what things would and would not work. Also all of us had our Stars Wars auditions (Used as practice auditions showing us how the film & TV industry). Most groups/pairs filmed their pieces this week. Me and Prince were supposed to film sometime this week but because we didn't have the props (Guns, Drinks & a Cigar) for our scene. Me and Prince came up with cool stuff/elements that we could include into our piece. 




Monday 25th November: DRAMA WITH YUSUF

In this lesson we continued working on our pieces whilst Yusuf was out filming Yvonne, Esther & Bictons scene. During this lesson me & Prince were practicing our scene and trying different things that would and would not work, throughout the lesson we kept experimenting, as long as we don’t shout/scream with that intention then our piece should be fine. To be honest I find it quite difficult because we have moved on from the classical theatre part to film & TV I feel that it’s going to be quite tough having to deliver my lines with that same intensity but I just can’t raise my voice because the boom operator is there and it’s going spoil the whole essence of the scene. From an audience view it wouldn’t look too good. So what we decided to do was to look at clips from some top blockbuster action films and grasp how they deliver their lines in a situation like this with that intensity.

                                 

This is what me & Prince have been doing so far in lesson. Whilst we were rehearsing alot of ideas kept popping up, some worked and some didn't. This was to do with camera shots wise and the type of film shots we've been considering to use are medium shot, two shot,loose close-up and close-up. These type of film shots could possibly work in our piece. Also while we were running our piece I was thinking about actions that me & Prince could include and things we could do while both of us deliver our dialogue which could be Prince taking draws of his cigar and me having a drink, those are the two ideas we have in mind so far. I've realised that it's difficult to do a certain action at the right time/when it felt right for me to do the action. Whenever Prince was delivering his lines to me I had to think about how I would react by my facial expression to the lines he kept delivering to show my thought process. The Context of our scene still remains the same but different time period and setting.

Me and Prince were supposed to film our piece on this day but because we didn't have our props or anything to play around with, Yusuf couldn't film it otherwise it would look bad on screen. The props we need are guns, cigar and drinks.

Tuesday 26th November: DRAMA WITH YUSUF

During this lesson Yusuf filmed Charles & Ahmed's piece in class since they couldn't use the College gym.






















STAR WARS SCRIPT


Ben hands Luke the saber.

LUKE: What is it?

BEN: Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not
as clumsy or as random as a blaster.

Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out
about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the
ceiling.

BEN: An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand
generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice
in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.

Luke hasn't really been listening.

LUKE: How did my father die?

BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all
but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.

LUKE: The Force?

BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy
field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us.
It binds the galaxy together.

Artoo makes beeping sounds.

BEN: Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little
friend. And where you come from.

LUKE: I saw part of the message he was...

Luke is cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful
young Rebel princess is projected from Artoo's face.

FILM & TV UNIT:WEEK 2 MODERNISING OUR SHAKESPEARE PIECES

WEEK 2

During this week all of us continued  looking at different styles and techniques on how we can modernise our Shakespeare pieces. Also we continued watching films and discussing what things worked and didn't work. Again all of us had to get with our partners and discuss other things on which things would work for our Shakespeare pieces.

Monday 18th November: DRAMA WITH YUSUF

Romeo & Juliet Review



In Yusuf's lesson this week we watched 'Romeo & Juliet', the modernised version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Even though some of us have seen the film a couple of times we had to watch closely and see what elements the director has put into the modernised adaptation. E.G Language,Theme and Setting. Also we had to watch the different types of camera shots that are used within this film that make it bold and vigorous. The film is set in the gangs and gun culture of Verona Beach, the Capulets and the Montagues are two rival corporate dynasties with generations of hatred behind them. Whilst we were all watching the film I was thinking of ideas that I could use for me & Prince's piece, not Language but mainly Theme & Setting because I've realised that it's going be quite difficult to modernise our piece and we've only come up with 4 ideas. In the film dialogue is shouted unintelligibly, while the rest is recited dutifully, as in a high school production. What I din't like about the film which I found really off putting was Mercutio dressed up as woman performing on stage dancing with Romeo. A black man in bright silver high heels, with lip gloss signing 'Young Hearts Run Free' (By Kym Mazelle). I do take my hat to the actor having to take that risk, because if it was I was given something to do like that, I don't think I could pull it off, but the fact that it was a black guy is like 'Really ?'- if it was a whit guy playing this role it's understandable. To be honest it is very rare nowadays to see a black man portray a woman except from those top Hollywoood movie stars such as Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker and so on. When we finished watching the film there were a few things that I picked up on in the film that I liked, which were, Setting, Language and Theme. Those are my three main ones but what I also liked was there emotional connection with there characters and the way how they deliver there lines with that intensity, instead of just playing it in a Classical way, by doing that it made us understand what they were saying. Also what I liked is how the Montagues and Capulets marked and separated themselves, E.G. clothing, tattoos (Especially on their necks- Montagues) and politics. 

Overall I enjoyed the film, out of 10 I would give it an 8 and a half

Tuesday 19th November: DRAMA WITH YUSUF

During this lesson all of us had to get with our partners and continue discussing how we're going to modernise our pieces. I feel that my scene with Prince is going to quite a challenge because first of all we have to bring down all the shouting, hitting and physicality stuff to a present day quarrel. Again here our ideas......... 

1. PUB:, two workers (Macbeth & Macduff) who come and want to kill each other but without each other knowing who's going to get killed first-similar to what we see in the thriller films when the hero/detective or FBI secretly wants to kill the criminal. What I suggested is that rather than Macbeth & Macduff being two workers, Macbeth could be a criminal and Macduff could be a lawyer who meets his old enemy and seeks for revenge but Macduff has to be smart about it. Instead of this just being a physical fight scene, using our fists and maintaining energy. We've decided to tone it down, not go physical with this and not use our voices to much (Not having to project too much and be bold). What me & Prince have decided to do is to bring guns into this, at the start when Prince says his small dialogue ''Why should I play the Roman fool, and die.......'' as he delivers this line he can be having a glass of wine/beer thinking to himself about the bad things he has done and what he regrets doing. Also there should be a medium shot on Prince while he's saying his lines which can make this more effective so I could be seen in the background not clear but it will be blurry. After Prince deliverers his lines I come straight in with my line, and as I say my line '' Turn,hell-hound, turn!'' vocal wise I can say it in a dark and whisperery way which could build a suspense that will keep audience thinking in their heads ''What is he going to do to him, what's going happen to both of them? and so on '' because it is unexpected and I have just shocked everyone. Also I want to keep this truthful and as real as possible, things which happen today in our modern society. As this scene goes on both of us could be sat at a table and have both our guns underneath the table with the camera filming it underneath as well. Towards the end of our scene having the camera filming us holding the guns would create an image which would represent the eager, audacity and intensity with me & Prince wanting to kill each other because we don't know that we have a weapon each. Also at the end of our scene after Prince says his last line '' And damn'd be him that first cries, Hold enough'' he tries to shoot at me under the table and realises that he has no bullets. After 4 attempts I do a little snigger and say my last line ''I Banish Thee To Hell'', there should be close-up when I say this line as well which could make this more effective At this point I bring my gun out and aim at his head-with no gun sound or any sound at all what so ever, with this the camera would just have an extreme close up of just the gun. From there we would end it. This would keep the audience wanting to see more and have them saying ''Argrrrghhh!! what happens next''. Again similar to what we see in crime,drama and thriller films when we as the audience want to see more of the action. We are still following the story to the original text.

2. CANTEEN: playing chess for 3-4hrs. with integrity. Since we are all setting this in present day, me & Prince have changed the names of Macbeth & Macduff to Mac and M.D. and we have decided to make them teenagers as well as adults. Something around our cast-ability playing age. Again we still keeping the same story as the classical text. Mac & M.D. are too sixth formers who are quite close but when they're playing chess that is when they are enemies and hate each other real bad when it comes to this game. Mac (Macbeth) wants to win so badly sine it has been 7 years and not once he has beaten M.D. (Macduff). Alot ofthe action takes place in the board. Instead of me killing Prince physically, in the chess game I kill his King and it will all end by me saying Checkmate and Prince would get annoyed and knock the board over.

3. PRISON CELL: With this we want to get everyone involved in the scene as prisoners a fight breaks out between Mac (Macbeth) and another prisoner, in the background I want to have everyone cheering it on and have a police break it up and sends Mac back to his cell. Later me as M.D. a policeman comes to Mac's cell, lets his prison mate free- locks the cell and shoots him dead, and gets his justice since Mac has killed a very close friend M.D. which had affected him for years. 

4.COLLEGE BASKETBALL COURT: The whole class getting involved and set it outside in the sports ground basketball court and have teams play against each other, with that same integrity as the original text but modernised.

With these four ideas we didn't know which one to choose really because both of us haven't come to a conclusion on which one would work best. The idea that I think would work best is the 1st idea because with this it has silent elements we can take from what we see in those thriller/Action films when the audience is left thinking and they don't know who's going to kill who. Also we could do alot with this because from what me & Prince have seen in those top thriller & Action films such as Taken, Fast & Furious and Mission Impossible we can take a few bits from there and figure out how we can incorporate that in our scene...........

With three of these top films in mind, I feel that it would help strengthen up me & Prince' scene and during my piece towards the end, ideas from any of these films will help build a suspense before Prince (as Macbeth) gets killed by me. Since both of us don't have to do anything physical,   our main key for this is THOUGHT PROCESS!, not just saying our lines with no reaction. Behind  each line we deliver we still have to keep that intention and purpose as to why we want to kill each other. Again we are still keeping the original text as it is but 2013 style. Another reason why Thought process is VITAL to us it's because we are being filmed it's important that we use our face more and react to each line we deliver and keep the intention at the same time. We just have to bounce of each other that's all.

Here are some videos we did last week since half of our class wasn't in because of Whorehouse rehearsals.............

Wednesday 20th November: BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE VISIT

Friday 22nd November : DRAMA WITH ALEX

In this lesson,we had to get with our partners, join another pair and figure out which camera shots would work with each piece and the location that is suited for the scenario for our scenes. Our task was to get as many simple camera shots as we can so that we all have an idea of what we'll be doing for this Film & TV Unit. Pierce and Claudia joined me & Prince, since they didn't get to perform their piece for the Classical Performance we went first. Claudia and Pierce came up with some amazing ideas, here are the shots we tried out............

INTRODUCTION TO TV & FILM UNIT: WEEK 1 MODERNISING OUR SHAKESPEARE PIECES

WEEK 1:

During this week all of us looked at different styles and techniques on how we can modernise our Shakespeare pieces. Such as Language, Setting, and Theme. These 3 things are key to what we are doing in this unit. Also because we’re all being filmed we don’t have to be big with our characters, go dramatic and having to project too much the miniature condenser microphone will be with us on the set the whole time because the storyline has to be exactly the same as the original text of Shakespeare’s classical plays but it has to be set in this present day 2013 and truthful. Here are things we had to think about…….......

1) Who is your character? (In this present day)

2) Where does he/she live?

3) What is their occupation?

 And so on………., these are the type of things we had to think about for our characters.

Monday 4th November: DRAMA WITH YUSUF

In Yusuf's lesson this week we were looking at ways on how we can modernise our Shakespeare scenes but we were mainly focusing on the languages. With the languages we can change it up a bit if we were to speak as how we usually speak today (E.G Slang/Ghetto) we have to make sure that it makes sense and it is understandable to the audience. If you start using modernised versions from spark notes it would spoil the essence of your character and the scene because with the modernised versions on Spark Notes, they are all too basic and structured and more clearer which is only used for classical versions of Shakespeare's plays. The Modernised versions from Spark Notes can be used but only to guide us so we can get some ideas on how we are going to tweak the script a bit. 

The main thing we looked at today in Yusuf's lesson was Hip Hop in Shakespeare or Shakespeare is Hip Hop, how they differ from each other and the similarities. We watched 2 clips on YouTube called The Hip-Hop of Shakespeare hosted by American Rapper MC Lars and The Hip- Hop Shakespeare Company hosted by Akala.

Hip Hop music and Shakespeare's theatre both..........

1.Represent energetic and creative forms of expression. 
2.They are both full of poetry, word play and lyricism
3.They both deal with what is to be human and issues from peoples lives

Hip-Hop is all about the rhythmic tension of words. Another way how Hip-Hop and Shakespeare are related is that hip-hop is a culture remixing the past when another person who was famous for remixing the past is again 'Shakespeare' himself who would take old stories and recreate them for the popular culture of Elizabethan England and one of his most famous plays, Hamlet written in 1600, was actually based on an old Danish play called Amleth from 1185.

When you look at Hamlet you can see three elements of Shakespearean tragedy that apply to other cultures outside of Hip-Hop. E.G. the feud between 2Pac & Biggie 



During the feud between 2Pac and Biggie, 2Pac had sold millions of records and was holding it down for the west coast in the 90's. He got love and gained a lot fame and recognition. The only thing that brought him down was his tragic flaw and that was his anger. His single ''Hit Em Up'' was a vitriolic against Biggie and his whole crew that led to a bad animosity (strong hostility). The third thing, the third element in a Shakespearean tragedy is a series of unfortunate events. In the story of Biggie and 2Pac, the media and the record labels really helped cause the east coast west coast feud and it ended in tragic death of these two rappers in their twenties.

Tuesday 5th November:  

Gary helped us prepare before we presented our ideas on how we are going to modernise our 
Shakespeare pieces............. before Yusuf's lesson

In this lesson all of us had to get with our partners and present (Pitching) our 3 ideas on how we could modernise our Shakespeare pieces. Also we were being assessed and filmed on this. Me and Prince came up with 3 different ideas................

1. Setting: In a house/pub, two workers (Macbeth & Macduff) who come and want to kill each other but without each other knowing who's going to get killed first-similar to what we see in the thriller films when the hero/detective or FBI secretly wants to kill the criminal. What I suggested is that rather than Macbeth & Macduff being two workers, Macbeth could be a criminal and Macduff could be a lawyer who meets his old enemy and seeks for revenge but Macduff has to be smart about it. Instead of this just being a physical fight scene, using our fists and maintaining energy. We've decided to tone it down, not go physical with this and not use our voices to much (Not having to project too much and be bold). What me & Prince have decided to do is to bring guns into this, at the start when Prince says his small dialogue ''Why should I play the Roman fool, and die.......'' as he delivers this line he can be having a glass of wine/beer thinking to himself about the bad things he has done and what he regrets doing. Also there should be a medium shot on Prince while he's saying his lines which can make this more effective so I could be seen in the background not clear but it will be blurry. After Prince deliverers his lines I come straight in with my line, and as I say my line '' Turn,hell-hound, turn!'' vocal wise I can say it in a dark and whisperery way which could build a suspense that will keep audience thinking in their heads ''What is he going to do to him, what's going happen to both of them? and so on '' because it is unexpected and I have just shocked everyone. Also I want to keep this truthful and as real as possible, things which happen today in our modern society. As this scene goes on both of us could be sat at a table and have both our guns underneath the table with the camera filming it underneath as well. Towards the end of our scene having the camera filming us holding the guns would create an image which would represent the eager, audacity and intensity with me & Prince wanting to kill each other because we don't know that we have a weapon each. Also at the end of our scene after Prince says his last line '' And damn'd be him that first cries, Hold enough'' he tries to shoot at me under the table and realises that he has no bullets. After 4 attempts I do a little snigger and say my last line ''I Banish Thee To Hell'', there should be close-up when I say this line as well which could make this more effective At this point I bring my gun out and aim at his head-with no gun sound or any sound at all what so ever, with this the camera would just have an extreme close up of just the gun. From there we would end it. This would keep the audience wanting to see more and have them saying ''Argrrrghhh!! what happens next''. Again similar to what we see in crime, drama and thriller films when we as the audience want to see more of the action. We are still following the story to the original text.

2. Setting: In a pub, playing chess for 3-4hrs. with integrity. Since we are all setting this in present day, me & Prince have changed the names of Macbeth & Macduff to Mac and M.D. and we have decided to make them teenagers as well as adults. Something around our cast-ability playing age. Again we still keeping the same story as the classical text. Mac & M.D. are too sixth formers who are quite close but when they're playing chess that is when they are enemies and hate each other real bad when it comes to this game. Mac (Macbeth) wants to win so badly sine it has been 7 years and not once he has beaten M.D. (Macduff). Alot ofthe action takes place in the board. Instead of me killing Prince physically, in the chess game I kill his King and it will all end by me saying Checkmate and Prince would get annoyed and knock the board over.

3. Setting: In a Prison cell. With this we want to get everyone involved in the scene as prisoners a fight breaks out between Mac (Macbeth) and another prisoner, in the background I want to have everyone cheering it on and have a police break it up and sends Mac back to his cell. Later me as M.D. a policeman comes to Mac's cell, lets his prison mate free- locks the cell and shoots him dead, and gets his justice since Mac has killed a very close friend M.D. which had affected him for years. 

Alex & Yusuf liked those ideas but what Alext thought would be better, if the whole class get involved and set it outside in the sports ground basketball court and have teams play against each other, with that same integrity as the original text but modernised. I really like that idea but I prefer the chess idea more because it creates more of an effect, me & Prince don't have to move about or do anything physical and it is understandable to the audience and creates an image. Since the whole class including Prince thought that basketball idea was a better solution, I have to put up with that.

Wednesday 6th November (FILM APPRECIATION)

Throughout Alex's lessons we watched ''The Shining''



I enjoyed the film, even though I was freaked out but I was mainly focusing on is the effects of the film, the dialogues and Jack Nicholson's thought process throughout. I think that the woman that played Wendy Torrance did alright but because Jack Nicholson was considered as one of the great actors it was hard for her to feed of him because she was put up against a more experienced actor. Overall I still think she did ok. Another thing I liked about this film is the way how the dark/creepy sounds kept playing and the times and days popping up E.G.-Wednesday, Thursday, Four months later, 4:00pm.....'' again this kept me thinking if someone going to get killed or something?. To be honest when you expect the normal things to happen as you see in a horror movie when there is a group of people and you have that thought in your head ''Yep, you're gonna get killed, he will survive and so on.........'' half the time during the film I was thinking what the hell is going on and because I'm not familiar with the director's narrative style I was completely lost. Before Alex even put the film on I realised is that there is no way within the film, to be sure with any confidence exactly of what happens or precisely how or really why.  The director delivers this uncertainty in a film where the actors themselves vibrate with unease.

Overall I still enjoyed the film and hopefully I would get to watch it again sometime soon :), Out of 10 I would give it an 8.

Friday 8th November 

During Alex's lesson we had Jack (Technician) introduce us to TV & Film and talk to us about this, what it's like in the TV & Film industry and how it works.

 In this lesson all of us had to get into pairs and we were given a little dialogue scene  called ''The Way I What?'' with two characters a boy & girl, Her & He. Since there wasn't enough girls (Not all the girls were in) some of the boys had to work with each other. My partner was Shabill, whilst people were going over this scene both of us tried it in different ways so we could see which ones work better. Here's the scene..............

HER: Hi

HIM: Coffee

HER: Hmm

HIM: What is it?

HER: Nothing, It's the way you.......

HIM: The way I what?

HER: Have you got to go to work or something ?

HIM: I was going to stay here.

HER: Hmm

HIM: The way I what?

All of us were allowed to do anything with this scene but as long as it was truthful and we stuck to the script then we were fine. Before I found it confusing because I was reading 'Her' bit I had no idea on how I was going to portray this character. Instead of me just sticking to the script all the time me & Shabill decided to play these characters as our selves and add a little bit of comedy into it. Later each pair had to get up and perform their piece in front of camera. 

Here's a few pics of everybody performing their pieces.......

 












This week has been great & productive :D!!