Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Value of Doing Romeo and Juliet the Mr. Provenzano way

The Value of Doing Romeo and Juliet the Mr. Provenzano way

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, no one takes this statement to heart. Everybody is convinced that their way is the right way. Opinions make up who people are, and they are applied to every aspect of life.  Many parents have strong opinions about what their kids are exposed to in school. They want to make sure that their kids are learning and will be prepared for the future. However, they believe that high school minds are too young and impressionable. They do not want them exposed to unconventional subjects in unconventional ways. Such is the case of learning “Romeo and Juliet”. In Mr. Provenzano’s classes, instead of reading, analyzing, and taking multiple choice tests, students had to read, analyze, and make a movie, based off the script written by Shakespeare. This different way of teaching has proved to very valuable as part of Mr. Provenzano’s students’ curriculums.
One of the benefits that were bestowed upon his students was that Mr. Provenzano’s methods of teaching allowed the children to be more involved in their unit of the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Everyone was enveloped in the project by having the liberty and responsibility of their own jobs. They took on a single part of the project, and were pressured to succeed. If they failed to do their part, everyone else would do the same. With the pressure of being out casted, the kids really understood the themes, emotions, and ideas that Shakespeare incorporated and wove together that created Romeo and Juliet. Even Mr. Diver expressed pleasure after visiting one of the classes. After witnessing them discuss Romeo and Juliet, he understood that the kids in Mr. Provenzano’s classes thoroughly comprehended the subject. I the students were to learn in the conventional way of testing, there may have been a chance that some would fake their ways through the unit. Taking multiple choice tests still allow kids who don’t understand to have a one in four chance of getting a question right, and having an unjustifiable grade. Is education not about how well someone understands the topic being taught, rather than having a superb letter grade? If the lack of work is disconcerting, know that the children's knowledge was still tested, but in the form of discussion questions. The involvement of the students in their own individual ways was not the only aspect of making it a memorable learning process, so was the process of filming itself.
Most of Mr. Provenzano’s freshman students experienced new experiences while filming. They grasped how it was to be part of a production, how it was to be director, or an actor etc. That’s what made it memorable. Since the kids did all of the work other than editing the finished product, they had to work together to get their job done. This put them in situations where groups limited to no one had to meet outside of school. Grosse Pointe South is a particularly cliquey school. However, those filming dates allowed people from all different groups to interact with each other. I felt like history was being made as people from different groups started befriending each other. Those memories will be the ones that remain for years to come. The kids didn’t take mundane tests; they actually learned and had fun. The friendships are only a part of the memories. Also memorable are the ways that information was shared.
America is entering the age of information. People are looking for the new and easiest ways to communicate digitally each day. I t would only make sense to teach children this new aspect. In the project of Romeo and Juliet, a total of eight major websites were used for the students benefit.  Wikispaces was used to show both Grosse Pointe South and Van Meter high school information of the utmost importance, such as filming schedules and job lists. Blogger and Turnitin were used weekly to keep track of student’s personal progress, and their level of comprehension. Kidblog was used daily to keep track of what was done in class. Skype was used as communication between the two schools to clarify ideas. Mr. Provenzano tweeted his freshman followers to remind them about upcoming due dates or events. The filming process was put on an online chat room for the world to have a taste of a revolutionary project. People who chose advertising as a job used sites such as Glogster, TUMBLR, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter to promote the project. The point is, these websites are the future. It is a favor to students to be teaching them how to leave their footprint in the digital media age. Not only is it a favor to teach students ways that businesses will be conducted in the future, but also the skills that will be needed.
The most beneficial part of filming Romeo and Juliet are the aspects that will prepare the participants for the future. From the beginning to the very end, there were many aspects that all pertained to the future. The project started out with the students picking their jobs. Choices were given, and students chose based on the jobs that they were interested in. This was the first taste of their real life experience. After that, their preparation for the future existed based on their jobs. Overall, the project tested qualities of leadership (including delegating), responsibility, trustworthiness, group work, problem solving skills, and the exchanging of ideas. All of these are skills that will be needed for a successful career. That is what schooling is all about; to prepare for the future when the children are released to live a life of their own.
In taking the non conventional way of learning, the freshman taught by Mr. Provenzano learned many valuable skills. They had a refresher course of how to work with others. They learned how to be responsible for their own actions. But most importantly, this way of teaching did nothing to subtract from its educational value. The children will have a lasting memory of Romeo and Juliet. In fact, it added to it. With all the benefits from filming a production of Romeo and Juliet, there’s no reason why this approach of teaching should be argued with.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

WERE ALL DONE, YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

So, officially, this is my last post as the director of Act V, of Romeo and Juliet. It makes me kinda sad :(

Anyways, you wanna know how the filming for scenes II and III went? Honestly, it was superduperCHAOTIC. In the beginning, I was soooo nervous, because some of the cast and crew didn't show up. We were missing our Balthasar, Friar, and Cameraman. Balthasar was not there...I don't know why. He probably just forgot. Which was bad for him, as the only scenes he was in were the ones that were to be filmed that day. The friar broke his arm, and our cameraman had food poisoning. This lead to the eventual change of our script. We got rid of all of the friars lines, and Tommy became our Balthasar and our cameraman.

After that, everything came together. We had just enough extras to fill all the other roles, such as our page, watchmen, attendants, and other people. I took care of scene III, and Elizabeth took care of scene II. Without her, I swear, I'd probably be in like, stress rehab or something.

And...ALL OF OUR ACTORS DID SO AMAZING. They knew their lines, the knew when to come on...GOD. They just knew everything.

All of this happened between a period of...approx. 3 hours? yuuup.

Yayyyy!  So now all were waiting for is the finished product... :)

We've got it doooooooone.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Tomorrow's the day!

As the title  plainly suggests, we film our big scenes tomorrow at 1!!!

And speaking of filming....we recently finished filming scene 2 of act 5! It was a fun experience. We messed up dozens of time, but in the end, we managed to pull through and film it all the way through, with no mistakes whatsoever! YAYYY! I personally think we  have the best actors! They are capable of achieving close to perfection!Good job to Eric, Tighe, Tristan, and Elizabeth!!!

 But are they ready for tomorrow? Only time will be able to tell.

I'm a little nervous, but excited to see how it all turns out. Unfortunately, our scene won't be the last ones filmed. There were a few technical difficulties, and those scenes need to be reshot. Good luck to them as well!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

SHE HAS A MIDDLE NAME!

MARALINA HAS A MIDDLE NAME. ISN'T THAT COOL?
HER MIDDLE NAME IS ANTONIA. SO NOW YOU CAN GO STALK HER, HERE (heyy smart cookie, why don't you click the "here"?)
She actually makes these really pretty posters, and has been helping Elizabeth and I a lilll bit.

With our group conversation, we decided on filming Thursdays scene in a library office, or any office. We went over filming angles specifically, and came to the conclusion that our cameraman must stand on a ladder to get the correct angle of them friars walking into the office, running out, and talking about their dilemmas.
Then, Elizabeth and I sent them away and talked about camerawork for scenes 1 and 3. Scene 1 is about Balthasar and Romeo talking, then Romeo purchasing naaaaarcoootics. For the first part, were going to film somewhere close to the alley behind South, and then once they finish their conversation, we are going to film R's backside, walking shadily to the alley. Then we'll film the exchange scene from a distance, but still close enough to hear what they're saying. We are not sure yet about where to film scene 3. We are disscussing that issue right at this moment.....fun fun fun.....

Goodnight, slepp titght.   

Friday, April 1, 2011

7 days and counting...

So, we have 7 days until we get our turn at filming. After experiencing being part of the action firsthand, I know it's a pretty complicated process. Good location, lighting, props, actors....well basically, everything needs to be good.
I learned some advice to help with directing too! Last saturday, instead of spending the day filming others, I spent the time being filmed. After that whoole ordeal was over (it started getting really hot in that crowd of people) I made friends with the director! He said to get everything planned out first, before filming. For the rest of the days, Elizabeth and I will be doing exactly that. We have location and actors down, so we'll probably just work on Storyboads. Fun, right? :P
But, in order to have the best act, we'll have to work the hardest :)

love,
adelle lehua.

Monday, March 28, 2011

FILMING SCHEDULES FOR ACT V

YESSSSSSSSS!!!! WE HAVE OUR FILMING SCHEDULES!

Act V

Scene 1 & 3: Saturday, April 9th at South, 1 PM

Scene 2: will just be filmed during 6th Hour, Friday, April 8th

Keep in mind that almost everyone is in Act V, Scene 3. It IS the most important scene, so you HAVE to be there. If that time doesn't work out for you, please comment/email/talk to us!!! We will try to make it the time good for everybody. WE WILL ALSO NEED A LOT OF EXTRAS! We have gotten a few emails already. Some extras will have talking parts, and others we'll just need a face. So if you haven't acted in R&J, you probably will get first pick! You can find talking parts and yourbeautifulface parts in the previous post.
thanks :)

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I went to be an extra this afternoon for the party scene in Act 1. It was really exciting, and I can't wait for our turn to film!!!

adelle lehua.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Line count for Act V AND information for those who want to be EXTRAS.

The number of lines for each actor, in order of apperance.

Scene 1: Coffeehouse, on Mantua. A street.
Romeo: 42
Balthasar: 9
Drug Dealer: 6

Scene 2: Friar Lawrence's cell.
Friar John: 7
Friar Lawrence: 13

Scene 3:A Churchyard with a monument belonging to the Capulet's.
Paris: 23
*Page, boy: 10
Romeo: 40
Balthasar: 17
Friar Lawrence: 51
Juliet: 11
*Chief Watchman: 14
*Second Watchman: 1
*Third Watchman: 3
Prince: 28
Capulet: 10
Lady Capulet: 5
Montague: 10

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*Extras cast by director, with lines

We also need extras that will pose as a group of watchmen leaving the murder scene, Attendants that walk in with the Prince, "Others" who will come in with the Capulets, and "Others" who will walk in with Lord Montague.

Elizabeth, the one who loves ducks :) and I will be picking extras for the roles right above. You will get extra credit if you volunteer. First come, first serve. Also, if you don't have a part as an actor, we will be more likely to choose ya! Unfortunately, we don't have a schedule yet, as most of the actors' schedules do not include their availability from April 7th to April 12.

Email us!!!

Mine is on my blogger profile. Ask Elizabeth for hers. Or, just search us up on the searchy thing on your school email!

adelle lehua.