How does Baz Luhrmann create drama and excitement in the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet?

Hip - hop music is coming from their car , and they are making silly boyish noises this is used by Luhrmann to make the Montague boys seem immature and that they are not to be taken seriously by the audience .

On the other hand the Capulet boys have loud roaring coming from their car luhrman uses this to present the Capulets in a totally different way to the Montague's the loud roaring noise is used to make the Capulet seem more menacing than the Montague's and that the Capulet are feared by the Montague's .

As from the moment Tybalt steps out of his car , western style music is played , this non - diagetic sound is used to prepare the audience for the western style that is about to occur, this western style music ties in with the diagetic sound of the sign from the petrol station swinging , this all links in with the western genre which coincides with the style of fighting between the two families in this particular scene.

When Tybalt steps out if the Capulet car we only see his western style boots that link in with the western style music and the sign swinging . The sound his boots make when he steps out on the lit match seem menacing , because we cannot see his face and he makes a horrible noise with his boots .

After the prologue is read by the newsreader , the camera pans over the city . These erratic camera shots , show images of buildings that belong to the two families and religious buildings such as the statue of Jesus in the centre of the city . These images give a birds eye view of the city as if we are in a helicopter .Because of the erratic camera shots this speeds up the pace of the film . Baz luhrman uses this technique because it represents the two families and also it shows the religion that is an influence in the film , it emphasizes that the two families are competing with each other , it also shows that the two families are important to the city because they run a lot of businesses.

In the petrol station when we first get to see the Montague boys and the Capulet boys , we get close ups on the different aspects and the differences of the two families. There are close ups on the guns that the two families have , with the two family crests on them this technique is used by luhrmann to differentiate between the two families and show that they don't want to be associated with each other in any way. There are also close up camera shots on the number plates on the cars belonging to the two groups this is also to show that the two families want to be separate from each other in every way but they also use the same ideas on the things that they own to make them seem their own and that they do not want to be like the other family.

When the quarrel starts between the two families in the petrol station we get close ups of the characters faces which shows us a lot about how they are feeling at this very time through their facial expressions . The Montague's look frightened and scared at the sight of the Capulets this is used by Luhrmann to show that the Montague's are fearful of the Capulets and they feel threatened by them. The Capulets have a more menacing facial appearance than the Montague's which is shown by their dark facial hair and the word hate written on one of the Capulets teeth.

The names of the characters in the opening scene are flashed across the screen when they are introduced , this technique is usually used in 80s American soap opera, this effect is used by Luhrmann to show that this film is a modern adaptation on the William Shakespeare play , even though it retains the old language used in the original play.

Costume and hairstyles play an important part in separating the two groups of characters ; the Montague's and the Capulets .

The Montague and Capulet families have a very different sense of style to each other . The Montague's have a relaxed costume with the open Hawaiian shirts that Luhrmann uses to show that they are carefree and relaxed compared to the Capulets . The Capulets are dressed in black leather trousers and vests compared to the Montague's this makes them seem serious and tough .

The hair styles also differ between the two groups . The Capulets have jet black hair and sinister dark facial which has a large impact on the way we see the characters are seen by the audience Luhrmann has used this technique to influence the audiences ideas on the characters to make the audience see the Capulets as the 'bad guys'.

The Montague's are totally the opposite , for example one of the Montague boys has pink hair , this shows that the montagues do not care about how people perceive them .

Body language has a vital role in the techniques used in the film. When Tybalt starts shooting at the Montague boys in the petrol station , he drops onto his knees rips open his shirt which unveils a picture of Christ and kissed his gun as if he is praying, this shows the religious influence on the film , with both families , the only thing that they have in common is the religion that they share . Luhrmann wants to show this because this is all that the two families share with each other and this shows that they are alike in some way.

The sequence when Tybalt drops and prays is similar to the positioning on the screen when he steps off of the toilet in the petrol station, Tybalt and Benvolio , are at a stand off . Tybalt is positioned above Benvolio , this screen position shows to the audience that Tybalt is threatening towards Benvolio and has power over him , this is also shown from the look that we get from the close up on Benvolios face , his facial expression shows that he is intimidated by Tybalt

Baz Luhrmann uses many techniques to create drama and excitement in the film 'Romeo and Juliet' I think that the technique he uses the best to full effect is the sound he incorporates in the film. The sound creates a tense feeling of drama and excitement within the film . As soon as the film starts the sound is thrown right at the audience from the start , the use of the opera music and the western style of music creates the correct atmosphere for the scenes that they are used in . For example when the western music is played in the petrol station scene it builds the audience up for what is about to happen in that scene .

Tom Brittain

Romeo and Juliet coursework.