The Making of Pride and Prejudice

Citation preview

DJHH

THE MAKING OF

SUE BIRTWISTLE &c SUSIE CONKLIN

The Making of Pride and Prejudice reveals in compelling detail how Jane Austen's classic novel is transformed into a stunning television drama Filmed on location in Wiltshire and Derbyshire, Pride and Prejudice, with its lavish sets and distinguished cast, was scripted by award-winning dramatist Andrew Davies, who also adapted Middlemarch for BBC TV. Chronicling eighteen months of work - from the original concept to the first broadcast - The Making of Pride and Prejudice brings vividly to life the challenges and triumphs involved in every stage of production of this sumptuous television series. Follow a typical day's filming, including the wholesale transformation of Lacock village into the minutely detailed setting of Jane Austen's Meryton. Discover how Colin Firth approaches the part of Darcy, how actors' costumes and wigs are designed, how authentic dances are rehearsed and how Carl Davis recreates the period music and composes an original score. Piece together the roles of many behind-the-scenes contributors to the series, from casting directors and researchers to experts in period cookery and gardening. Including many full-colour photographs, interviews and lavish illustrations, The Making of Pride and Prejudice is an indispensable companion to the beautifully produced series and a fascinating insight into all aspects of a major television enterprise.

DESIGN CONSULTANT: GERRY SCOTT Front cover photograph shows Luckington Court, Chippenham, Wiltshire © George Wright Back cover photograph by Neil Ccnower shows Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Flizabeth Bennet © BBC Screenplay by Andrew Davies • Executive Producer: Michael Wearing Producer: Sue Birtwistle • Director: Simon Langton

Pride and Prejudice is available on video from

PENGUIN

ISBN 0-14-025157-X

Film/Television

U.K. U. S. CAN.

£10.99 $22. 00 $31.50

9"780140"251579

THE MAKING OF

PRIDE ^PREJUDICE SUE BIRTWISTLE & SUSIE CONKLIN

P E N G U I N BOOKS BBC BOOKS

P E N G U I N BOOKS BBC BOOKS Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London W C 2 R ORL, England Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Books Australia Ltd, 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 10 Alcorn Avenue,Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3 B 2 Penguin Books India (P) Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New D e l h i - 1 1 0 017, India Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd, Cnr Rosedale and Airborne Roads, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 2 4 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank 2 1 % , South Africa Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London W C 2 R ORL, England www.penguin.com First published 1995 30 Copyright © Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin, 1995 All rights reserved All photographs copyright © BBC The moral right of the authors has been asserted 1 0 0 1 S ™ BBC used under licence Printed in China Colour reproduction by Saxon, Norwich Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

0 NT E N T S

Introduction

V

CHAPTER 1

The script

1

CHAPTER 2

Pre-production

14

Casting

15

Location Hunting

22

The Production Team

27

CHAPTER 3

Production design

35

CHAPTER 4

Costume, make-up and hair design

47

CHAPTER 5

Music

61

CHAPTER 6

Dancing

67

CHAPTER 7

Two weeks to go . . .

73

CHAPTER 8

Filming

79

CHAPTER 9

A conversation with Colin Firth

97

CHAPTER 1 0

Post-production

107

APPENDIX

Cast and crew list

116

Acknowledgements

120