Following a Theme: From Page to Screen

Following a Theme: From Page to Screen

The Power of Communication

Being a great communicator is a journey, and one of the best ways to grow is by looking at what has worked for centuries. Shakespeare’s plays are like a masterclass in messaging; they can be interpreted in dozens of different ways depending on who is telling the story.

In this assignment, you are going to track a major theme through Romeo and Juliet. You will experiment with the same tools that Shakespeare and world-class performers use to make an audience feel something deeply.

Your Production Plan

Step 1: Discover Your Theme with AI

To get started, have a conversation with an AI tool (like a Chatbot) to brainstorm.

  • Identify Themes: Ask the AI to list the major themes found in Romeo and Juliet.
  • Trace the Development: Once you find a theme that interests you (like Love, Fate, or Family Loyalty), ask the AI how that specific theme develops from the beginning to the end of the play.
  • Select Your Scenes: Pick 3 or 4 key moments that best show your theme in action.

Step 2: Research the Techniques

Before you start filming, look at how the pros do it. Search for film or stage versions of your chosen scenes on YouTube.

  • Look for Writing Cues: Notice how Shakespeare uses rhythm, rhyme, or foreshadowing to highlight the theme.
  • Observe the Performance: Watch the actors' body language and listen to their tone. How are they using their voices to communicate the "vibe" of the theme?
  • Note: For this assignment, we are focusing on literary techniques and performance, rather than expensive special effects or sets.

Step 3: Create Your Theme Videos

Now, let’s get creative! You will recreate your chosen scenes to show how the theme evolves.

  • Choose Your Medium: You can act these out yourself, use friends, or even get creative with "low-tech" options like sock puppets or paper characters on toothpicks. Your artistic ability isn't being marked—your ability to communicate the theme is!
  • Use Canva Video: Use the Canva Video Editor to stitch your scenes together. Aim for a total of 5 to 7 minutes for your project.
  • Demonstrate the Techniques: If you identified that a scene uses "dramatic irony," make sure your performance or editing makes that obvious to the viewer. It’s okay if it feels a bit "extra"—we want to see that you understand how the technique works!

Step 4: The Reflective Screencast

Finally, record a short screencast using Canva’s "Present and Record" feature. Think of this as a "Director’s Commentary."

  • Walk me through your video and explain why you made certain choices (e.g., "In this scene, I spoke very slowly to show how heavy the theme of Fate felt for the characters").
  • Explain how your literacy skills helped you move from reading the play to producing a video.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤
    Pre-Submission Self-Assessment Google Doc
  • 📤

    A Google Doc containing your script and AI brainstorming notes

  • 📤

    Your finished theme video(s) exported from Canva

  • 📤

    Your reflective process screencast

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Identify and analyse how specific themes are developed in a Shakespearean play using various research and AI tools

  • 🎯

    Apply oral communication and media techniques to recreate scenes that effectively convey a chosen theme to an audience

  • 🎯

    Evaluate the creative process by reflecting on personal growth and the connection between literacy skills and media production

Success Criteria

I can:

  • identify the purpose and audience for my video and use a variety of speaking strategies to communicate information and ideas clearly

    Expectations Covered: OC1, OC2
  • produce an engaging media text by selecting information and using conventions that specifically appeal to my audience and purpose

    Expectations Covered: MS3
  • reflect on my creative process by identifying my strengths in media production and explaining how my literacy skills helped me succeed

    Expectations Covered: OC3, MS4

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Knowledge/Understanding Videos demonstrate a thorough understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques Videos demonstrate a clear understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques Videos demonstrate some understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques Videos demonstrate limited understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques
Thinking/Inquiring Screencast demonstrates a high level of critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement Screencast demonstrates considerable critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement Screencast demonstrates some critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement Screencast demonstrates limited critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement
Application Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with a high degree of effectiveness Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with considerable effectiveness Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with some effectiveness Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with limited effectiveness
Communication Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is exceptionally clear, coherent, and perfectly suited to the audience and theme Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is clear, coherent, and well-suited to the audience and theme Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is generally clear and sometimes suited to the audience and theme Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is occasionally clear but may not always suit the audience or theme
Knowledge/Understanding
Level 4

Videos demonstrate a thorough understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques

Level 3

Videos demonstrate a clear understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques

Level 2

Videos demonstrate some understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques

Level 1

Videos demonstrate limited understanding of how themes are developed through specific literary and performance techniques

Thinking/Inquiring
Level 4

Screencast demonstrates a high level of critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement

Level 3

Screencast demonstrates considerable critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement

Level 2

Screencast demonstrates some critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement

Level 1

Screencast demonstrates limited critical reflection when explaining creative choices and identifying next steps for improvement

Application
Level 4

Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with a high degree of effectiveness

Level 3

Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with considerable effectiveness

Level 2

Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with some effectiveness

Level 1

Student integrates identified communication and media strategies into their work with limited effectiveness

Communication
Level 4

Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is exceptionally clear, coherent, and perfectly suited to the audience and theme

Level 3

Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is clear, coherent, and well-suited to the audience and theme

Level 2

Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is generally clear and sometimes suited to the audience and theme

Level 1

Oral and non-verbal communication in the videos is occasionally clear but may not always suit the audience or theme