Q: When was “Macbeth” created?
A: Macbeth wasn’t created. IT ALWAYS WAS. Seriously though, the whole thing took place during the winter of 1997. You could say the process, from conception to final product, encompassed the entire month of February. Finals were over, winter break was here, and there wasn’t much schoolwork to be done. It was perfect timing.
Q: Why was “Macbeth” created?
A: Yep. We lied on the opening page. We said Macbeth was created for a high-school project. Well, that’s only partially true. We would have found an excuse to make Macbeth no matter what. We were bored, we had access to some cool video equipment, and we wanted to show everyone what we could do with it. When the Special Editions came out and we began reading Macbeth in school, we put the two things together in a way that would exercise our minds and our sanity. :-)
Q: How did you make those ’sabers?
A: You thought those things were fake?? No way! You can buy them, glowing and all, at Toys “R” Us!! Actually, it was done through the computer, and you can find out about this and other special effects right here. Just kidding about that Toys “R” Us thing, but while you’re there see if you can pick up Marty McFly’s hoverboard for me...
Q: What did the school think?
A: The school loved it. The principal still has a copy of our production in his office. The only thing they were worried about were those scenes where we were banging lightsabers against the lockers...
Q: What’s your next project?
A: Well, that’s a tough question. We’re all off in college right now and uncertain of our plans for the future. We might do something small during January break, but we’re not sure. Personally, I’ve written several screenplays and hope to work on some student films at Brown University this year. Bienvenido C. is taking film courses and hopes to do the same.
Q: What is your favorite Star Wars movie?
A: It’s unanimous. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. The fifth installment had the BEST direction, the BEST acting, and the BEST STORY. When we were younger, many of us liked Return of the Jedi more, but after a while we began to realize how corny it truly was. :-) And what’s up with Han in Jedi, anyway?
Q: What about Jake Lloyd?
A: What does that have to do with anything? Ah well. As many of you know, Jake will be Anakin in the upcoming prequels, and many people are worried that he can’t act. Let me just say that I’ve seen Jingle All the Way and... well, he can’t act. But that’s okay! He’s a little kid; give him a break. He’s probably matured since that movie, and I’m sure he’ll react with the correct amount of awe and adventure needed to fit the role. After all, who is he competing with here... Mark Hamill?
Q: Why did you make this page?
A: We wanted to share what we had done with the world. We wanted to give Star Wars fans something to do before the prequels came out, and we wanted something to show our friends when we went to college. :-) When we put the trailer up at TheForce.net, it got a big enough response to warrant digitizing the rest of the video, so that’s what we did.
Q: What equipment did you use?
A: A Sharp Viewcam camcorder that my dad bought for summer vacations, a video capture card that Bienvenido C. got through a catalog for about $100, a computer—of course; I think it was a low-model Pentium at the time—and the school’s tripod. We used a rolling cart borrowed from the school as a dolly, which didn’t work too well. Want to play “Hear the Dolly?” Check out Part 1 when Michael M. distracts the Imperial Officer and walks down the hallway. We used a fishing rod to hold up Young Siward’s robe when he disappeared. Raymond P. brought in an old Darth Vader mask. That weird doo-dad on Darth Vader in the opening scene was made from a used cassette-tape box and some neon paper.
Q: Are you guys famous?
A: Nope. Not yet. But if you are a Hollywood producer or a computer programmer from ILM, give us a ring. Make us famous! We don’t mind. :-)
Q: What does that stupid opening monologue read?
A: Originally we had a contest here, but then people started actually figuring out what the opening monologue read. We have no idea how. So in any case we’ve decided to print it here for you:
ACT V
Macduff Strikes Back
It is a period of Civil War. Rebel soldiers striking from the Birnam Wood have stormed the castle.
The mighty thane Macduff, obsessed with finding the tyrant Macbeth, has traveled thousands of miles to avenge his family’s murder and free the Scottish people from Macbeth’s villainy and crown Malcolm as the rightful heir...
Q: How was the premiere?
A: We first showed it to our Advanced Placement Chemistry class. They went crazy and made us play it again. Later that day it eventually got to English class, at which point we knew we would get an A. :-) Over the rest of the week, the video somewhat multiplied as copies were made and shown throughout the building. Classes came to a standstill as Macbeth became top priority. We must have seen ourselves twenty times that week. It was somewhat embarrassing to see ourselves feebly attempt to act, but the music helped it along. Everyone wanted to know how we did the lightsabers and made Macduff use the Force. None of them could figure out the obvious: it was a simple piece of string! That first week was pretty exceptional, tons of fun, and very rewarding.
Q: Why does the Imperial Officer crown Malcolm king?
A: The Imperial Officer was played by Carl Erik F. We were running low on people who wanted to spend winter vacation INSIDE a school building, and we didn’t have enough people to play the Imperial fleet. So Carl became the Empire. He was the guard Young Siward tricked with the Force, the officer who tried to shoot our friends as they escaped, and the only person around when we shot the awards ceremony. So he became the person who hands the crown to the Princess to give to Malcolm. You could say the Imperial Officer defected and learned the ways of the Rebel Alliance.
Q: Any goofs, mistakes, or cool stuff to look for?
A: You better believe it.
- Macduff’s glasses during his soliloquy.
- How he “uses the Force” to mysteriously pick his saber off the floor after dropping it for the next cut.
- How Young Siward goes from swinging a saber to ducking from one in the blink of an eye.
- Carl Erik F. shooting EVERYTHING BUT THE SPACESHIP during the Falcon escape.
- Bienvenido C. missing the delivery of “Hold, enough!” during the final battle.
- Bienvenido C. using a stool in the first scene to look taller next to Carl Erik F.
- Bienvenido C.’s head right before the credits roll.
Q: What’s with that Coca-Cola commercial?
A: It was our last day shooting, so we were in a celebratory mood. We needed footage to pad out the music in the end credits, and I didn’t want to cut any more of John Williams’s precious melodies. We had been using the soda machine every day and had nothing better to do than grab the camera and film a thirty-second shrine to Coca-Cola and Star Wars. This struck us as unusually funny later, when we realized the official sponsor of the Star Wars films would be Pepsi. :-)
Q: What is the meaning of life?
A: To get to Shell Beach.
Q: Why does Don fight like a wimp in the final battle?
A: My stick broke. No, really. It fell apart when we were shooting that final cut. That’s why it was the final cut! That’s why I ducked and scampered away when we panned across the stage. Of course it worked perfectly, because I was supposed to be a wimp anyway. Until I used the Force, of course. :-)
Q: What the hell was that beach thing all about?
A: It’s a movie reference. Yeah... a non-Star Wars movie. It was one of our favorites.
Q: Why wasn’t my question answered here?
A: Unfortunately we can’t read your mind. Hope you’ve enjoyed this section. If you’re lazy and tired, use this link to go back to the main Macbeth site.