Confetti - Jessica Stevenson and Felicity Montagu interview
Interview by Rob Carnevale
JESSICA Stevenson talks about her new film, Confetti, as well as what it might do for marriages in general, while Felicity Montagu discusses her role as the editor of wedding magazine, Confetti.
Jessica Stevenson
Q. What’s your thoughts on the business of having a bizarre wedding ceremony? Is it not scary enough to do it the straightforward way?
A. Making the film actually made me think that more people should do it. Weddings are bizarre anyway. The whole nature of them is crazytown. So why not go the whole hog and turn it into a complete circus?
Q. Did you bring any first-hand experiences of wedding day disasters to your role?
A. I wasn’t married at the time when we initially met to discuss the film but by the time we did the film I was. So what I was really interested in exploring was that sort of dysfunctional aspect and the warring families. The divorced families who just have to get it together in order for the marriage to work.
As for funny wedding stories, a friend of mine who always thought she was a really good dancer – and therefore indulged in it often – was actually filmed on her wedding day. So at the point where she was looking at the video and thinking what a great dancer she was, she initially didn’t recognise herself and then realised what a terrible dancer she actually was. She would never have found out had she not got married. So some good came out of it.
Q. Do you think this film will revive the happily ever after concept and the idea of marriage?
A. I don’t think getting married means happily ever after unfortunately. I think there’s a lot more to it than that. The marriage ceremony is one day and it’s what you do for the rest of the time that matters. But if people want to get married in an extravagant and fun way – and they can afford to – I think it’s good fun. But if you’re asking: “Do I hope that more people get married after seeing this film?” I don’t know. I think people should do what they want to do. I hope that more people are happy.
I think people certainly do have a different idea of what marriage is. Two generations ago, I think marriage meant something completely different. It actually meant you were going to stay with someone forever and younger people understood that’s what it meant and they absolutely went with that. Whereas for this generation and maybe the last, marriage doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing. It has changed.
Felicity Montagu
Q. Did you study any magazine editors in particular for your role as Confetti’s chief?
A. Debbie got me to meet a few magazine editors but she’s not based on any one particular character. She’s based on quite a few.
Q. Did you bring any first-hand experiences of wedding day disasters to your role?
A. Well I was getting a divorce at the time so it’s a difficult one for me to answer really. It’s not that funny. Maybe ironic. I was playing a character that’s been divorced three times.
Q. Do you think this film will revive the happily ever after concept and the idea of marriage?
A. I think it’s just nice to see people who are happy, who are holding hands together. People might come away thinking these couples will walk through life together and I think that’s quite touching.