Sunday, April 25, 2010

April 26th...

So far the class has chosen a final script that will be turned into a video. Tsolmon's script had the most votes. The script includes Hero, Beatrice, Claudio, Benedick, Don Pedro, Ursula, Margaret and Borachio.

One group of students is working on editing, costumes, setting and props. The other group is the actors and they are working on memorizing the script and everything else actors do.

It's all messed up at the moment. We are lacking in the enthusiasm in creating the final product. First we were going to combine two scripts, but that would have been a lot of work. So then, the class decided to just take Tsolmon's script, since her's had the most votes. Now we're trying to get everything together.

Next Wednesday we want to start filming. Some of it will be practice. I have been given then role of the host. Either lines have to be memorized or we'll have cards and we can do different parts of the script at different times.

So far...

Monday, April 19, 2010

Much Ado about Nothing: Entertainment Special

The host enters. Audience applauds and cheers.

Host: How ya’ll doing tonight?! Audience screams replies such as ‘Great!’ or simply continues cheering. Good, good, because we’ve got a great show coming this evening! All of you are about to discover the actual facts about the latest Hollywood couple, Benetrice! Crowd goes wild cheering and clapping. Let us welcome the five Cupids! Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro!

Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro run or walk in smiling as their name is called. They all take a seat.


Host: Hi, how are you? Smiling, real casually.

Don Pedro: Great. Thanks so much for inviting us!

Leonato: I can not wait to get started.

Host: Great. Let me tell you, everyone is so excited to have you here. Speaking towards the audience. Am I right? Audience says ‘Yes!’.

Claudio: Laughing and smiling. We’re really excited to be here too.

Host: Audience quiets down. So you all know about the newest couple, Benedick and Beatrice or ‘Benetrice’ as they’re called these days. There have been rumors that you five have played an important role in getting the two of them together.

Don Pedro: Yea, we all thought they would be good for one another.

Host: Well, so far it seems you did well in matching them up. It’s quite a remarkably feat, I must say, getting Benedick and Beatrice together.

Hero: Yes it was. It was practically impossible to find them not bickering at each other. They’re both very witty.

Host, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro are all chuckling.

Host: Do you all agree with this? Nodding towards Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro.

Ursula: Yes, it’s true. Even now they still bicker at each other.

Host: So you five hooked Benedick and Beatrice up? How did you get them together?

Don Pedro: Laughing. Now that’s a funny story. We totally set Benedick up. He had been in the garden, when we walked by. He seemed to have spotted us and hid himself, but not before we saw where he was hiding.

Claudio: So then we started speaking VERY loudly of how Beatrice loved Benedick so much, but she could never tell him, for if she did, she would die.

Leonato: Chuckling. We sure baited the hook well, and the fish most definitely did bite.

Everyone is laughing or chuckling. The atmosphere is excited, happy and comfortable.

Host: Lucky for you (indicating the audience), we caught this fishing trip on camera.

Video clip is shown on screen.

* * *

Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato are walking in the garden. You can see Benedick hiding behind a tree.

Don Pedro: Come Leonato. Were you the one who told me that BEATRICE was in love with SINGOR BENEDICK? Speaking towards the tree behind which Benedick is hiding.

Claudio: I did not know she would love anyone.

Leonato: Neither did I. Though she pretends to hate him, she loves more than you would think possible.

Don Pedro: It would be good if Benedick new this.

Claudio: What good would that bring? He would only make more fun of her.

Don Pedro: She is a sweet lady. She is virtuous and wise.

Leonato: Except that she loves Benedick.

Claudio: Hero says Beatrice will die if he loves her, if he knows she loves him, or if he asks her out.

Benedick: To himself. What?! That’s not possible!

Leonato: Well should we go tell Benedick of her love?

Claudio: We can never tell him.

Don Pedro: To Claudio and Leonato. If he doesn’t love her now, I don’t know how to get them together. Now we have to tell Hero to do the same to Beatrice.

* * *

Everyone is applauding and laughing.

Host: So that’s how it happened. Now, Hero and Ursula, you had the job of tricking Beatrice. How did that go?

Hero: It was fun. I just got Margaret to run off and tell Beatrice we were talking about her in the garden. Beatrice came right along, of course.

Ursula: It was really quite entertaining.

Host: Well, let’s show our audience the famous video clip of the witty Beatrice falling into an obvious trap.

* * *

Hero and Ursula are walking in the orchard, their arms linked. You can see Beatrice hiding behind a tree or clump of flowers.

Hero: She is too hateful. Signor Benedick calls her ‘Lady Disdain’, even though he LOVES her.

Ursula: But are you sure that Benedick loves Lady Beatrice so completely?

Hero: That’s what my Claudio and Don Pedro said.

Ursula: Will you tell Beatrice of Benedick’s love?

Hero: No. She would make fun of him.

Ursula: The Lady Disdain…she turns every man inside out. Never sees their good sides.

Beatrice: To herself. Indignant. That’s not true.

Hero: Yea, and Signor Benedick is really on of the best men.

Ursula: Benedick must fight against the passion he has for Beatrice. She may never find out that he LOVES her so entirely.

* * *

Everyone is laughing and applauding.

Host: Well now, that was quite amusing. Benedick and Beatrice don’t seem so witty now. Let’s welcome in the two love birds, shall we? Audience applaud .Beatrice and Benedick walk in smiling.

Host: Thanks for joining us this evening. So tell us, how did you two come together

Benedick: I’ve always loved Beatrice.

Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro are trying to hold back laughter.

Beatrice: It’s true. I love him. He would do anything for me. He almost killed Claudio on my wish.

Benedick and Claudio both nod, remembering when Benedick had threatened to kill Claudio.

Host: Really? So you both just always loved each other? I’ve been told that you bicker a lot. Is this true?

Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro are keeping suspiciously quiet. They are trying their hardest not to burst out laughing.

Beatrice: Well yes, we do. Adds hurriedly. But every couple goes through some arguments.

Benedick: It’s because we’re both so witty and wise.

Host: Hmm… yes. Well, we have something to show you. Shows parts of the two clips.

* * *

Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato are walking in the garden. You can see Benedick hiding behind a tree.

Don Pedro: Come Leonato. Were you the one who told me that BEATRICE was in love with SINGOR BENEDICK?

Claudio: I did not know she would love anyone.

Leonato: Neither did I. Though she pretends to hate him, she loves more than you would think possible.

* * *

Hero and Ursula are walking in the orchard, their arms linked. You can see Beatrice hiding behind a tree or clump of flowers.

Ursula: But are you sure that Benedick LOVES Lady Beatrice so completely?

Hero: That’s what, Claudio and Don Pedro said.

* * *

Everyone is laughing their heads off except Benedick and Beatrice. They are sitting grinning, but in a shocked, embarrassed way.

Benedick: Pause. Oh my god, I never new about this…
Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro are still giggling.

Don Pedro: Laughing. Teasing in a friendly way. Yea, the ‘witty’ couple fell for our trick.

Host: So tell me, how are you feeling?

Benedick: Grinning sheepishly. Em… Embarrassed, mostly. I mean, it doesn’t change anything between us. Indicating Beatrice.

Beatrice: No. It only changes my feelings towards those five. Chuckling, nods towards Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro.

Leonato: To the audience. They’ll forgive us by tomorrow.

Host: Not so sure you can believe your friends any more? Chuckling.

Beatrice: Laughing. For some reason, no I don’t think I can completely believe them. Casually. But I do believe that Benedick asked me to marry him.

A surprised silence and then the crowd start whistling, cheering and applauding. Even Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro are surprised but they clap too.

Host: Stands up and comes to center stage. Let’s end this on a happy note. Thanks for coming! He returns to Hero, Ursula, Claudio, Leonato, Don Pedro, Beatrice and Benedick as camera zooms out.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

April 19th...

So far the Modern Shakespeare unit has been a bit difficult to complete. Since we have no received any scripts back, I'm still confused about what I'm supposed to be doing. As a class we have split the type of scripts into groups. We have a gossip group, a news group, an group that's responsible for the breaks and a talk show group. I am in the talk show group with Uudee, Tsolmon and Yea Jun. In our group, we haven't done much. For one of the scripts a table will be needed. It'll be similar to a late night show. That's as far as we've got. I don't want to combine scripts.
I think better quality videos will be produced if the class is split into 3 groups. Each group then has a script that they have to turn into a video. This brings us back to choosing which scripts should be created. Some people may not want their scripts to be used. That's fine. The class should read the scripts and with Mrs. Wilson's and Mr. Thompson's feedback we can decide which scripts we want to turn into videos.