‘SHAKESPEARE ON SCREEN’
1. INTRODUCTION
Award-winning screen director, Andrew Higgs, is offering another rare opportunity to attend an intensive 5-day workshop devoted entirely to shooting Shakespeare on screen, using methods developed over the last eight years running almost one hundred of the acclaimed week-long ‘Alchemy of Screen Acting’ workshops.
This workshop will be in two parts. Participants will come prepared with a self-selected Shakespeare sonnet (a mini 3-act drama) which will be rehearsed and shot on camera during the first two days. The second part will be rehearsing and shooting a series of short scenes or part-scenes from a plot line of one of the plays, so that the particular story line makes narrative sense and is resolved satisfactorily within the workshop period. An appropriate play will be specially chosen which reflects the casting potential of the workshop participants.
The workshop was originally trialled at the Actors Centre, London and has been previously run on three occasions, workshopping scenes from ‘King Lear’ in 2004, ‘Twelfth Night’ in 2007, and ‘Measure For Measure’ in 2008. Concurrent speed editing on Final Cut Pro allows participants to see a rough cut of their work on the final day. Post workshop, participating actors receive a DVD of the fine cut of all sonnets and scenes shot, plus Quicktime.mov files for uploading to the net as required.
The play being workshopped is announced in advance together with specific scenes chosen by the workshop director. Participants then will be invited to bid for roles so that they can be confirmed on Day One giving the maximum period for line learning (3 or 4 nights). Participating actors are free to take on as much, or as little, material as each feels comfortable with during the intensive 5-day period.
Participants are encouraged to approach a Shakespeare scene as they would a well written movie scene, concentrating on the logic of the dramatic situation and the body language, emotion, thinking and moral stance of the characters involved to produce a rounded, believable screen performance.
Although it is strongly advised that participants have either previously attended one of the 5-day ‘Alchemy of Screen Acting’ workshops, or have other screen experience, it is more important to have had some experience with Shakespearean texts. This is not a workshop for beginners!
The text used will be “First Folio of Shakespeare in Modern Type” prepared and annotated by Neil Freeman (Applause).
2. SCHEDULE
• DAY ONE
Rehearse sonnets. Feedback.
Selection of scenes and casting of roles from the chosen play.
Read through scenes and text analysis.
• DAY TWO
Shoot sonnets (two different versions).
Replay sonnets ‘rushes’ and analysis.
Feedback on screen performance.
• DAY THREE
Detailed rehearsal of all play scenes.
• DAY FOUR
Shoot play scenes.
• DAY FIVE
Shoot continued (am only).
View all ‘rushes’ of play scenes and analysis.
View rough cut of material shot on Day Four.
Strategies for gaining further screen experience.
Handouts (including reading list).
3. POST PRODUCTION
Post workshop, a fine cut will be made on Final Cut Pro, with titles and appropriate music and sound effects, and participants will each receive a DVD copy of the sonnets and all edited scenes. As all material is shot to broadcast technical standard (16:9 ratio) and edited professionally, participants may wish to include some of their work on a showreel. Therefore, mini-DV copies of the fine cuts can be made available, at a special rate of UKP 12 (inc. VAT). Rushes can also be made available (on mini DV tape only), but there would have be an additional charge of UKP 60 (inc. VAT).
4. WORKSHOP DETAILS
The venue will be in or around the London, E14 (Docklands) area and will be an appropriate location for the chosen play. Viewings will take place at the Macheath Productions base, very close (2 minutes) to Westferry DLR Station (London, E14).
Timings: 0900-1800 hrs daily
Dates: TBA
Workshop Fee: UKP 500 plus VAT (ie. UKP 600). This covers five full days tuition/direction, including two rehearsal and two and a half shooting days, analysis of rushes, rough cut viewings, DVD copy (+ Quicktime.mov files) of sonnets and edited scenes and copious handouts.
Capacity: The workshop is strictly limited to a maximum of 8 actors and, due to anticipated pressure of demand, places are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
5. BOOKING
Enrol by sending your Spotlight link (or acting CV) to the workshop director, Andrew Higgs, at: andrew@macheath.u-net.com
6. WORKSHOP DIRECTOR
Andrew Higgs trained at the London International Film School, graduating with distinction, having won the Fuji Scholarship Award for ‘Macheath’ starring John Hurt. Subsequent directing credits include ‘Brookside’. ‘The Bill’, ‘Jupiter Moon’ and the German police series ‘Die Wache’. He is currently developing a number of independent feature film projects concerning spiritual/environmental issues.
