London, 18th December: Entirely shot on green screen, Shakespeare’s Macbeth has been reinvented by director Kit Monkman (The Knife That Killed Me) in an exciting new film adaptation. Starring Mark Rowley, (The Last Kingdom, Luther) the film will be distributed by CinEvents as an exclusive, one night only, Event Cinema release on Tuesday 13th March 2018 in select multiplex & independent cinemas nationwide.
Monkman’s unique adaptation successfully bridges the gap between theatre and film to create a wholly new type of imaginative space. This radical new adaptation puts the audience’s engagement with the story centre-stage, amplifying the theatrical context of the original and creating truly innovative and thrilling cinematic vistas, whilst maintaining the language and themes of Shakespeare’s original play.
Using background matte painting and computer modelling to generate the world in which the action plays out, the green screen allows Monkman to create his vision of a multi-tiered globe in which the characters play out their various fates. Imagine a mini Death Star a la Star Wars across the levels of which the camera drifts and zooms in on various action and key characters. The fluidity of the cameras’ movement around this globe aims to give the audience a constant perspective of the action as opposed to individual, isolated scenes.
Professor Peter Holland, Chair of the International Shakespeare Association, says the adaptation is, “Brilliant and exhilarating. Kit Monkman’s Macbeth (is) the most innovative rethinking of what it means to put Shakespeare on film for decades . . . a forceful reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy.”
Accurate yet accessible, this interpretation is for all audiences; from a fresh retelling for avid Shakespeare fans, to a learning tool for any students studying Macbeth.
As an additional bonus for cinema attendees, the screening will be preceded by fifteen minutes of footage documenting ‘The Making Of Macbeth: The Film’. This exclusive pre-show content is also accompanied by an exclusive Macbeth keepsake for every attendee.
Monkman says “Macbeth is a play that’s fascinated by interiority and imagination and Shakespeare’s storytelling is far from naturalistic so this seemed like an ideal opportunity to explore a more abstract theatrical approach to the screen.”
Joe Evea from CinEvents describes the use of the green screen as a “compelling juxtaposition between “real” and “digital” worlds.” Stating that, “CinEvents are delighted to have been appointed as the International Distributors for Kit Monkman’s unique and iconic film: Macbeth. The film represents an entirely new perspective on Shakespeare’s work. Filmed using the latest digital technology, the production offers a challenging and thought to provoke vision that will please purists and offer an accessible, immersive experience for a new generation of fans.”
Twitter: @macbeth_thefilm #macbeththefilm