Macbeth Films 2005
Product of
Mr. Seeley & Mrs. Blatti's Sophomore English Classes, Cary Academy
Section A Section B Section D Section E Section F Section G
Winner of the Tartan
Award for Best Picture (Mr. Seeley's Classes):
Thou Shall be Thug
(Ramy El-Refai, Mark Forest, Dennis Gugger, Lindsey McLaurin, Julie Pechanek)
OVERVIEW:
With your group, recast and redesign a portion of a scene from Macbeth. Your version should offer a distinct, unified interpretation of the play—or, at least, the partial scene you are constructing. You may take a comedic slant or a serious tone, but you must keep the version G rated. Anything inappropriate automatically earns you a failing grade. Your film version must last between 3 and 5 minutes, including the credits but excluding the bloopers segment, if you choose to include one. You will lose points for time under or over the stated limits.
You may not edit Shakespeare’s original words, though you may excise small portions. You should memorize lines, using cue cards only as a last resort. (Your viewer can tell!) You should use costumes, props, actions, and objects appropriate for your vision of the play. Your costumes and props must be present on November 29.
While this project relies on group work, I will also include an individual component to the grade. If I see you working inconsistently, you will lose points.
I will assign groups. If you want to work with a particular person, let me know, and I will take your request into consideration.
STEPS:
We will begin filming on the second day back from break. To prepare yourself and your group, please follow these steps.
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Step 1. You and your group should decide on a partial scene. List possibilities, and then discuss the benefits of each one. (in class 11/8) Step 2. Once you’ve decided on a scene, brainstorm for approaches. Do you want to show the three witches interacting with Macbeth? Is the scene humorous or serious? Are you setting Macbeth in the American West? (in class 11/8) Step 3. Choose your approach. List the different costumes, objects, actions, and sounds that are appropriate for your view of the play. (in class 11/9 or 11/10) Step 4. Your group should write a detailed description of the group’s approach: include all the material that you’ve discussed in Step 3. (due 11/28) Step 5. Now, create a story board. In a series of cartoon panels, sketch the scenes that are absolutely necessary to communicate your vision of the play. Include the important actions, objects, and costumes. Also, consider camera angles. (due 11/28) Step 6. To ensure an effective project, assign all roles in written approach. Think about the director, actors, set and costume designers, camera people, and sound people. (due 11/28) Step 7. Begin filming, using the materials from Steps 4 and 5 as your guidelines. (11/29) |
GRADE:
The grade will be split between 2 categories: content, accounting for 60%, and technical, accounting for 40%.
CONTENT details:
To earn full content credit, complete the following:
1. Type and hand in a written approach by Monday, November 28th—5 points.
2. Draw and hand in a storyboard by Monday, November 28th—5 points.
3. During the three weeks of the project, ALWAYS use your time intelligently. If at any point I have to remind you to work, your individual grade will drop. If you force others in your group to do your work, your grade will drop—15 points.
4. While I don’t expect professional acting, I do expect an attempt to learn lines, use appropriate body language, and employ necessary facial expressions.—10 points.
5. The final product must last between 3 and 5 minutes; it must demonstrate a vision of the scene, and it must include details that work toward that vision.—25 points.
Technical details:
These videos are going to end up as streaming files on the web and as stand-alone videos that will be placed on tape. Since most of the students have had extensive video and audio training, the technical standards for the videos will be high and special attention should be paid to the placement of mics and the quality of the audio during filming.
You must include the following technical materials for the video.
6. Video will contain a title and credits and 5 seconds of black at the end—5 points.
7. Fade in and fade out of audio/video at beginning and end (if appropriate)—5 points.
8. Motion filter applied to one or more still images or videos and at least one transition between video clips—5 points.
9. At least 30 seconds of music—5 points.
10. Audio will be easy to understand, without noise, and of constant volume—5 points.
11. All files used in Premiere must be on local E:/ drive. Premiere project file will be named Seeley/Blatti with the group number (e.g. SeeleyE2.ppj)—5 points.
12. Each group will make both an .avi file and a streaming .wmv file. The .avi file and .wmv file will be named Seeley/Blatti with the group number (e.g. BlattiA2.ppj).—5 points.
13. Link on each student’s website to the video—5 points.
If you have any questions, please ask. Otherwise, let loose your imagination.
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