05.08.12 [8 months to go]

My final film choices are:

Much Ado About Nothing (Branagh, 1993)
Romeo + Juliet (Luhrmann, 1996)
She's The Man (Fickman, 2006)

I have chosen these partially based on my familiarity with them and my understanding and experience of the plays themselves. This gives me a good basis for beginning research and analysis as time is lessening.

I have also bought the Cambridge School Shakespeare edition of each play, as I find these most useful when studying:

Berry, M. and Clamp, M. eds. (2005) Much Ado About Nothing, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Gibson, R. ed. (2005) Romeo and Juliet, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Gibson, R. ed. (2005) Twelfth Night, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.


My final choice for my practical supplement is:

A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 1, Scene ii.

This scene introduces the Players, with a role call and a notable performance from Bottom in his attempt to prove he could in fact play all characters within the play-within-a-play, Pyramus and Thisbe.


The current copy I am using is:
Wells, S. ed. (1967) A Midsummer Night's Dream, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, Ltd.

This copy is the first Shakespeare text I owned.
I hope to have a copy of the Cambridge School Shakespeare edition soon.


Text I have recently been looking at include:


Crystal, B. (2008) Shakespeare On Toast, London: Faber & Faber

Fantasia, L. (2002) Instant Shakespeare, London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd.

Jackson, R. (2007) Shakespeare on Film, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Spiteri, G. (2008) Shakespeare Matters, London: Portico Books.

* * *

I have also devised a timetable for my final academic year, with regards to my dissertation. I aim to have these tasks completed by the end of the month they are assigned to.

September: 
I will have a base introduction and finalised title planned and drafted.

I hope to have a finalised plan for my practical supplement, including booked spaces, a cast, costume plans, and to have entered first rehearsals - reading.

October:
I will have completed a first draft of my first chapter: Tradition Adaptations.

November:
I will have completed a first draft of my second chapter: Modernised Adaptations.

December:
I will have completed a first draft of my third chapter: Reworkings.

I will have completed my practical supplement, including performances, recording, shooting and editing.

January:
I will have completed a first draft of my conclusion.

I will have begun my final draft of my first chapter.

February:
I will have completed my final draft of my first chapter.

I will have begun my final draft of my second chapter.

March: <Easter 25th March - 14th April>
I will have completed my final draft of my second chapter.

I will have completed my final draft of my third chapter

April: <Easter 25th March - 14th April>
I will have completed my final draft of my conclusion.

I will have finished, printed and bound my dissertation, for hand-in.



I am aware this plan is rather vague, and will refined more as I enter third year. But this is a definite outline of which I wish to keep to. I hope to complete at least two drafts before writing final drafts, and these can be fitted in around my main personal deadlines.

* * *

It's all beginning to move forward, which is quite scary but very exciting. I'm passionate about my subject area, and want to be able to take this research further into my career.