Significant Features of Baz Luhrmann’s Style of The Opening Scene of Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

western-inspired musical score in his film. To achieve the desired effect, the team removed all western films from a local video shop and selected music that fit their vision. Additionally, the team created a flamenco-style shootout scene and expertly crafted the prologue to resemble a news report.

When a screen is placed within another screen, one is bound to focus on it since there is nothing else to look at. The creator intentionally started with a small screen to encourage full concentration. Additionally, the prologue was repeated thrice to ensure that it was not missed. The phrase "Star cross'd lovers" broken apart indicates that the story is about a doomed love affair. Furthermore, the camera focused on religious statues to convey that the law serves as a tool for preserving peace and harmony in society.

By initially making the characters ridicule nuns and then abruptly revealing their mutual enmity, the author transforms the tone from humorous to intense. The shift is further accentuated by the inclusion of music, ultimately leading to confrontation with the law. The setting of a petrol station was chosen as the author pondered what wealthy young men might occupy themselves with, concluding that they would race cars and make rude gestures towards each other. Additionally, the petrol station is a ubiquitous location that many people frequent, similar to a town center. As the opening scene, it serves to acquaint readers with the characters and generate excitement, ensuring their continued interest.

The production designer had to decide on a location for the film. Initially, Miami was considered due to the requirement for a generic landscape and a population of hot-blooded Latinos, unrecognizable to the audience.

However, permission to film was not granted. Consequently, options were explored globally before finding an appropriate location in Mexico. The chosen location had existing religious statues and a predominantly Latino population, making it highly desirable.

Verona was well-represented through the production design. Attention to small details is important as they convey information about the characters, such as a missing button indicating a fight, poor financial status, or lack of care for possessions. The more intricate these details are, the more believable they become, even if they go unnoticed. Special care was taken with the guns to avoid boring or alienating any firearms experts on board; in fact, mistakes may even be welcomed as potential news stories.

The film required attention to detail, evident in the older Latino guns featuring religious symbols in contrast to the sleeker and more modern Anglo guns. The guns also had the words "sword" and "longsword" as the make to align with Benvolio's dialogue of "Raise your swords." As with any film, proper casting was necessary.

In order to make a Shakespearean film more appealing, the filmmakers knew they needed a well-known actor to draw in audiences. To achieve this, they visited various local talent agencies to scout for talent. Although they had a clear goal in mind, it took some effort to find the right people for the film.

Learnado Dicaprio (Romeo) was a popular heartthrob among young girls and had acted in many films, which made him quite well-known. Films cast famous people because viewers who had enjoyed their previous films would be drawn to watch them again. Claire Danes (Juliet) is well-suited for the role because she has a relatable

appearance, which makes viewers want to see the movie.

The reason Hollywood was unhappy was due to their preference for major celebrities. However, with Learnado, Shakespeare could return to prominence on the Times Square billboards. After selecting the cast, the costume designer used computer technology to attain images of them in various attire. To further enhance the appearance, they depicted Juliet in an angel costume as she was referred to as a bright angel by Romeo, and Romeo in armor to exemplify his knight in shining armor role.

Showing the words with what you see is crucial in the role of the costume designer. It takes time for the language to become familiar, but portraying characters visually can help. Tybalt is a good example of this concept, as his attire clearly reflects his evil nature. Additionally, his vest depicting Jesus indicates his religious affiliation.

Directing the movements of the cast is the choreographer's responsibility, as these movements are critical in shaping the characters' styles. By enhancing their persona and providing insight into their personality, these movements serve a crucial role. The Montague family's relaxed and carefree attitude is reflected in their choreography while the Capulet family's serious and superiority complex is displayed through distinctive movements. Moreover, sound production plays a vital role in movies and can be a time-consuming process.

The team aimed to incorporate various elements, including background music, footsteps, car noises, and gunshots to create the sound in a single shot. They also added the sound of spurs when Tybalt exits the car to achieve a spaghetti western atmosphere. Luhrmann effectively achieved his objective of envisioning how Shakespeare would create the film utilizing contemporary techniques while

keeping in mind that Shakespeare's original style was influenced by societal norms during his era.

If William Shakespeare were alive today, he might have followed in the footsteps of Baz Luhrmann and adapted Romeo and Juliet to a modern setting. While Franco Zeffirelli's film stayed true to the original play, Shakespeare may have chosen to incorporate a modern cityscape into his work.