He also uses a close up of Des’ree, the female solo pop artist (singer), with the camera panning slowly. This is to add to the romantic mood of the two shot of Romeo and Juliet, which shows the bond between them.
He also uses a high angled shot of Romeo, to illustrate that he is powerless over Juliet leaving.
All these camera shots and angles are to show how the characters are meant to be feeling.
Luhrmann also uses a range of different editing styles, such as frames of Capulet singing, which is sped up. This is to show Romeo’s mind is confused, this is to engage the audience, so they want to see more and can empathise with Romeo’s mood.
He uses quick cuts, to empathise the action and energy used in the “Ball Scene”, to show how different guests enjoy themselves and what they are doing. He also slows the pace down, to show how stunned or shocked a character is. His use of editing is effective, in the way he uses it to show the party mood throughout the scene.
Luhrmann mainly uses diegetic sounds to portray a realistic celebratory atmosphere, such as the fireworks, to show the party is starting, Candi Stattons “Young Hearts Run Free” connotes the party mood, clapping connotes the excitement and Capulet’s singing, to denote that he’s had a few too many to drink and is maybe put into a relaxed, jolly mood as a result of the drink. Luhrmann also uses an “echo” to represent a drunken effect.
Luhrmann also uses a range of non-diegetic sounds, such as the piano solo during Des’ree’s song, to show Lord Capulet arguing with Tybalt, violins during Romeo and Juliet’s sonnet and the cello in the background, when Romeo and Juliet find out who they are.
In terms of the mise-en-scene, costumes have a prominent significance for the character and the meaning of the scene. Such as Romeo dressed as a knight, this could mean he sees himself as a knight in shining armour, and also represent death and conflict. Juliet dressed as an angel/fairy, to show that she is young and innocent and also reflects on her kind generous, peace keeping personality. Where as Paris is dressed as a space man, this could mean that he is the outsider, compared to everyone else.
The lighting in the scene is usually very bright, to go with the mood of the scene and doesn’t have much dark lighting to show evil or misery/happiness.
However, when Romeo and Juliet meet there is some dark lighting. This suggests that there is a dark secret lurking between both of them. Where as in the lift, there is some back lighting , this connotes that their love is heavenly, and that they are meant to be.
Overall I have found that Luhrmann is an effective director, as he uses fantastic camera angles, and he creates an effective representation of Shakespear’s “Ball Scene”
