Two directed scenes from Macbeth

I have chosen two scenes to direct from Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’. These scenes are Act 2 scene 2 and Act 5 scene 7. I have chosen these because both are major parts in the play. The first is where Macbeth has just killed the King and the second is where Macbeth is about to be slain by Macduff.

Production

I will be directing my chosen scenes using the film genre. I will be doing this because I believe that films can make a bigger impact on the audience and give me more independence and flexibility when directing the scenes. I am targeting the younger audience with my production and so I think that a film will be more effective as young people don’t tend to watch plays as much as films. The younger audiences also tend to enjoy film remakes as proved by the highly popular Baz Luhrman production of Romeo & Juliet. I also feel that if I did it as a play I would be restricted in some of the background effects I could use.

Setting

I have decided to set my film in the original location of the play, Northern Scotland (Inverness) but I will be setting it in the times of the second world war. I'm setting it in the same place so that the film retains some of its original identity and so it doesn’t stray too far away from Shakespeare’s version. I also think it is a good location for my film as it has the buildings like the castle, which is quite an important part in both my scenes. I think that Scotland as a country sets a good atmosphere for the play. The country suggests unpredictability e.g. the weather can turn at any moment, much like the story line of Macbeth. It can also be thundery at any moment like the character of Macbeth. The stereotypical view of a Scotsman also fits in well with the film. They are sometimes made out to be moody, bad tempered and violent, I think this describes Macbeth quite well.

I'm setting my film in the Second World War because it will set a good atmosphere. While the film is running the audience will hear bombs being dropped and loud explosions. This will emphasise the events that are taking place e.g. the King’s murder. It will also make Macbeth and his wife look even more traitorous. While the country needs everyone to pull together to defeat the enemy they are killing their leader and seizing control while blaming other people. This would tear a country apart so it would hinder not help the war effort. I want Macbeth and his wife to seem more like traitors because it would give my film a sense of good and evil, Macbeth being evil and Macduff being good. This is a common story line in films where good finally defeats evil after a long battle so it would seem like justice for Macduff to beat Macbeth.

Setting my film in the Second World War, I believe, will attract a younger audience. This is because I don't think that many youngsters would be attracted by a film written by Shakespeare. However if I put big explosions in my film this would appeal to the younger audience more than the original version, as it is what they like to watch. This 'action' type movie may even appeal to older people who studied Macbeth when they were younger and didn't like it. Many people are attracted to highly explosive films e.g. Pearl Harbour.

Special effects

The main ...

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Special effects

The main special effects that I shall use are for explosions. I will need to create explosions, which can shake the room that Macbeth is in. This is because I want him to feel unsteady in what he is doing or already done. When Macbeth returns from killing the King I will have bats flying away from him and towards the screen. I will do this because animals are said to have a sense of danger and so it will make Macbeth seem dangerous. In the second scene I will have the windows smashing and glass chandeliers falling down to represent Macbeth's life crumbling down before him.

Act 2 scene 2

Costume

I'm going to put Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in their bedclothes, this is because it will seem like any ordinary day but in contrast it is probably the biggest day of their lives. These types of clothes will also highlight any blood that gets on them more than normal clothes. This will make their crime seem even worse if they are coated in the King's blood. The colour of the clothes will be white. This suggests innocence but in fact it is the complete opposite. It will bring to my film a theme of appearance and reality. I will also make them wear a helmet like they did in the war. I will do this because it will make them seem slightly psychotic. Although they have just killed the King of their country, it matters to them that little they still remember small things like wearing protective headgear.

Lighting

I will have a darkened room with flashes coming from the bombs exploding. This represents the 'dark day' which has taken place. The light from inside the room will come from a log fire next to Macbeth and his wife. The fire will remind the audience of hell, this is what Macbeth has created. There will also be a fire burning in the background where a bomb has hit. This will give the impression that they are surrounded by fire and they can't stop what they've started, it's out of control.

Acting

Lady Macbeth starts the scene with her voice growing in confidence. When the owl interrupts her she shouts at it as if it doesn’t have the right to interrupt her. As the speech goes on she begins a sinister laugh. On her last line she pauses before the words "or die." Lady Macbeth suddenly turns serious then mutters the words.

Macbeth staggers into the dimly lit room, he has been drinking to stop the feelings of guilt. He shouts, "Who's there? What ho?" Then sniggers to himself. Lady Macbeth starts to speak growing anxious, pointing to herself when she says ‘I’. Macbeth puts on a serious voice and tries to hide his sniggering.

After Macbeth mentions "Murder" he seems to realise what he has done and sobers up. He gets serious, Lady Macbeth realises this and tries to reassure Macbeth. "Consider it not so deeply." She gets more and more desperate as she knows she's fighting a losing battle, "these deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad." Macbeth starts crying when he mentions death. Lady Macbeth gets angry and snaps "What do you mean?" In her next speech she hisses the words "why did you bring these daggers from the place?" Macbeth grows in distress, he gets continuously more scared. Lady Macbeth takes matters into her own hands by snatching the daggers from Macbeth and storms off in a fit of rage.

Macbeth sits in a corner and covers his ears to block out the knocking while whispering to himself. Lady Macbeth returns calmer and wiping her bloody hands on her now red nightshirt. She softly commands Macbeth to go to their chamber. Macbeth follows her orders and promptly returns to his chamber.

Act 5 scene 7

Costume

In this scene Macbeth will be wearing a kilt (the national dress of Scotland), this is because it will send out the message that he is patriotic to his troops whereas the audience knows the truth. It will also remind the audience that once he was a tough fighter for his country so he will be hard to defeat in battle. Macbeth will also be wearing an army style T-shirt. This will once again prove he is ready to fight but it will also show that he is unafraid of the enemy. Macbeth seems cocky in his belief that nobody can kill him. "What's he that was not of woman? Such a one am I to fear, or none." This attitude makes the audience hate him more.

When Macduff enters the scene near the end he will be wearing protective body armour. This shows that Macduff has respect for Macbeth as a fighter even though he hates him passionately. Macduff will also wearing a cross on a chain over his clothes. This is to emphasise the good vs. evil theme to the film.

Lighting

This scene will be in daylight, the bombs will still fall until Macduff comes and then they will suddenly stop. This will give the impression he is the savour, another victory for good against evil. The end of the bombing will be like the calm before the storm. When they start fighting there will be a downpour of bombs to create a lightening effect. This will represent the violent atmosphere. When Macduff is speaking individual bombs that light up the sky will go off on certain words to emphasise them. They will go off on "Tyrant" to show Macduff's anger, on "wife" and "children's" to show his grief and on "fortune" as this is what will help Macduff defeat Macbeth.

Acting

Macbeth is pumped up ready to fight anybody who crosses his path, "I cannot fight, but bear-like I must fight the cause." He bangs his chest whilst saying this. When young Siward enters Macbeth laughs as if to say is he their best warrior. Young Siward tries attacking Macbeth but he side-steps the attack with confidence. Young Siward stutters his lines but tries to hide his fear behind his rage and hate for Macbeth. Macbeth toys with the young fighter before he gets bored. He then kills young Siward with apparent ease and grows even more in confidence, "Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, brandished by man that's of woman born." Macbeth kicks then drags young Siward's body away laughing just like his wife was at the beginning of Act 2 scene 2.

Macduff enters shouting every word. He grows more and more angry as his speech continues. “My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.” The emphasise in this sentence is on “still.” When Macduff shouts this word it echoes around the surrounding land. The same happens when Macduff shouts Macbeth. However when Macbeth’s name reverberates around the land a massive explosion is heard to signal his downfall. Macduff runs away frantically looking for revenge.

Siward enters madly pointing towards the castle, he rushes his lines. Malcolm takes his time, Terminator like scanning for his next victim. Siward stumbles over himself as he runs towards the castle. Malcolm strides behind with the noise of an Alarum following them into the castle.