Friday, December 10

All classes went to the computer lab to work on the "Antigone" movie project. It'll be due this coming Monday. By the way, if you're missing the requirements, here they are:

Making the Movie:
Antigone

The play Antigone has been read and performed for over 2000 years. Some productions are faithful to the Greek text, and others have been radically modernized. In 1944, Anouilh (a French playwright), rewrote Sophocles’ play and set it in Nazi-occupied Paris. This modernized drama emphasized the theme of the conflict between moral beliefs and autocratic power that was reflected in the politics of the time. In the 1960’s, a critic compared Antigone’s act of rebellion with the acts of civil disobedience that occurred as part of the civil rights movement. In the 1970’s, Antigone’s actions were praised by feminists; in the 1980’s, a critic focused on the conflict between Antigone’s duty to her family and the duty to herself and her husband-to-be.

Your role:
Imagine that you are the producer of a movie version of Antigone. Your film may be set in any time or place but it must be faithful to the major themes and conflicts of the play.

Your task:
Create a prospectus (a formal written proposal) for the movie, which will be submitted to both major and smaller, independent motion picture companies. Your prospectus must be professional in appearance and well organized (10 points) and contain the following content:
*Convincing reasons why your remake of Antigone will be a popular success. Discuss the major themes and conflicts of your production and how they are relevant to a movie audience of today. Make clear whether your production is aimed for a mass audience, or to smaller, more specialized audience. (10 points)
*Basic plot outline, include setting (time and place), conflicts, and characters. Remember that, while your movie must be appealing to a segment of today’s movie-goers, it need not be set in the present. (10 points)
*Costuming notes. Visually present the most important costume of each of your major characters. Accompany each picture with an explanation of the effect you will be creating with this costume, the source of the inspiration, and comments about fabrics and colors. (10 points)
*Music notes. Explain what sort of music would be used in your movie: will you use a score (instrumental) or a soundtrack (songs by popular artists)? Explain what the musical director should achieve in writing the score, in terms of emotional impact. List which scenes will be enhanced by powerful music and state what emotion will be aroused by this music. If you choose to use a soundtrack, list the artists and songs that would be in your movie.(10 points)
*An original script of the most important scene of the movie, accompanied by stage and lighting directions. Choose a scene which emphasizes the themes and conflicts you have chosen to highlight in your movie. (10 points)
*A storyboard of one scene of the movie. This storyboard must be at least six panels and demonstrate your setting, costuming and camera choices. (10 points)
*A cover letter to the movie company that “sells” your movie. In this letter, you must convince the company that your movie is a smart investment and that your movie will be successful. This should be formatted in proper letter style. (20 points)
*Movie poster, featuring the name of your film, the names of actors you envision in key roles, and suitable artwork and descriptions of the plot. Your poster should reflect your main themes and conflicts and be visually interesting. (10 points)

Total: 100 points

RUBRIC FOR ANTIGONE FILM PROSPECTUS
Professional in appearance, including spelling and grammar. Well-organized. 10
Reasons why your remake of Antigone will be a popular success. Major themes and conflicts and how they are relevant to the target audience. 10
Costuming notes: pictures of most important costumes and explanation for each picture (effect, source of inspiration, comments about fabrics and colors). 10
Music notes: explanation of impact of particular scenes that will be enhanced by music and what emotion will be aroused in each case. 10
Original script of the most important scene: emphasizes identified themes and conflicts, accompanied by stage and lighting directions. 10
Movie poster: name of film, names of actors, suitable artwork and description of plot. Visually compelling and reflects main themes and conflicts. 10
Cover letter: formatted as a letter and persuades the company to invest in your film. 20
Basic plot outline, including setting (time and place), characters, and conflicts. 10
Storyboard of one scene that demonstrates your setting, costuming and camera choices; at least six panels 10