Proposal of Romeo and Juliet

I would propose to place my version of Romeo and Juliet in a modern setting. This is because would be easier and better as you would have all the things you need in modern life.

The two families would not have social standing as the Montagues and the Capulets do but would rather be set at the other end of the social scale. They would be members of two criminal families who are battling for control of the city’s underworld. They would not have high social standing overall but within their own background, they would represent a sort of criminal aristocracy.

The setting would be a modern city with surroundings of traditional heritage. The modern aspect of the city would be used for the fight scene and a more traditional setting would be used during the exchange between Romeo and Juliet on the subject of love. This would emphasize the change in the style of language which she uses in the play. The two dwellings of Montague and Capulet could also be contracted later in a similar manner; one would be traditional and the other would be modern to help audience recognition.

I would keep the family names of the Montagues and the Capulets. These seem accessible in an increasingly integrated world but I would change the first names to make them more westernised whilst trying to preserve some connection with the original name e.g. Benvolio to Ben; Mercutio to Mark; Tybalt to Tony etc.. The names of Romeo and Juliet would be left unaltered as they have a powerful association that it could reduce the power of the story if it was changed.

Costumes and dress would be modern. The older generation would wear expensive designer clothing. The younger generation would be split to show the difference in rank. The servants (Samson, Gregory etc…) would wear baggy clothing which is unbranded while the younger family members (Romeo, Benvolio, Tybalt etc…) would wear casual clothing which is branded and recognizable.

Weapons would have to be updated. Here again, we could emphasize the class difference. The servants could fight with fists and pieces of wood. The younger family members could fight with knives and guns. The older generation could have access, say, to shotguns which of course they don’t use.

The opening street scene and the fight I would film as a right shot with wet streets to increase the dramatic contrast gradually breaking into dawn for the exchange between Romeo and Benvolio where the atmosphere softens. The opening scene could be located in an area with a gym and alleys. The exchange between Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio, I would move to inside one of the gym as this is a more natural setting for this passage. The final exchange between Romeo and Benvolio I would move outside again to make a feature of the sunrise. My version of the play would differ from the actual play in that it would begin in darkness and move to dawn whereas the play begins in the light.

The music would form a very important background to the film as there is a tremendous variety of activities in the first scene of Act 1.

The music for the street fight would need to start slowly and build up to a crescendo for the fight scene before the Prince arrives. The following exchanges would need to be a lot less dramatic and less dynamic. It would be better if the same composer was used throughout to achieve a sense of continuity. I would choose a modern classical work with variations of tempo and mood, for instance, Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’ or Holst’s ‘The Planets’. They would both provide sufficient scope for the whole film. I would see the music soundtrack for Act 1, as being orchestral throughout.