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Lesson 4

We will view and analyze the prologue and Act 1, Scenes 1–4 of the film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by director Baz Luhrmann, and we will use the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool to capture how the thematic ideas of the scenes are developed by the director’s choices.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I recognize and interpret the film techniques and directors’ choices to deepen my understanding of visual texts?

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about the purpose and meaning in the Luhrmann film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet?

  • Can I recognize points of connection between the play Romeo and Juliet and the film adaptation to make logical, objective comparisons?

  • Can I evaluate the effects of the director’s choices in the film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet?

Texts

Core

  • Multimedia
    • Romeo + Juliet, Baz Luhrmann, Twentieth Century Fox, 1996

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: View – Discuss – Write

We will view the prologue and Act 1, Scene 1 and 2 of Luhrmann’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and Capture our analysis on the film-theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

As you view the prologue and Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2, pay close attention to the director choices for the following:

  • pacing

  • camera shots

  • soundtrack

  • narration

Note: Luhrmann chose to insert Scene 2 of the play into the middle of Scene 1 in the film.

View the prologue and Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2 of Luhrmann’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

Reference the thematic ideas captured on your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 2

Respond to the following questions about the Luhrmann film adaptation of Prologue and Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2 in your Learning Log:

  1. How does the director transform the source material in this scene?

  2. What thematic ideas from the text are emphasized in the film scene? Which, if any, are not?

  3. How did the director’s choices emphasize the thematic ideas? What evidence from the film supports your claim? Be sure to cite specific details from the film as evidence.

Discuss your answers as a class, taking notes of the class discussion on the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Activity 2: View – Discuss – Write

We will view Act 1, Scene 3 of Luhrmann’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and Capture our analysis on the film-theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 1

As you view Act 1, Scene 3, pay attention to the following director choices:

  • acting (facial expressions, body language)

  • imagery

View Act 1, Scene 3 from Luhrmann’s film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Write down your notes in your Learning Log.

Reference the thematic ideas captured in your Text-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Step 2

Respond to the following questions about the Luhrmann film adaptation of Act 1, Scene 3 in your Learning Log:

  1. What thematic ideas from the text are emphasized in the film scene? Which, if any, are not?

  2. How did the director’s choices emphasize the thematic ideas? What evidence from the film supports your claim? Be sure to cite specific details from the film as evidence.

Discuss your answers with a partner, taking notes from the discussion in the Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool.

Activity 3: Discuss – Write

We will discuss as a class the points of comparison and contrast between the themes emphasized in zeffirrelli’s Act 1, Scene 1–3 and Luhrmann’s Act 1, Scene 1 and 2.

Compare your notes about the Zeffirelli film for Act 1, Scenes 1-3 and the Luhrmann film for Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2.

Respond to the following questions about the Zeffirelli and Luhrmann film adaptations of Act 1, Scenes 1, 2, and 3 in your Learning Log:

  1. What similar choices did the directors make when adapting Scenes 1-3 of Act 1 for film?

  2. What different choices did the directors make when adapting the scenes for film?

  3. Did the choices enhance themes from the play? If so, how?

  4. Did the choices detract from themes in the play? If so how?

Discuss your answers as a class. Make potential revisions to your Film-Theme Note-Taking Tool based on the discussion.