Shakespreare, Synthesis, and Cinema

Our classroom becomes Athens, Greece and the near by forest when we start to study William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Students don't read the play; they perform it complete with homemade costumes and props.
After performing the play, students are challenged to create a book of still photos that tell the story of play from start to finish. Students work together in small groups to synthesize each act into two photographs that capture the essence of each act. Once they have their photos, they then doctor them up adding costumes, settings, quotations, and other bells and whistles to ensure that their two photos convey the entire essence of the plot for each act.
Students love this activity because they become the stars. At the same time, they are often oblivious to the wealth of higher order thinking and cooperative learning skills required to produce their final product.
However, I have always thought that bringing in a video camera and digital editing software would provide them with opportunities to reach even farther in their interpretation of the play. My plan is to utilize a video camera, computer, and video editing software to allow students to create a video projection of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Students would have to move beyond simply capturing the essence of the plot by making decisions about musical scores as well as the tone, rate, and volume of dialogue. Decisions would illuminate themes, moods, and tones in each scene. Furthermore, decisions about different types of camera shots--close up, mid shot, long shot, or point of view--would force students to not only literally comprehend the play but also make evaluative decisions. Finally, the editing process would continue to maximize the opportunities to work on positive collaboration, consensus building, interpersonal communication skills, and team work.
Video production of A Midsummer Night's Dream would culminate in a screening of the plays for over hundred students. Awards would be given, and the very best videos would then be shown to our entire student body of nearly six hundred students. The overall affect of this project would extend beyond my individual classroom to create enthusiasm and excitement for the timeless themes of Shakespeare.
"Give me your hands if we be friends."--William Shakespeare