CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER - Lady's Day
Logline: A young woman from the early 1840s is transported to the present day to watch her one true love slip away.
Length: 13:33
Director: Laura D’Augello
Producer: Laura D’Augello and Josephine Kilititi
About the director and producer:
Director: Laura D’Augello is an independent producer and script editor working in Melbourne. She began her production company People Pleaser Productions in 2015, creating a web platform for women in comedy.
Producer : Josephine Kilititi is an aspiring producer who is currently working on her short film script 'Lia'. She currently completed a Graduate Certificate in Media Arts and Production and is now a freelance producer and writer working in Sydney.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film festival Directors
Funders: Self funded and crowd funding
Made in association with: People Pleaser Productions and The University of Technology, Sydney.
Release date: November 2015.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
During the last year of my masters degree at UTS I wanted to make a film that would challenge my skills in filmmaking and stretch myself beyond my experiences in sketch comedy. I’ve been making mockumentary short films and sketches for years and therefore wanted to push myself into directing a drama based on my love affair of period films to fully explore all the creative elements of a large scale production design film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Lady’s Day is a visually beautiful and cinematic experience. It is a treat to those who love period romance films. It is a female driven story, the lead played by the talented Samantha Pearce whose physical and comedic performance is of a rare talent. It also looks at the choices and confinements of women in the era of the 1840s and how fashion represented their lack of freedom during this period. Through visual motifs and costume this film continues to reflect on the similarities for woman in the present day.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Personal and universal themes are intertwined within this film as it explores how the individual woman is constricted by social structure when choosing what they want. The story explores love and the barriers in front of that when looking at time, how in each decade choice is all we have to allow us freedom.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Script definitely evolved during the lead up to the shoot and during due to the restrictions we experienced based on location and time pressure. It continued to develop through the resources available to us, the nature of it being a student film. It became more of a visual story rather then a three act structure, which I wanted to explore through the locations, physical comedy, original score and costumes.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Visually beautiful cinematography, original score and the talent of Sam Pearce being outstanding. Also the nature of our film crew being mostly women.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not so much challenged, but people pick up things such as the effects in sound design and the little touches made within the production design that I didn’t think people would notice. It’s nice to see every one's hard work paying off and being recognized.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
More exposure for women in film. Most of our heads of department were women, something that we as producers are really proud of.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would like to see it in more festivals and on more screens for audiences to enjoy.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want the audience to be entertained and for them to enjoy the cinematic experience. It is mostly a first in the short film format for the crew so for them to be able to grow and seek opportunity in the industry in their specialised crafts would be wonderful and extremely rewarding as a producer. I’m wanting this film to be that platform for everyone to do so.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What happens after the happily ever after?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thanks to all our pozible supports, without who this would not be possible.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Laura : Creating mockumentaries and web series for an online platform for women in comedy via my production company People Pleaser Productions and currently developing a series with the talented writer director Zoe Rae. I also work as a producer for the entertainment series TALK IS CHEAP with Julia Voglwhich is currently in the Melb web fest Spotlight on Melbourne series.
Josephine: Currently writing her short film script “Lia” and moving into development on this project.
Social media links
http://www.peoplepleaserproductions.com/
https://www.instagram.com/peoplepleaserproductions/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/PeoplepleaserPr
https://www.facebook.com/peoplepleaserproductions/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL66-iiLf7z9YT05ZZpwZpg