Monday, April 18, 2011

Mansfield Artistic Statment

mansfield

Mansfield, a loose adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Mansfield Park, tells the story of how protagonist Fray Price deals with an unexpected and discouraging surprise during her spring break. As she spends the time writing music with her friend, Ed Bertram, she finds she isn't entirely on her own.


In order to develop the novel into a screenplay, many details had to be cut. In doing this, the script raised a question pertinent to any of Austen’s novels – when the romance is removed, what do we have left? As the excess was stripped away, the film ends up presenting an answer to one of the lesser conflicts found in the original novel – how to cope with loneliness.

In making the film, I wanted to convey the relationships Fray has with the people in her life. She is extremely tight with her brother, casual with Ed, and uneasy with Henry. While Fray may seem like a 'shadow' to Ed as she tries to adapt to living in Mansfield, she is affected by these relationships and learns to grow as a person because of them.

I hope you get a sense of the nuances found in Austen’s work through a more updated and easily-relatable perspective. “Dramedy” is personally my favorite storytelling genre because of its tendency to be "true to life;" conveying both the sincerity and humor in one's situation. I hope you find the blend of emotion and lightheartedness that the actors brought to the film an appealing aspect.

Working on this film was a truly a great experience, and I, along with the rest of the Mansfield cast and crew, hope you enjoy.

Kristin Rayz,
Director