I'm ready for my closeup!

I got a call a few days ago from someone interested in filming part of their movie at our museum. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited. I mean, who wouldn't be excited? I don't know how many historical movies I've watched for the houses and costumes, it's only natural that it would be great to have this take place at my own museum. I think everyone can relate; I mean, who hasn't had a tiny thrill when you see a place that you recognize in a movie?

Personally, as a huge movie buff, I often passively seek out film sites. I've never planned a trip specifically to visit one, but I'm pretty eager to go if I know one's around.

When visiting a friend who lived in England a few years ago, she took us to Mompesson House in Salisbury. We were all suitably impressed that scenes from Sense and Sensibility had been filmed there. A few years earlier, while on my first trip to England with my mother, we had been scandalously close to Lyme Park, the holy grail of "Hollywood's Jane Austen's England". In case you haven't already guessed, that's Mr. Darcy's house, my friends. I remember some American women from our bus tour were grilling the staff at our hotel about the feasibility of going despite the fact that it was closed, rainy, and actually about 40 minutes away. The next day on the bus was filled with Pride and Prejudice gossip and giddiness (much to many husbands' dismay), and led me to run out and rent myself a copy of Colin Firth's piece de resistance upon my arrival back in Canada. It's been a well-used addition to my DVD library ever since.

Now, I clearly remember a moment at the beginning of my MA course in Heritage Management (that I took in England last year, in case I haven't mentioned), when the program director began talking about the "Jane Austen Crowd" in terms of visitors to historic sites in the UK. They were mainly American and were solely there to live out the dream and "meet their own Mr. Darcy." Some of my fellow students bristled at this declaration, speaking out at the absurdity of it all: "Why should be cater to them? England is so much more than that!" Others argued that that couldn't possibly be the case, that it can't be that Jane Austen is the reason most North Americans come to England. I remember shyly raising my hand from the back of the room and confirming their worst fears. It was somewhat difficult for me to explain that to most North Americans, Jane Austen is England, and that's all they know. Of course we should be catering to them; otherwise they'll stop coming.

I have to admit that, as a heritage professional, it's hard to reconcile the interpretation and presentation of a period home, with all its family history and messaging framework, with a visitor demographic that's solely based on having seen a fictional movie.

That's why I decided to go. To Mr. Darcy's house. Oops! I mean, Lyme Park. See!



Lyme Park on a tragically rainy day



The courtyard inside Lyme Park.



A friend of mine came to visit me in England right after I finished my dissertation and we had a whirlwind tour of London, Stonehenge, Avebury, Wales, and many other locations. I remember when she asked, "Ah... can we go to Mr. Darcy's house?" Of course!

Throughout the trip I kept trying to keep my professional "cool" (if museum professionals can be ever called cool, that is) and call it Lyme Park whenever I mentioned it. Much to the exasperation of my friend, who just kept asking when we were going to visit Mr. Darcy, most likely to egg me on.

I have to say that the overall experience surprised me. While the site is undoubtedly a huge draw for the Jane Austen crowd, the management does not cater specifically to them. It's only mentioned briefly in the brochure and on the website, and not at all in any interpretation panels. I could hear staff directing people to the pond and the recognisable facade, but that was about it.  Nothing stood out as "Jane Austen" to me. I couldn't decide if I was impressed or disappointed. I mean, bravo for sticking to your interpretive guns and not pandering, but, my heritage manager brain just kept thinking, "They're missing a trick here!"

My friend's picture of Mr. Darcy's pond. You know, where Colin Firth gets all wet and then runs into Elizabeth Bennet?! I think there were about five of us taking this picture at the same time.



Me posing with a Mr. Darcy bookmark.
Don't ask about the sheep, it's a long story...

 
So just when I thought there was going to be no overt mention of Pride and Prejudice.... we find the "Pride and Prejudice Shop". Good lord! I was embarrased to be in there. All the films, all the books, postcards, bookmarks, magnets, pencils, quills, photo books, artwork; you name it, they had it. It was crazy. It was awesome. My friend picked up a bookmark and a magnet. I kept looking around in awe a the perfect way they had managed to "give the people what they want" while overall maintaining the site's historical integrity. I give a slow clap to the management at Lyme Park.

Having the possibility of a film being shot at my museum has raised some pretty exciting possibilities for us. I mean, it'll never be a Pride and Prejudice, but who knows, it might draw some attention to the site, and all attention is welcome. It also makes me remember two of my personal museum 10 commandments, that you should "give people what they want" and that you should "never take yourself (or your museum) too seriously". I try to do that every day. And I have my Mr. Darcy magnet in my office to remind me. 



My boss: Is that Colin Firth on your filing cabinet?
Me: Maybe...