Hamlet Festival Project

Assignment: Create a short video of one of the play’s pivotal scenes.

Format: Your video should be saved in a format that can be played on a DVD player or via Windows Media Player. (DVD is preferable. It would be great if you upload your video to but this should not be the version you present it in, because the school computer can take forever to load these videos.)

The process:

  • Consider the list of potential scenes (on the back side of this sheet). Pick one that stands out to you, perhaps because it was your favorite scene when we read it, or perhaps because it allows for a wide range of directorial interpretation. Clear your scene with me, so that each group is doing something unique.
  • Go back and reread the scene. You may refer to your text, your logs, and/or
  • Search on for different interpretations of the scene, to see how different actors and directors work with the text in distinct ways. (Usually I search for something like “Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1” and get some good results.)
  • A couple of versions I would recommend checking out:
  • Mel Gibson as Hamlet (set in 17th century Denmark, rather faithful to Shakespeare’s text, and very faithful to Shakespeare’s setting)
  • David Tennant as Hamlet (set in more modern times, very faithful to Shakespeare’s text, takes liberties with the setting – such as Hamlet’s use of a video camera in “The Mousetrap” scene)
  • Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet (set in the Victorian age, very faithful to Shakespeare’s text – it actually uses every word from the original script)
  • Ethan Hawke as Hamlet (set in New York City in the year 2000, very faithful to Shakespeare’s text – the only thing that wasn’t written by The Bard is the answering machine messages in the film – but obviously takes a unique interpretation of the setting)
  • It may also be interesting for you to check out other student videos online, to get an idea of what students in your age group are doing at schools around the country.
  • Decide your “vision” for the scene. In what time period will be set? What unique perspective will you bring to the scene as actors and directors? (You may set your scene in any time period you like, though I would like you to work with the original Shakespearean language – although you may cut or reorder lines, or paraphrase on a limited basis where appropriate.)
  • Gather props and costumes and rehearse your scene. Don’t feel obligated to spend money on props and costumes. You’ll be surprised how much you can find around your house!
  • Film your scene. Be sure to speak loudly so that the dialogue can be heard.
  • Edit your scene, using Windows Movie Maker or a similar program. If you need help transferring your final product to a DVD for the class presentation, see me so I can put you in touch with Ms. Goldsberry, who can assist you in this matter. (Be sure to do this EARLY, because she can’t do it at the last minute.)

Potential Scenes:

  • 1.1 The ghost of Old King Hamlet appears to Horatio and the castle guards.
  • 1.5 The ghost asks Hamlet to avenge the murder. (You could also include some of 1.4 here, if you wanted to incorporate more actors.)
  • 2.2 Hamlet pretends to be crazy as he talks to Polonius. (“You are a fishmonger!”)
  • 2.2 Hamlet meets up with his college buddies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, whom he realizes are acting as spies for Claudius.
  • 3.2 “The Mousetrap” (This is a long scene, so you can feel free to cut lines liberally.) – Hamlet stages the play that “will reveal the conscience of the king”
  • 3.4 The Closet Scene – Hamlet stabs Polonius as he hides behind the curtain, then confronts his mother and sees the ghost of his father
  • 4.5 Ophelia’s Mad Scene – Ophelia has gone crazy after the death of her father
  • 5.1 The Gravedigger Scene – Hamlet finds the gravedigger very funny…until he finds out whose grave it is.
  • 5.2 The Final Fight Scene – SWORDS! POISON! DEATH! DISMEMBERMENT! WOOHOO!

You may chose to do a scene that is not listed here, but just be sure to clear this with me beforehand.

You may choose to work with students from my other junior honors class, but you will just have to work out the logistics outside of class.

Your final video should be about 8-10 minutes long.

This assignment should be prepared and completed outside of class, although we will have class time to touch base on your progress.

Timeline:

  • Thursday, May 26, 2011: Brainstorming Time
  • Wednesday, June 1, 2011: Check-up in Class
  • Monday, June 6, 2011: Hamlet Festival Day!

English 11 HonorsMr. Ambrose