Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Romeo and Juliet project essay

                Some people believe that the best way to learn the concepts and terms of Romeo and Juliet is by reading the story out of a book and answering questions. This could be an effective way in learning the story, but others prefer to do learn it differently. By putting on a film version of the play, students will work with others to discuss ideas on how to portray the story in film. This creates communication and people skills which will be helpful later in life. Doing this project will also create computer and technology skills when using computers to do responses and using cameras to film the production.  Having actors act out the play with the characters helps for a deeper understanding of the meaning of Romeo and Juliet as well. This project will in addition help students be more responsible in which they have to do various jobs and work up to their expectations. Although students may learn from reading Romeo and Juliet in class, it is more beneficial to film Romeo and Juliet as a production.
            Filming Romeo and Juliet allows students to choose their own jobs according to their work ethic. For example, if a student knows that they cannot memorize lines, they will not choose to be an actor. At the start of this project the students’ English teacher gave the students a note card in which they would write their top three jobs in the project. The students were given a description of each job so they would know exactly what they were signing up to do. The note card method gave students an opportunity to choose exactly what they wanted to do, as opposed to just being assigned something in class in which they had no say in. This shows the responsibility of the student and their ability to make decisions on their own. Decision making is a very important skill that needs to be acquired at a young age in order for a person to be independent in later years. As decision making is very important in a student’s learning, collaborating with other students on ideas is useful as well.
            Collaborating with other students gives everyone an opportunity to share and change ideas. Instead of having one leader make all the decisions, there were leaders in every class. There was at least one director in each of the freshman English classes as well as leaders in the classes in Van Meter Iowa. Everyone expressed their own ideas about the project, then took the ideas and changed them so that everyone would agree. To improve and change ideas helps with students in creating communication skills. For example, when there is more than one director in each class, there is a way where both of them can collaborate and agree on ideas instead of having one be in charge of everyone and everything. Different input from colleagues help them to learn that there are other ways of doing things. Collaboration with various people, even ones that aren’t the leaders, help so that everyone can agree in how a scene should be shot or the props that are used in filming. While collaboration helps to create communication and people skills, learning outside of school makes the project worthwhile.
           The Romeo and Juliet project provides students a chance to have great experiences learning outside of school. With learning outside of school, students are expected to do more work than simple class work. For many people working in this project, most of the work is done at home or in places where the scenes are filmed. For example, actors don’t always have the ability to memorize lines in the short class period so they have to take time at home to learn them. The filming itself almost always took place after school at a student’s home or after hours at school. This shows that students have to do extra work as opposed to reading the play in class and answering questions. Learning outside of school assures that memories are made during this project. It is definitely worth a student’s time and effort when they are able to look back in their freshman year and remember how fun it was to do the Romeo and Juliet project. Even though making memories through the Romeo and Juliet project is important, the technology skills are a much more crucial part in this project.
            The Romeo and Juliet project requires students to use important technology tools such as various websites and cameras as well. The websites used include Google’s “Blogger”, “Wikispaces”, and their own school email addresses. Students were required to write at least one blog post a week, depending on which job they had with the project. After their blogs were created, they had to post them on the Wikispace and all the others students were able to access them, find information, and comment on the items. Students also kept in touch by email for important filming dates, costume, and prop information. The cameraman in each class received hands on experience with using a camera, another important technology skill. All of the above stated things helped to create significant technology skills that are needed in today’s competitive job field. People need to be educated in the proper skills on technology because technology is being used more and more every day. Knowing how to use technology may help a person succeed in getting a steady job later in life.
            Producing the Romeo and Juliet project has considerable value in the classroom. This gives the pupil a way to choose and have responsibility over their own work. Students have the opportunity to work with others and create people skills. Without these, they may have a hard time with other people later in life. The project also offers a great way to learn outside of school and make valuable memories while having fun. Even when the student is having fun, they are building much needed technology skills. This will give them an edge in receiving a job when they are older. There is more value in producing the Romeo and Juliet project with all the skills involved than reading the play in class.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

End of Romeo and Juliet

We are completely done filming Romeo and Juliet and we're all patiently awaiting the editing of the project over spring break. It was difficult, challenging, stressful, crazy, and also tons of fun. I think I learned a lot about responsibitly and flexability in this project. With things like this, everyone needs to be as available as possible to get what needs to be done. I also learned a lot about the story of Romeo and Juliet and how it's not just a story. I got an inside emotional view of how intense the situation was. It was difficult to portray the character because the emotions were so intense and I've never gone through anything remotely similar to what Juliet did in Romeo and Juliet. Overall, I think everyone did a very nice job acting. I cannot wait for the premeire on April 30th.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Filming Act 3

Last week, we filmed Act 3 scene 2. This was the scene where Juliet is waiting for Romeo to visit her in the night so they can consumate their marriage. The scene starts and Juliet is writing in her journal and speaking out loud. She is lovestruck. The nurse then comes in and tells Juliet that her cousin has been killed by Romeo. At first Juliet is disgusted with the thought of Romeo and confused and hurt because he killed her cousin. Then she decides that she would rather have Romeo killed her cousin than her cousin killed Romeo. She is devestated not because of the death of Tybalt, but that Romeo has been expelled. She tells the nurse to find him as she gives him a ring. This will continue on to Act 3 Scene 5, after Romeo has spent the night with Juliet. Romeo leaves and her mother comes in and tells her that she should stop crying over tybalt. She says that Juliet shouldn't be crying over his death, but she should be frightened that the killer is still out there. Juliet, acting cluless, asks who the killer is. Lady Capulet informs her that the killer is Romeo and that they will get their revenge. They plan to poison her. Juliet cleverly said that she wants to make the poison herself so he'll die right away. The mood then changes as Lady Capulet has exciting news that her and Lord Capulet have planned a wedding for Juliet. Juliet is to marry Paris, a boy from a wealthy family. Her parents don't know that she's already married to Romeo and she strikes out like any teenager would. Juliet gets into a fight with her parents and her dad threatens to let her starve on the streets if she doesn't marry Paris. Juliet is so confused and hurt that she asks the nurse what to do. The nurse tells her that she's never going to see Romeo again and that she should just go and marry Paris. Juliet is shocked and hurt. She tells the nurse to tell her parents that she is going to confess to Friar Lawrence and she feels terrible about how she acted. This scene ends Act 3 and the story continues on to Act 4, which will be performed by Van Meter.
Tomorrow we are filming Act 3 scene 5, and it should be a little difficult because it is just so long. Everyone has to do everything right which will be hard considering some people's work ethics compared to others.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The End of Act 1!!!

In the past week, we filmed Act 1. It was a little stressful and we hit some bumps along the road but I think we figured it out and it's going to turn out okay. In scene 3, it was pretty easygoing. We didn't really go by the script word for word but we made it relative and it made sense. Yesterday we filmed scene 5. This was the party scene where Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. The most difficult part was just getting everyone to be where they needed to be. It took us a long time to film something that wasn't very long but in all honesty, I think it was worth it. We did a good job selling our characters and it literally looked like we were in love, just as it's supposed to be. I'm excited to film Act 3 next week.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Availability!

Wednesday March 23: Free until 4:30 PM
Thursday March 24: Busy...
Friday March 25: Free after 5
Saterday March 26: Free
Sunday March 27: Free after 12 PM
Monday March 28: Free after 4 PM
Tuesday March 29: Free until 6
Wednesday March 30: Free until 4:30
Thursday March 31: Free after 6 (subject to change if needed)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Memorizing Lines...

I am in the process of memorizing lines for Act 3 Scene 2. It flows nicely together now that some editing has been done to it. It's like each line leads into another. "The best time for love is night. I want the night to come so I can lose myself to my love, Romeo. Night needs to come and so does Romeo whose light is so bright it makes the night seem like day." It's all easy to remember because each sentance has something to do with the sentance before it and it is all relative, almost like a song. In this scene, Juliet finds out that Romeo killed her cousin Tybalt and is very frantic but also confused. Romeo has been expelled. She loved her cousin but she loves Romeo more than life itself. She says in the script, "Romeo's expulsion is worse than ten thousand deaths of Tybalt."
Tomorrow, we're meeting early in the morning with the VM Romeo and Juliet project people. I'm excited to meet them and discuss ideas and important aspects of the play.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Getting Started

I have just recieved my script for act 3 scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet. It's a very good script but it needs a little bit of editing. It's good, though, that I have an idea of how my script is going to be. It only needs to have some words changed around so it flows better and it should be fine. I'm so excited to start memorizing lines and start acting. Like I said in my last post, its going to be challenging because the events in this play are very dramatic and extreme. From the way that my script looks so far, Juliet is very emotional and expressive but she doesn't cry which should make it easier to act out. In act 3, Juliet finds out that Romeo has killed Tybalt and she's upset but she decides that she cannot be angry at Romeo because she loves him so much. Its the rising action of the play so it needs to be exciting and leading up to the climax. Again, I'm very excited to start working hard on this and see where it goes.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Romeo and Juliet Project

I am very excited to start the Romeo and Juliet project playing the role of Juliet. I am in act one, three, and five. I think it's going to be a challenge for me because I've never done a play before. I will not only have to memorize lines, but act as if I AM Juliet. Juliet is very dramatic, especially towards act five when she has to kill herself. She is a very dynamic character and it's going to be difficult to get into character and try to put myself into that mindset. My goal for this is that everyone does their part and is serious about their job so this whole thing works out. If not, it may not work out the way its supposed to. Overall, I'm happy with the role of Juliet although it will be a challenge for me.