Week 4: The Merchant of Venice [Act III][Scene I]

My dialogue is taken from the film adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' (2004) directed by Michael Radford, with Al Pacino taking on the role of Shylock. The extract I have chosen is form Act 3 Scene 1 and is a duration of 36 seconds. The video clip below shows the two minute speech but I will only be animating the first 36 seconds.

The Transcript:

SALARINO: 


I'm sure if he forfeit, you will not take
his flesh,- what's that good for?

SHYLOCK:
 


To bait fish withal-if it will feed nothing else,it will feed my revenge; he hath disgraced me, and
 hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses,
 mocked at my gains, scorned at my nation, thwarted my 
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine 
enemies; -and what's his reason? I am a Jew!

Sequence Break Down:

I've decided to only have three different camera angles throughout the sequence closely mimicking the shots used in the film. I have decided to do this as much of the audiences focus will be on Shylock and the way Al Pacino moves around in the space on screen is very effective and adding more shots might cloud the performance.

I have decided to add on extra shot at the end of the speech to finnish the sequence. It will be a medium long shot showing the top half of Shylock and Salarino showing Shylock invading Salarino's personal space. The bright red line shows the midway point of the shot and the darker line shows how far Shylock has gone over that divide. The reason I have decided to compose the shot like this is to show the intercharacter dynamics between Shylock and Salarino.

Shylock Character Analysis:

To understand Shylock's character, his motives and his reasoning I have decided to employ the Stanislavsky method 'Inside- Out'. This method means that the actor (or animator) understands the characters internally to understand their motives to then bring a more realistic performance. 

Given Circumstances:

Venice 1596 where intolerance of the Jews was a fact of life. By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry/ 'Geto' which was locked and guarded by Christians at night. If a man wanted to leave the Geto during the day he had to wear a red hat to mark him. Unfortunately the Jews were not allowed to own property so they lent money at interest which was against Christian law. This illustrates the political and religious climate of the time which creates tension between various characters. 

Research:

Before this point in the play/ film Shylock lent a Christian, Antonio, a sum of money on behalf of another character. But instead of charging interest Shylock asked for one pound of Antonio's flesh if he comes doesn't fulfil the 'bond' at the appointed time. At this point it is unclear of Shylock's feelings towards Antonio. In his first soliloquy, Shylock says he hates Antonio because he is a Christian but it he might also hate because Antonio's active opposition to money lending (which would make Antonio hypocritical as he ask for a loan- making Shylock despise him even more).

Shylock's character is very hateful at this point in the play because his daughter runs away to marry a Christian boy, who Shylock considers to be an enemy. This might also contributes to his heart hardening against Antonio (who is in finical trouble and can not fulfil the bond) and why he is demanding that Antonio give him his pound of flesh.

In the introduction the 'The Merchant of Venice' by John Russell Brown ( reprinted version 1961) Shylock is described as:

'... an old miserly father he is a comic, as a Jew he is savage and ruthless, as a usurer (money lender) he seeks to ensnare the needy and Antonio, their protector...He is also a man who suffers and triumphs, speaks at times with great nobility and has a 'kind of wild justice' in his cry for revenge.' pg.xlv

Objective:

Shylock's objective in this part of the play/film is to justify his need of revenge, which he might perceive as justice. He wants to communicate that the Jews are the same as Christians and that in this same way a Jew has a right to revenge the same way a Christian does.

'...and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.' 

Super objectives:

Shylock's constant objective is to seek revenge (or justice) on the Christians for the injustice he feels for himself and his people.

Obstacles:

In the short extract I have chosen Shylock doesn't have any apparent obstacles except his inability to convince the other characters present, and audience, of his right to revenge and that his motives are just. 

Beats:

- 1st beat: Shylock turns around to face Salarino as he is asked a question about Antonio

- 2nd beat: he answers the question quietly saying: 'to bait fish withal, if nothing else it shall feed my revenge.'

- 3rd beat: Shylock expands on this last statement becoming loader and surer in his tone. 

- 4th beat: come to the climax of the pice and become forceful in his delivery of the words and moves towards camera ' ...and what's his reason? I am a Jew?'

Subtext:

The inner dialogue of Shylock is that he is describing the general behaviour Christians hold towards the Jews but focusses it all on Antonio. it feels as if Shylock is expressing much suppressed anger and frustration of what it is to be a Jew in those times but is focussing it onto one man.  

Other Interpretations:

Bellow shows Shylocks Speech being performed by Anthony Ring in Avril Duck's production of the Merchant of Venice (performed at the Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, October 2009). this performance shows an elderly man hobbling around the stage full of frustration but not as angry as Al Pancino's depiction of the character. I thought this was an interesting alternate way of depicting Shylock as it gives him a vulnerability and doesn't make his a typical 'stage villain' 

               

My Morpheus Character:

I decided for the character design to make the character look old but not go completely white. I also used the texture I made before for the old man (week 1 post) to add some interesting coloration around his eyes and lips. To complete the character look I'm going to module a cap and texture it red. I feel it's important that Shylock's character have this garment as it symbolises the segregation of his people and i feel it will add the character's detail and back story.