Smartphone Soliloquies Bring Hamlet to the Big Screen
Inspired by the monologues but motivated by smartphones and other intuitive devices, sophomores in Mr. Gustafson’s English class filmed themselves reciting favorite passages from Hamlet that “spoke” to them in some fashion.
The video project was the culmination of the classes’ Hamlet unit and inspired by a New York Times-sponsored contest, Mr. Gustafson said. Students were instructed to memorize a short speech from the play and then create a 15- to 20-second video of their recitation.
“They found ways to step inside of their characters to bring genuine emotion to the recitations,” maintained Mr. Gustafson. “They also did an excellent job making artistic choices with the video production that helped to convey their particular interpretation of the text. These videos reinvent these lines and bring them to life.”
The young orators were encouraged to select lines that had inspired a strong emotion within them and were advised to steer clear of the ubiquitous “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy. “There’s a ton of good material in the play, and if you select something that’s surprising, your audience will probably enjoy it,” Mr. Gustafson noted to students.
After memorizing the six to eight lines, students then had to emote via video and did so with props, special lighting, interesting locales, body language, and vocal inflection. Like a true director, Mr. Gustafson even maintained that his student videographers utilize two to three different camera angles.
Once complete, the videos were uploaded to YouTube. Students worked with partners in order to trade off filming duties.
Curriculum and Instruction Director Helen Barnstable noted that the project enabled students to fully understand the material in an interesting, relevant manner.
“The videos that Mr. Gustafson's class have been working on have been the culmination of a unit on understanding the subtext of a scene,” she said.
And as the final credits roll on this particular undertaking, Mr. Gustafson said he is pleased with the finished products.
“I was impressed with the passion and creativity that the students brought to this project,” he said.
To view some of the videos, click each name below:
Charley Tiernan as King Hamlet's ghost
Kai Clemons as Hamlet ("O, this too, too sullied flesh" speech)
Abby Malin as Hamlet ("Seems madam?")
Ian Covel as Lucianus
David Spitz as Hamlet ("Hecuba" speech)
Natalie Pinela as Hamlet (Must I "unpack my heart with words")
Di Lu as Hamlet ("Poor Yorick" speech)
Krystian Wang as Hamlet ("There is a special Providence in the fall of a sparrow")
Hagan Gasimov as the dying Laertes
Sungyup Ryu as Hamlet ("I die Horatio")
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Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
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Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
