A film made by University of Winchester students has won a string of awards at festivals around the world.
The Country Gentlewoman: Christmas Edition is a dark comedy in which the worlds of daytime TV and Jane Austen-style period drama collide.
If revenge is a dish served cold, what wine should you serve? Two Regency ladies with a ruthless streak host a lifestyle show that dispenses tips on how to manage your menu and the men in your life.
Their beautifully worded advice is interspersed with intrusive sponsorship and prominent product placement.
Professional writer Shiva Sawyer submitted the screenplay in response to an ad placed by the University’s Film production programme.
“The students came back and they said they like the story but it wasn’t dark enough,” said Shiva. “I write horror films and no-one has ever said that to me before!”
It was also the idea of director Hope Lines and her team of fellow Film Production students to set the fictional show in Georgian times.
“Originally I envisaged this as a modern-day piece with just two presenters in front of a green screen,” said Shiva. “The students totally transformed it from a simple BBC parody into a vivid Georgian pageant.”
The Winchester team opened out the story to include a supporting cast of elegant ladies and liveried servants.
To give the film an authentic period feel, it was shot on location at Chawton House, the manor house owned by Jane Austen's brother, Edward.
Around 20 third-year students were involved in the production of the 16-minute film which was shot over three days in October 2024 and received its premiere the following January.
Director Hope Lines: said: “When I picked ‘The Country Gentlewoman’ script to direct, I immediately envisioned something grand yet camp and kitschy. I wanted to set it in Georgian surroundings, elevating the absurdity of the concept.
“We were able to secure the location of Chawton House which matched my vision perfectly.
“Filming a 16-minute film in three days was indeed a challenge, but with well-planned pre-production and excellent collaboration between cast and crew, we got everything we needed. Each person involved was incredibly dedicated to the project and helped bring the story to life.
“I am incredibly proud of this project and continue to be as we carry on through our festival run!”
It’s a slickly made movie with very high production values for a student project.
With the help of Shiva, the movie has been entered at a host of festivals around the world and was named best student film or best student short at:
In addition to being shortlisted for prizes at several other festivals - including New Bedford, Massachusetts where it was nominated in three categories - it also won for Production Design at the London Film Club Shorts Festival.
Lauren Bowles, the film’s marketing director, said that part of the film’s international success had been the trouble the makers had taken with subtitles – including translating their comic script into Basque for one event.
“I’m glad that we went down the subtitle route. You must be able to make films that work in different languages,” said Lauren.
Film production Lecturer Julio Molina, who was executive producer on the film, said: “The Film Production teaching team is very pleased with how far The Country Gentlewoman has managed to go out in the real world.
“This film is a great example of the benefits of working in teams with specialised, industry-specific roles, which was the specific challenge we set students on the Large-Scale Production module, for which this film was made as an assignment. The creativity and production values really do come together on screen for an outstandingly outlandish result!”
Watch a trailer for the film at https://www.youtube.com/video/65QKsJKFve4
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