Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

"Much Ado about Nothing" - A Romantic Film

"Much Ado about Nothing" is a romantic film played in northern American theater on June 21, 2013. The film was directed and produced by Joss Whedon. The director of the movie chose bellwether for filming. Principle photography happened at Joss Whedon’s home in Santa Monica, California (Scot 2). It was filmed in a white and black palette which took 12 days to be completed. At this time of the shooting, Whedon was on vacation (Scot 1). The project was to remain secret up to the end of production. The director fixated the play to bring out the idea of creating romantic love.

Leonato and His Household

Leonato, a respectable, kind, and noble man stays in Italy. He shares his house with his daughter, his niece, elder brother, Hero, Beatrice, and Antonio. At the beginning of the play, Leonate is seen preparing his home to welcome some of his friends who had gone for a war. The friends were Prince, Don Pedro, and two soldiers, Claudio a noble young respected man, and an intelligent man, Benedick who jokes to make his friend happy. Don John, a bitter, gloomy, and a troublemaker to others is also the part of the crowd. Claudio falls in love with Hero immediately after the arrival of soldiers at his home. Beatrice and Benedick continue to insult each other the same way they have been doing in the past. Meanwhile, Claudio and Hero promise to love one another and made a decision to get married to each other.

The Trick Game and Accusations

Beatrice and Benedick's friends decided to play a game over them. The game is meant to stop their argument and bring their love together. The trick game succeeds and they secretly fall in love. Claudio falsely accuses Hero of lechery on their wedding day and he leaves her on the altar alone. Hero’s family member fakes death out of grief and shock. This was meant to take Hero away from the scene while they wait for the truth about her innocence to be known. After the rejection, Beatrice and Benedick confess their love. Fortunately, a watchman hears Borachio bragging about his crime and informed the local police who arrests both Borachio and Conrad. The arrest brings to light the innocence of Hero. Leonate gives Claudio a punishment to inform the city that Hero was innocent.

Filming and Production

The director used natural light to ease the filming process using the fact that the sun rises from the east and sets in the west. Windows, glasses, and mirrors were used to film throughout to wrap more frames of light. Red epic, Digital, Multiple cameras were used for filming. Also, a double glass Lensbaby composer and a Canon 7D were used to distinguish some scenes (Michael at el. 3). The costumes and the voices secured the film as a pop-cultural aspect where it sparkles efficiently and increases the fun of the play. Whedon recruited Deborah Lurie to produce scores for the film. He organized two songs written in the play by Shakespeare. The two songs are "heavily", and "sigh no more."

The Main Characters

Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, and Benedicts are the four main characters in the play. Leontes is a friendly and a man of unity who links the first scene of the play lines with the last lines. Hero is obedient, naive, and tradition woman. Beatrice is an opinionated and outspoken woman. Despite being wounded by Benedick, she built a protective structure beside him. She also protects Hero, her cousin.

The Play's Adaptation

The play, "Much Ado about Nothing," was played effectively where all character plays their roles with confidence. The timing of natural light and use of digital cameras made the play enjoyable to watch. The singer in the play did it with confidence and eloquent voice. The direct approach to the film does not change Shakespeare’s original plays. The only disparity is the eradication of numerous minor roles and present-day setting. Also, the film adds the background where at the beginning of Beatrice fakes to be asleep and Benedick sneaks away.

Works cited

Friedman, Michael D. “‘Hush'd on Purpose to Grace Harmony’: Wives and Silence in ‘Much Ado about Nothing.’” Theatre Journal, vol. 42, no. 3, 1990, pp. 350–363. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3208080.

Scot, A, o. “'Much Ado About Nothing': A DIY Film Project at Joss Whedon's Home.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2013, Available at www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ca-much-ado-house-20130602-story.html.Accessed April 11, 2018.