Luhrmann and Zefferelli comparison as directors Essay Example For Students

Luhrmann and Zefferelli: comparison as directors Essay Both Luhrmann and Zefferelli got their point across to the viewer very well using mise en scene as Zefferelli was nominated as best-director for an Oscar and Luhrmann nominated for an Oscar too. Zefferelli has directed many films in his career, including Hamlet, The Champ and La Boheme, which were all very successful. Luhrmann has directed other films such as Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom, both very successful. Baz Luhrmann and Franco Zefferelli both wrote for the younger audience of their day, although today many think that Zefferellis work is old and boring. Both directors were very successful in their day Luhrmann still is today. Mise en scene is everything in a camera shot but when we analyse it we have to break it down into its six sections. These are, costume; make-up; figure positioning; setting; lighting and props, also it is necessary to analyse cinematography and sound and music as well. By analysing mise en scene in this way we now have a clearer idea of the effect the director wanted to achieve. For example if the director wants to create a sense of fear the actor would have white make-up on their hands and face so the viewer can see they are cold and scared. Costume and Make-up are both important in portraying the day and age of the time the film is supposed to be set in. Both Zefferelli and Luhrmann directed their versions of Romeo and Juliet at people aged around fifteen to thirty at the time of release. There is an immense difference though because when Zefferelli released his version it was about twenty or thirty years before Luhrmann released his. The costume that Luhrmann uses is a contrast to what Zefferelli uses, although they have some similarities, one family wears dark clothes the other bright à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" in Luhrmanns version the Montagues wear bright and the Capulets wear dark, Zefferelli decided to have it the other way around. In Luhrmanns version the Montague boys wear very loud modern shirts with loose trousers and coloured hair, this signifies that the Montagues are very relaxed and cool among the city. The Capulet boys are the opposite of this and wear dark coloured waistcoats and leather jackets with a shirt underneath bearing a picture of Jesus and overall they have a very Hispanic look, this costume portrays that they are religious and that they like to look powerful among others. The Hispanic look gives the effect that they are a bit evil. Tybalt wears shoes with a metal heel, which signifies that he likes to think of himself as hard and the leader of the Capulet boys. A Montague has dark make-up around his eyes, which shows that he is always in fights. Old Montague and Lady Montague, along with Old Capulet and Lady Capulet, all wear very expensive and posh clothing, signyfiying that the lead their family and it shows their power. The Police Chief and his officers wear the traditional Police uniform bearing their rank, which signifies their power and authority over others. The Nuns at the petrol station, the woman at the petrol station and the newsreader all wear neutral colours, brown and red, to show that they are innocent and not part of the brawls amongst the Montague and Capulet families. In Zefferellis version, the colours of the costume are reversed, meaning the Capulets are wearing bright clothes, looking like medieval jesters and the Montagues are dressed in dark blues and blacks which suggest that they are peaceful and the Capulets want the attention as they also started the fight. Tybalt wears the same colours as the Capulets, but underneath his bright waistcoat he wears more posh clothes than the other Capulets. The Capulet and Montague parents both wear posh clothes with a velvet cape over the top. They are both dark coloured outfits. The Prince and his men all dress very smartly and wear the colour dark red, to symbolise that they are neutral along with the townspeople in the market who wear light blues and browns. Setting and props are used in Romeo and Juliet to create effect: Luhrmann and Zefferelli both use them to show what they want the viewer to perceive them as. In Lurhmans adaptation there is a complete black room with a television in the middle, this s to direct your attention to the newsreader on the Television so you are not distracted. The busy city that is shown, just like the busy marketplace in Zefferellis version, depicts the danger and innocence of the townspeople and that they are involved in a brutal battle when they dont want or need to be. When we see the Montague boys driving down the road, it is as if they are driving to where the action will take place, the Petrol station à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the main setting for the action, as this is a neutral place. Like the market place used by Zefferelli, a place where innocent people get involved in the fighting. The view of the Capulet and Montague skyscrapers are separated, this signifies to the viewer that the city is divided into two, half Montague and half Capulet. This also occurs in Zefferellis version because the Capulets come through on street and the Montagues another: therefore they meet in the marketplace, the heart of the action. The weapon rooms in the Montague and Capulet castles are filled with the families weapons. This shows that they are ready to fight and want to fight. Props used in the opening sequence are the guns that are used in the fight, sword in Zefferellis version: this clearly shows that each family is willing to kill the other family, to make their family the best. The match and the cigar that Tybalt has, shows that he is more sophisticated, as he doesnt smoke just a common cigarette. The sign at the petrol station that says CAPULATE VERSUS MONTAGUE à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 2ND CIVIL BRAWL is seen whilst on fire to signify that that news is old and there has been now a 3rd civil brawl. Opening scenes of films EssayThe princes horsemen position themselves quite spread out to create a big as gap as possible between the Montagues and Capulets as they seize fighting. The lighting aspect of mise en scene enhances the image that we create in our minds whilst watching a film. The significance of the room being dark and the only light coming from the television is to draw your attention to the newsreader. The view of each families parents getting out of their limousine is in the dark at night time which suggests that they are evil and want to destroy the other family, and also as Old Capulet and Old Montague are in shop with a dark background after the fight suggests they have sinned. There is a lot of light in the shot where the Montagues are shown driving, which signifies that they are the good guys between the two families and also that they are more relaxed. As the Capulets pull onto the forecourt of the petrol station in a moving shot, which follows the Capulets car moving towards the camera, there is a dark shadow around the bottom of the car, this indicates the darkness and evil of the Capulet boys. The Capulet boys stay around the petrol station shop area where it is considerably darker than where the Montague are parked, nearer the road in the light, this also indicates that the Capulets are darker and more evil and the Montagues are the more calm and cool, of the two. The fire of the burning petrol station leaves a black cloud over the city, the purpose of this is that it shows evil and darkness. In Zefferelli adaptation the lighting does not differ often as it is daytime in the marketplace and everything is filmed around that area. As the fighting is in progress, the dust from the market floor is stirred and creates a dark effect, which symbolises danger to the innocent townspeople. The last aspect that you have to look at to analyse a film fully is cinematography, this is what the camera does à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" its movement etc. The camera slowly zooms into the television, this is important because it slowly gets you involved in the film. The quick flashes of the city and what happened after the fighting grab your attention immediately. Frozen camera shots of each character introduces you to them, to ensure you know your character from the start and do not miss any important parts whilst trying to work out who is who. The quick E. C. Us of Tybalt and BV eyes signify the fear and tension between the two of them. The C. Us of guns shows that the Capulets and Montagues are armed and dangerous and the M. Ss and L. Ss of them using their guns shows they are not afraid to use them. The L. S to M. S zoom, to between the Montague and Capulet buildings shows how separated and apart the families are. The slow motion C. U through Tybalts sniper scope reassures us that he wants to kill. Zefferelli uses basic camera shots, like using a dolly to follow the Capulets through the market place. Also Zefferelli uses the tilt: the shot shows the Capulets feet as they walk further on, the camera moves up the Capulets body as they walk further. Another shot uses the M. S whilst the fights are going on, these shots are more than likely the most up to date shots of the time. In conclusion to thisanalytical essay on the comparison of Baz Luhrmanns and Franco Zefferellis adaptations of William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet I can conclude that every film, television programme and play involves every aspect of mise en scene and has been thought about a great deal by the irector, as he tries to impress, amaze and create a powerful effect to the audiences that watch. When the six aspects of mise en scene are explored fully the viewer gets a clearer picture of what the effect the director was trying to create. In my opinion, as a teenager, I prefer Baz Luhrmanns adaptation is better and more interesting than Franco Zefferellis. This is because Luhrmanns version is mordern to me and in this day and age there are guns so Luhrmann substitutes swords with guns. Also it is more powerful and Luhrmann has adapted the script slightly so that it is more mordern to what Shakespeare would have used. I also like Luhrmanns version better because of the technology used there is more different types of camera shots and more mordern props can be used. The main part of Luhrmanns version that draws me to it is the powerful music that he uses at the start while some shots of the film are flashing through. Zefferellis version would have appealed to a teenager thirty years ago but now it doesnt because there was not as much technology in those days also the music at the start is very old fashioned and would put most people of today off at the very start.