Leading Lady Parts is a 2018 short film directed by Jessica Swale. Inspired by the Time's Up movement, the film stars several A-list actresses auditioning for a leading lady role, offering a critique of the casting process. It premiered on BBC Four in 2018 and is available for free on YouTube.
| Leading Lady Parts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Jessica Swale |
| Directed by | Jessica Swale |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Gemma Arterton |
| Running time | 8 minutes |
| Production company | Rebel Park Productions |
| Original release | |
| Release | 30 July 2018 |
Synopsis
editSeveral A-list actresses are auditioning for a film role known as the "leading lady part". The casting directors ask increasingly ridiculous requests of the actresses, including for them to lose weight, smile more, undress, put on more makeup, and, in the case of British Asian actress Gemma Chan, if she could "be more white". Finally, Tom Hiddleston auditions and is immediately cast.
Cast
edit- Catherine Tate as Panelist 1 (Boss)
- Gemma Arterton as Panelist 2
- Anthony Welsh as Panelist 3
- Emilia Clarke as Actress 1
- Stacy Martin as Actress 2
- Felicity Jones as Actress 3
- Florence Pugh as Actress 4
- Gemma Chan as Actress 5
- Lena Headey as Actress 6
- Wunmi Mosaku as Actress 7
- Katie Leung as Assistant
- Tom Hiddleston as Actor
Production
editThe idea for a film inspired by the Time's Up movement was put forth by British actress Gemma Arterton after she had attended several meetings as part of the movement. Jessica Swale wrote the script and within three weeks the cast and funding had been secured. It was filmed over the span of a few days at Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden.[1] The film was produced by Arterton's production company Rebel Park Productions, with Arterton crediting Felicity Jones for the idea of the film as a collaboration.[2]
Actresses who appeared as themselves in the film included Gemma Chan, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Felicity Jones, Wunmi Mosaku, Katie Leung, Stacy Martin, and Florence Pugh.[1] The casting directors were played by Gemma Arterton, Catherine Tate, and Anthony Welsh.[3] While the film was originally to be produced by an all-female crew, this proved impossible for the filmmakers.[4] The film is the first in a planned series of short films that address similar issues relating to the Time's Up and Me Too movements.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Zemler, Emily (2 August 2018). "Gemma Arterton's Time's Up-inspired short 'Leading Lady Parts' takes aim at the casting process". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ a b Steiner, Chelsea (3 August 2018). "Watch Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Tom Hiddleston, and More Try Out for Leading Lady Parts". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "Leading Lady Parts (TV Short 2018) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ Gove, Ed (3 September 2018). "Leading Lady Parts: Exposing sexist stereotypes". Royal Television Society. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.