BTEC Performing Arts Practise

Production 1: Franco Zeffirelli's - Romeo and Juliet

When was this film made?

 3rd March 2003

What else was happening which may have affected ‘style’ of this production?

 It was a very traditional style in a modern setting, they more stuck to the story that was in
the Shakespearean time which was in modern Italy. Still Shakespearean text but in a modern
Italian setting. The characters had still the same names and including the setting, landmarks
and locations

What do you think are the distinctive features of it?

 What makes it different from the rest is that it is told in a much more narrative way and
stays within the source material. The reason for that is because Zeffirelli wanted to keep the
same material but provide it in a modern Italian setting, with that it changes on depending
on how it is created in a different fashion. But mostly because of how the director wanted to
show more of the old cultural side of things.
 He more kept to the original script but in the same fashion of a the modern 1970’s era

Production 2: Baz Luhrman's - Romeo and Juliet

When was the Film Made?

 28th of March 1997

What else was happening which may have affected ‘style’ of this production

 This film was taken to an extreme comedy approach which dumped the original type of
genre but upped it to a crazy type of feeling. The film is about the same premises but in
modern times, (with pistols Instead of swords) but they had very trademarks names that
linked back with the original play, like for example the imprinting on the gun had the name
sword on it cause back in those times I don’t think they carried guns with them. Another
thing that was noticeable is that they used cars, in those times, they actually used horses
 Another thing as well was that there was a certain noticeable split between common folk
and the rich. Including the policeman getting involved of the Capulets and the Montagues.
That was also the main thing in the original play as well but instead the Montagues and
Capulet being royalist, they were gang members in this play which was more to the
dynamics change in time

What do you think are the distinctive features of it?

 I think the major changes in the play was definitely the modern styling of the film. They took
the modern style and shifted it up but they still kept the original script and same scenarios
that occur. But it’s more the background and how they changed up the story of from the
original setting in Italy, but this was in modern time in Florida which at that time where
gangs were taking over that specific section of it
  It was more also not a royal family rivalry more of a gang warfare violence, which both sides
have been at hateful dispute against each other for a long time. Even as well how they
dressed which was more of a summer shirt and jeans. When they were dressing for the
party, it was a mask ball dance. In this film they didn’t use mask in this one but they still kept
the fish tank scene which was still a good thing

Production 3: West End – Romeo and Juliet

When was the Film Made?

 26th August 2005

What else was happening which may have affected ’style’ of this production

 This production was based upon the 21 st Century, so like the main modern era that we are in
at the moment. Like Baz Luhrmans production of Romeo and Juliet but the script was
different. They made it more modernized for more modern audiences because they wanted
to make their own spin on the Romeo and Juliet story, while still following the original story,
but they used knives and guns in this one which made it more dynamic from the others
 The style of it made it differentiates from the original design. Which means it was a special
type of play that was dynamic to the younger generation. I think also that you could
understand the language better as well because the original you couldn’t understand it but
with the new script using normal language

What do you think are the distinctive features of it?

 What is noticeably different is that it is actually set not in Italy but actually set in London
with actual English dialect because West side wanted to emphasise that Romeo and Juliet
could be even enjoyed by everyone, which made such a huge Impact in modern English
culture. Even then, people still love the tragedy because of how popular it is which is pretty
impressive considering the play is really old