Julia Aks – Jane Austen’s Period Drama

By starrymag | May 20, 2024

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for Jane Austen’s Period Drama.

 

A) We’re in Regency-era England – so think “Bridgerton.” Our Jane Austen heroine, Estrogenia, gets her period during a long-awaited marriage proposal and her suitor, the dashing Mr. Dickley (Ta’imua), mistakes the blood for an injury. Hell breaks loose.

 

Q) Where did the idea for this intriguing short film come from?

 

A) The idea came to me in 2019 when Steve [Pinder], my co-writer/director, and I were collaborating on a lot of comedy sketches and music videos for my YouTube channel. I thought it was a funny pun: a period drama about And what better period to set it in than Jane Austen’s? But I originally conceived of it as a sketch. I never thought it would blossom into what it is today.

 

Q) Were you always set on playing double duty as director and the role of Estrogenia? 

 

A) Definitely not. I went back and forth on it for a long time and, ultimately, it was Steve who convinced me to do both. He felt that in the script Estrogenia articulated what was really my own point of view,and that it was important that I play her. He and I prepped like crazy beforehand, though, so our directorial vision was cohesive from the moment we stepped onto set.

 

Q) I love the chemistry between Estrogenia and Mr. Dickley. Talk about working with Ta’imua and what made him the perfect love interest?

 

A) Ta’imua had the perfect combination of charming masculinity and naive earnestness for Mr. Dickley. And he was a dream to work with. He’s a full-body actor, just throwing his whole self into the performance every time. Sometimes I’d get stuck in my head as I switched between acting and directing on set, but every time Steve called “action,” Ta’imua brought me right back into the moment with him. He also looks fantastic in the costume. That helps in a period romance.

 

Q) I have to ask about the costumes, which were beautiful. What went into selecting them for each character? 

 

A) Thank you! We had two wonderful costume designers: Paula Higgins and Barrett Hutchinson. Paula was my costume professor in college, and she also has decades of experience costuming period plays and operas, so it was very cool to collaborate with her in this way. Barrett’s background is in fashion, so his craftsmanship is superb. The four of us – Paula, Barrett, Steve and myself – had extensive conversations about what each character would wear. We considered things like: what would make the red period blood color pop? Or Labinia is a more conservative character, so what fabric and neckline could support that? Paula brought the knowledge of costume history and quickly vetoed anything that wasn’t accurate to the period and Barrett brought an intense attention to detail that really polished everything. Some costumes were rented, but Paula and Barrett each built a number of the costumes from scratch.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film – one you’re proud of the way it went from page to screen?

 

A) I really loved filming the scenes with the three sisters. Samantha Smart as Labinia and Nicole Alyse Nelson as Vagianna are masters of their craft and I had so much fun playing with them. They both brought a vibrancy to their characters that really made the writing sparkle. The sequence with the chicken, for example, was complex to pull off. What’s in the film is word-for-word what was on the page because Samantha and Nicole executed it perfectly every damn time.That scene still makes me laugh and I’m still noticing new things in their performances.

 

Q) With this being a short film, are there any plans to make a full-length version?

 

A) Yes, Steve and I have a feature-length version of the story that goes beyond where the short ends. There are more characters, more drama, more silly names and many more jokes, but at its core it’s a romantic comedy – an absolutely bonkers Jane Austen-style romantic comedy.

 

Q) Jane Austen’s Period Drama will be playing at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. What does this achievement mean to you? 

 

A) It is a huge honor, of course! I am immensely proud of the film we made, and it feels good (and a bit mind-boggling) to be recognized by a festival with such a prestigious reputation and less than a 0.1% acceptance rate. I can’t wait to share it with New York audiences!

 

Q) What are the other projects you have been busy working on, either in front of or behind the camera?

 

A) Steve and I are developing a number of feature-length projects that we’re excited to tackle. There’s one I’m particularly passionate about, but I don’t dare speak about it too soon.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of the work you do?

 

A) Steve and I love our audience. I think that’s largely why we work so well as a duo. We make things that we ourselves love and that make us laugh, but we also want the audience to be in on the joke, too. So, I guess what I’d like to say is: we love you. [smile]