Film Workshop Handout, Romeo and Juliet

Handout 3.a.1 Mercurial Mercutio

Act 3, Scene 1

Task

You will work in groups to perform and film your own production of a one minute segment from Romeo and
Juliet, Act 3, Scene 1.
Each group will be composed of exactly six people.
Each person will have a special job to do: Director, Camera engineer, Sound engineer, and three actors.
You will begin by watching the scene from the 1978 BBC production.
You will record stage directions from this production, then you will write your own directions for your own
productions.

Procedure

1. Print this table

2. Watch the video clip - How to start a fight - with your group
3. Complete the left column: Directions in the Clip, according to what you see.
4. Write your group's directions in the middle column. This is how you will perform the scene.
5. Add Foley sound directions to your stage directions.
6. Assign roles in your group: Director, Camera engineer, Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt.
7. Post your stage directions on your Group Wiki.
Film Workshop Handout, Romeo and Juliet

Directions in Clip Directions in Your Production Script

Benvolio and Mercutio are in the foreground,
talking. Mercutio is sitting on a fountain.
BENVOLIO: By my
Benvolio stands to his left. Tybalt enters in
head, here comes
the background. Benvolio turns, sees him,
the Capulets.
turns back to Mercutio and says his line.
Mercutio turns and glances over his shoulder.
Mercutio turns his back to Tybalt and sticks MERCUTIO: By my
his nose in the air. Mercutio says his line. heel, I care not.
TYBALT: Follow me
Tybalt whispers to his friend. Walks slowly up close, for I will
to Benvolio and Mercutio. Benvolio moves speak to them....
behind Mercutio to the right of Mercutio and Gentlemen, good
looks at Tybalt. Tybalt says his line. den. A word with
one of you.
MERCUTIO: And but
one word with one
of us? Couple it with
something; make it a
word and a blow.
TYBALT: You shall
find me apt enought
to that, sir, and you
will give me
occasion?
MERCUTIO: Could
you not take some
occasion without
giving?
Film Workshop Handout, Romeo and Juliet

TYBALT: Mercutio,
thou consort'st with
Romeo?
MERCUTIO: Consort!
What, does thou
make us minstrels?
And thou makest
minstrels of us, look
to hear nothing but
discords. Here's my
fiddle-stick; here's
that shall make you
dance. 'Zounds,
consort!
BENVOLIO: We talk
here in the public
haunt of men: Either
withdraw unto some
private place, or
reason coldly of your
grievances, or else
depart. Here all eyes
gaze on us.
MERCUTIO: Men's
eyes were made to
look, and let them
gaze; I will not
budge for no man's
pleasrure, I.

Adapted from Teaching Romeo and Juliet, A Differentiated Approach by Delia DeCourcy, Lyn Fairchild and Robin Follet (2007) NCTE.