Comparative Arts Unit Plan for Graduate Students

Objectives:
Contrasting the portrayal of the same subject or scene in two different movie versions
Explaining what effects adaptation have on the audience

KEY ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

What makes a "good" or "bad" adaptation?
How true to the original work does an adaptation have to be to be considered an adaptation?
What are the challenges and restrictions that you face when working with multiple art
mediums?

EU(s):
All types of artists have to make choices in their artwork and commit to them.
Refusing to commit to something is also commitment.
Your choices affect your outcomes.

Day 1 (30 Minutes)

Warm Up: Watch Adaptations (6 Minutes, 3 Seconds)

Branaugh "Sigh No More" (3 minutes, 20 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=GU3Iii7SakE

Whedon "Sigh No More" (2 minutes, 43 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=8Sm6uoJTS3I

Dialogue Journal- Independently (5 Minutes)

Make a t-chart. Title the left column of the t-chart My Insights. Title the right column of the tchart Insights from Others.
On the left column of the t-chart, reflect on and answer the following questions:

What are some differences you noticed in the two versions?

How do the different styles of song for the same text, the asthethics or the movie, and/or
any of the story elements (plot, characters, etc) contribute to the tone of the movie (based on
these film clips you've just seen)?

From what youve seen (I know its not much), what do you feel like each directors vision
for the scene is and if you are so daring, what would you predict the directors vision for the film
is?

Dialogue Journal- Responding to Other Dialogue Journals (5 Minutes)

I am splitting you guys up into two groups.:

Group A: Kinsey, Ranessa, Hillary

Group B: Katherine, Kelsi, Hannah

On the right side of the t-chart, write your thoughts, questions, and insights.
I will be handing out colored pens so that you can distinguish peoples responses. Feel free to
either:

Have others in your group write their names in their designated color

OR

Draw a color coding key on your paper with peoples names

Cold Calling/Discussion (5 Minutes)

I will cold call on someone from each group to give me insight into the following questions:

What are some things you talked about in your dialogue journals?

What are some interesting insights and questions you have?

From there, anyone can jump in and talk about anything related to the questions addressed in
their dialogue journals.

Transition:
Are you ready to learn more about the makings of these movies?

Getting Insight Into Much Ado (5 Minutes, 49 Seconds)

Watch Denzel Washingtons Interview About Much Ado (3 Minutes, 17 Seconds)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9wTVZcby0

Watch Whedon's Talk About Much Ado (2 Minutes, 32 Seconds):

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMQ8yk3_ZlE

Closure (3 Minutes):
Explain pre-work for tomorrow.

Handout to Give Out:

Pre-work schedule

Performance task assignment sheet

Performance task rubric.

If time permits, watch funny Keanu Reeves video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=3z9wTVZcby0

Day 2 Agenda- Adaptation Theory Unit

Warm Up (3 Minutes):

Everybody tells us
o The role they chose.
o At least one thing they learned from last night's research.
Theatre Production Clips (5 Minutes):
o Josie Rourke Production of Much Ado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zjmqSJ0ElNs
o Sigh no more (Tennant and Tate): https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=KyjQVBK425U
Response Cards (5 Minutes):
Please write down one adjective to describe Josie Rourke's version, from what you've just seen.
1-2-3 Reveal!

Extend: Why did you pick that adjective?

Discussion (5 Minutes):
Which version of Much Ado would you rather see and why?

Joss Whedon (the black and white "flirtatious" version)

Kenneth Branaugh (the "cheerful" version)

Josie Rourke (the "this is the only stage play we've looked at" version)
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down Poll (2 Minutes):
Give me a thumbs up if you:

Have read Much Ado About Nothing.

Have seen Much Ado About Nothing (any version/profuction).

Have never seen or read Much Ado About Nothing.

Ticket to Your Next Adventure! (10 Minutes)

Please write your name on paper! I will be collecting these.

Write me a paragraph about which version of the song "Sigh no more" (Whedon's,
Branaugh's, or Rourke's) is more true to the meaning of the text and why. If you haven't read the
play, please feel free to just analyze the poem itself.
Prework:

Read the Tate/Tennant interview and the "Sigh no more text" I send you through email.

Complete performance task part 1 which is writing a 1-2 page script. Use the guidelines,
which I will email you.

Day 3 (30 Minutes)

Advice from Theatre and Film Friends (3 Minutes)

Hand out advice handouts.

I have collected some advice about directing, acting, and writing from my theatre and
film friends.

Please look over the advice, paying special attention to the advice specific to your role.

Write down any connections or common threads you find in their advice. You can also
highlight and/or underline these connections if that helps you to make sense of them.

Discussion (5 Minutes)
What were some main points and connections you noticed? What caught your attention? What
questions do you have?

Switching and Reading Scripts (3 Minutes)

I have put you into the following groups:
Group A: Kinsey and Hannah
Group B: Hillary and Katherine
Group C: Kelsi and Ranessa

Please switch scripts with the person listed above and read their 1-2 page script, making notes
about the following things:

What is happening in the script.

Who the characters are and what you think they want.

Things you are confused about.

Questions you have about:

o

The script

The story

The characters

The theme

The writer's vision

How you would go about adapting the script

Anything else

Pairing (5 Minutes)
We are very lucky because all of the script writers are here in the classroom with us. In the
real theatre and film world, that does not happen very often. It happens more in theatre than film
through when the director or actor does have access to the writer's thoughts. In film, generally
the producer just buys the rights to the screenwriter's script and the director changes whatever he
or she wants to.
This is your chance to get into pairs and talk about anything you wrote about the script as you
read it (your interpretations, questions, etc.) Gear your questions and clarifications towards
thinking about what your role is. Be sure that each person gets to talk and have their questions
answered and insights heard. You only have 5 minutes so use this time wisely!

Performance Task Part 2: Adapting the Script (10 Minutes)

Spend this time writing about how you would go about adapting your script from the perspective
of the role you chose. You can either start rewriting the script or write detailed director's or
actor's notes about the script describing what choices you would make.

Share (5 Minutes)
Let's talk about your thoughts on the following:

How it felt to think like a director/actor/writer

How to felt to think in terms of adapting scripts

What were some challenges you faced?

What were you surprised about?

What do you still have questions about?

Post-Assessment Request: Adaptation Paragraph Revisions

I know we are busy graduate students and have little time, but if you can, please

Look over the feedback I gave you about your paragraphs.

Try your best to refine your argument on a new sheet of paper.

It would really help me out to figure out where you are now.
You can either

Email me your revision

OR

Give me a handwritten copy of your revision

If you can do this, please do so by the last day of our summer classes. Email or talk to me
about any questions you have.