ITV1’s Jane Austen site is open
AustenBlog’s West Coast Bureau took advantage of the time zone difference and sneaked into the ITV Jane Austen site via Handbag.com, where Flirtmail is up and running in some of the articles. Once your match is made, you can view behind-the-scenes featurettes, short clips and screencaps from the upcoming films, download buddy icons, desktop wallpaper, and all sorts of other goodies. Well done, ITV1!
ITV3’s Behind the Scenes look at the Jane Austen series will air Sunday, 1 April.
We will not speak of whom Flirtmail singled out as the companion of my future life. Stupid game, really. *surfs off to play again until Mr. Tilney pops up*
ETA: Use this updated link to access the Jane Austen site.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:30 am
Yay! Can’t wait to have a look around the website.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Hi, can anyone please tell me exactly where in handbag.com it is available? As the actual site does not seem to be working yet? Thanks!
March 12th, 2007 at 5:08 am
same prolem forme! i’m in england and the site is not working
by the way, i just have found an interesting piece of news here : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1500229.ece
it seems that persuasion and Northanger Abbey are going to be made into movie. You may already know that…
March 12th, 2007 at 5:57 am
Ditto regarding inability to discover if Henry Tilney really is my soulmate. However, in handbag.com’s “What’s On” section, there is a piece called “How to live your life like a Jane Austen heroine by Francesca Walker” that contains some of the most innane tripe I’ve read regarding Jane. Some gems:
>”If you find yourself drawn to a member of the opposite sex, don’t ask >him out for a pint; give him an invitation to spend the evening at your >manor house where you will be performing Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto >for your extended family.”
I ‘love’ this one. Do we need to explain that a concerto needs an orchestra? Snark!
>”If you find yourself in a stressful situation, without any obvious, >possible escape your best bet is to faint. A decent fainting spell can >get you out of a whole can o’ trouble. Likewise, if you are blushing >uncontrollably in the presence of a hot stud, swooning is also an >acceptable activity”
I think she has confused Jane Austen with bodice-ripper novels. Sigh.
>”Don’t marry your cousin. OK, the heroine of Mansfield Park did, as the >reward for listening quietly while he went on and on about how much he >fancied someone else and turning down the good-looking funny bloke, >but…..actually there is no but. She was called Fanny anyway”
The mind boggles. I have doubts whether the author has ever read a Jane Austen in her life!
March 12th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Just tried again to get into the site, but alas no luck. Who did FlirtMail choose as the perfect companion of the Editrix’s future life? It wouldn’t have been the Lord High Mayor of Wankerville by any chance?
Hee
March 12th, 2007 at 8:49 am
The Flirtmail game is an advertisement which shows up in various Handbag.com articles (sorry, no specific article), so surf through the articles (or refresh your browser on the same article) until Edmund Bertram shows up, inviting you to play.
Henry Tilney is rather elusive as his movie character is somewhat different from the book; try moving most of the sliders over to the milquetoast side and he should turn up.
I don’t know who the Editrix got (and maybe she spirited Henry away, which is why we haven’t been able to get him) but I ended up with John Thorpe.
March 12th, 2007 at 8:52 am
I got Captain Wentworth and am not complaining one bit!
LOL!
March 12th, 2007 at 9:47 am
After more refreshing of pages than I ever felt the need to do before, I finally got to the page, and what fun it is! Especially hunting for the right combination to get my darling Henry Crawford!
March 12th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Ugh, I got Mr. Eliott. I’ll have to keep trying until I either get Henry Tilney, Capt. Wentworth or Mr. Darcy.
It looks like the ads are timed somewhat so they switch on and off and, if you’re lucky, the JA quiz will pop up at the right time. I’ve noticed that they usually come up on the pop-up pages so be sure you allow pop-ups on the site.
I loved the behind the scenes for Northanger Abbey!! I’m reading the book currently and glad to see that the ‘journal scene’ when Henry teases her about it at the dance, and Catherine’s apology to the Tilneys about missing the walk are both in. John Thorpe has a deep voice and really is quite devilish. Henry is just as he should be - charming, witty and oh so handsome! I had initial misgivings about the actress who plays Eleanor Tilney but after seeing her in this I think she will do very well. I think this adaptation will be quite delightful.
It looks like we will get a wedding for “Mansfield Park” although I wonder if we will get to see Fanny go home to Portsmouth since it appears that they filmed entirely on location at Newby Hall. I’m really warming up to Edmund and we do get the scene where Mary plays the harp for Edmund.
The “Persuasion” scenes are far too short and don’t show much. I do love the scene where Frederick listens to Anne play the piano. No interviews with RPJ, sadly. And they seem to be hiding Elizabeth. We finally hear from Sir Walter and Mary (and see glimpses of Mr. Elliot), but Elizabeth is nowhere to be seen!
I think of all 3 though, NA2 is the one I am most excited about.
March 12th, 2007 at 11:22 am
surf through the articles (or refresh your browser on the same article) until Edmund Bertram shows up, inviting you to play
I’ve had that nightmare…
March 12th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Try this link!!! It should get you to the ITV site with all the behind-the-scenes information:
http://janeausten.itv.com/mpu.php?mpu_result=elliot#/Home/
Enjoy!
March 12th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Thanks for that link! I’ll love you forever. Handbag was simply not working for me…
By the way, Henry Tilney popped up straightaway! Ta, cheers
March 12th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Bah - in the making of Mansfield Park - Fanny Price as written by Austen is called by two different individuals “boring”, and a “boring prick”! I’m a little scared. What have they done to Fanny?
March 12th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I’m also thoroughly disturbed by the depiction of John Thorpe as a love rival for Henry Tilney! Someone even used the word “dashing” in the behind the scenes to describe him which isn’t exactly an adjective I’d use.
March 12th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
An excellent site! Wenthworth popped up at first attempt
But why is it called Flirtmail and not simply a survey or a test? I mean, there isn’t any actual mailing happening there, is there? I’m confused.
Colleen, I wouldn’t call Fanny boring. But she is a bit like that teacher’s favourite little girl who doesn’t ever anything naughty herself and will tell the teacher in a minute when anyone else does.
March 12th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Hee. I got Henry Tilney right away! John Thorpe is scary! Carey Mulligan looks sooo cute and, wow, Felicity Jones looks so Catherine!
March 12th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for the link, Marcy! However, on Flirtmail I got Henry Crawford and then Mr Elliot. Boo. You can get Mr Tilney if you put the counters down to ‘non-snarky whimp’. I despair, I really do. I am concerned about the portrayal of ‘gentle’ Tilney (arggg) and John Thorpe as ’serious’ contender in NA. And my hopes are not raised by seeing the MP footage (what is it with people’s hair there? How will Fanny get sent to Portsmouth if all the shooting was only at the estate?). However, Persuasion looks promising so will reserve judgement on all three until I see them.
March 12th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
This thing is fantastic! I got Captain Wentworth and I’m thrilled because I love him the most-est. (Even more than Darcy.)
Of course had I gotten Mr. Eliot, I would say that this test is clearly flawed.
March 12th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
And I spelled Elliot wrong. Doh!
March 12th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
What a lovely website!
Well done, ITV!
I got Captain Wentworth out of the Flirtmail-thing. I’m not sure if I totally agree, but you certainly won’t hear me complain about it!
March 12th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I have been trying over and over to see this flirtmail thingy and haven’t seen diddly. Can someone PLEASE post a link to the survey?
March 12th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Julie P. the flirtmail can be found here: http://janeausten.itv.com/mpu.php?mpu_result=elliot#/Flirtmail_Home/
I got Captain Wentworth and am vastly pleased by the result. It’s little more that I had expected as the quiz probably matches you up based on the kind of partner each man is looking for and I somehow lack the naivety of Catherine and the sweetness of Fanny.
Has anyone else watched all of the Behind the Scenes videos yet? Aren’t they fantastic? I adore Northanger Abbey and The Characters clip is so funny! Did you catch Henry Tilney’s “Ooooh” after Catherine says “perhaps I keep no journal”? JJ Field is perfect!
Oh I so can’t wait for the movies! I think I’ll go watch each clip 10 more times and download all the goodies!
March 12th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Thank you! I got Captain Wentworth! Hoorah!
As if I ever doubted it…
March 12th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Ohhh dear, I got Edmund Bertram. Sigh. What did I ever do to you, ITV? Well, have to make the best of it. He sent me a very feeling letter. And Fanny is no nitwit. But to my mind, even Edward Ferrars would suffice.
March 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Ah how lovely..I got Captain Wentworth!(he seems to be a rather popular catch around here) I was surprised because I figured I’d end up with someone far less superior. hehe :o)
March 12th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Just to let you all know where the videos are on the JA Season Site.
Characters
If you click on each of the three pictures a video will show up.
Behind the Scenes
Videos will show up under The Story as well as Characters.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I got Henry Tilney straight away. I think I love this site
March 12th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Well, I must admit that I agree with their assessment of Fanny - she is boring, and comes off as a bit of a prig (sorry, Jane!). If they can liven her up just a bit without going totally out of character, then that’s quite all right for me.
I keep getting John Thorpe as my match. I think I might go cry or something… ::sighs::
March 12th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
yeah, Elaina, I find her a little too dull, but it can’t be going out of character…I mean, it’s nasty suggesting people who are shy and reserved are not interesting! (not that you are, Elaina, but like the director of MP2 and people like that!)
The clips of NA2 are sooo absolutely gorgeous! Felicity J is beautiful and has the right face for Catherine–very expressive! Did you see the gallery from P3–Louisa is really pretty, and, wow, Wentworth is just smokingly it up in that one pic (w/all the candles)!! *whistles*
March 12th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Classic FM has an audio interview with Billie Piper,Blake Ritson and other members about MP. You can hear audio clips from the film in this interview.
http://www.classicfm.co.uk/sectional.asp?id=13286
March 12th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Ahhh! It seems far too good to be true: like Reeba, I got Henry Tilney right away, and I didn’t even rig the quiz! I deserve him so little, and yet what can I say? Fate has clearly intended us for one another.
March 12th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I got Captain Wentworth too. Made my bad day a lot nicer.
March 12th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
A total reversal of Fanny’s personality (like Rozema’s MP) is never a good thing. But some artistic license doesn’t bother me, either.
Heh, I guess I’m not much of a purist. 
March 12th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I suppose when Andrew Davies mentions that Thorpe is “dashing” he means he likes to ‘dash’ about here and there (ha!). I certainly hope he doesn’t mean he is handsome or desirable, because I think most of us will agree that he is NEITHER!
Love JJ Feild though. He is just perfectly Henry to me - with his laugh and quizzing Felicity on why she didn’t choose Thorpe’s character. Although RPJ is more traditionally handsome (a sort of Ken doll in breeches), I do prefer someone who is easy on the eyes and can make me laugh as well, so I think I’ll be even more of a Henry Tilney devotee before the end!
March 12th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I love the music in the clips and behind-the-scenes; it is so pretty.
Well, obviously, MP and NA have quite a number of changes. A love triangle in NA?? Surely not! Yet I am still looking forward to the films and am reserving judgment until I see them.
March 12th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Okay, finally got to see this….
Isabella’s “flirtatious brother John”?
A “classic Austen love triangle?”
*coughs up a lung laughing*
Persuasion looks pretty good, though. Is Anne playing the Moonlight Sonata? Such a beautiful, sad piece…sigh. It was nice to see a scene that was actually in the bally book, too.
HA HA HA….got Weasel Boy Elliot.
March 13th, 2007 at 1:16 am
hmm…anybody know where we can get that mansfield park trailer? i want to bring it wherever i go =D
March 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
And just how many “classic Austen love triangles” are there?
Mr. Elliot/Anne/Wentworth
Louisa/Wentworth/Anne
Mr. Thorpe/Catherine/Henry
Frederick Tilney/Isabella/James
Frank Churchill/Emma/Knightly
Emma/Knightly/Harriet
Emma/Frank/Jane
Mr. Elton/Harriet/Mr. Martin
Maria/Crawford/Julia
Crawford/Maria/Rushworth
Fanny/Crawford/Maria
Fanny/Edmund/Mary
Edmund/Fanny/Crawford
Elinor/Edward/Lucy
Edward/Lucy/Robert
Brandon/Elinor/Edward
Marianne/Willoughby/Miss Grey
Willoughby/Marianne/Brandon
Elizabeth/Wickham/Lydia
Elizabeth/Collins/Mary
Jane/Bingley/Georgiana
Miss Bingley/Darcy/Elizabeth
Fitzwilliam/Elizabeth/Darcy
Darcy/Elizabeth/Wickham
And the list could go on and on…
March 13th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Wow! No kidding! Never realized that there were so many love triangles in JA
March 13th, 2007 at 9:23 am
There is no “love triangle” involving John Thorpe except possibly in his own mind. Catherine was never, ever interested in him in the tiniest bit.
March 13th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Agreed with Mags, but if they show anything from John’s perspective then the concept of the love triangle isn’t so much of a stretch.
Yes!!!!! I got Henry Tilney! First try. I guess being naive and shy has it’s benefits after all.
March 13th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Which brings up an observation from the behind the scenes featurettes and character descriptions: since John Thorpe has been changed into a dashing rival, and Catherine is truly having difficulty choosing between the two men, how will these changes affect the plot – for instance, such scenes as the marriage versus dancing dialogue, or the apology in the theater? The believability of these scenes and strength of the overall story is dependent on Jane Austen’s original characterizations – Catherine, Henry, John and others behaving as they naturally would within the constructs Jane set. Now that the characters have been changed, what other parts of the plot must also be changed to convince Catherine to choose Henry, and to convince Henry that Catherine loves him? How will these changes strengthen or improve upon the original? Fortunately we don’t have much longer to wait for answers.
Yes, NA2 looks very pretty and the actors are attractive people who look well-suited for their roles. And if all most viewers want from a Jane Austen film are pretty faces, lovely frocks and a happy ending, I suppose it doesn’t matter if the story and characters have been hamstrung in the process – the ends justify the means.
March 13th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sadness - all the Edmund and Fanny hate. And I was hoping for a decent interpretation of the character - instead it looks like we’re getting O’Conner redux. Which is not to say they’re not fine actresses, but really, I love Fanny. And Edmund.
March 13th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Hey - why all the bad vibes…. let us watch the productions with open minds and then make comments on whether they’re good, mediocre or poor….
March 13th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Because some of us care about the stories, quite passionately, and we hate to see them ruined for the sake of some notion of what the public demands.
March 14th, 2007 at 5:15 am
.. and i agree with your sentiment. However until we see the productions we won’t know if they’re ruined or not.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Considering the way they are being described by the parties involved, it’s possible to take a pretty educated guess.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Is anyone else having trouble with the sound in the videos on the site? Mine keeps hiccupping :(.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Let’s not forget that the marketing is not necessarily a good indicator of what has actually been done. Remember the “nude” scenes in P&P 95? Maybe they haven’t monkeyed with the story, and just think presenting a love triangle will up viewership.
March 14th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Well, in one clip of NA there is a bit a nudity. And I agree about all three films being marketed as love triangles in order to up viewership; at the site the bios of the characters are only the heroine and two gentlemen vying for her affections.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:59 am
Well, Andrew Davies did want Darcy to be nude in the pond scene, but more rational heads prevailed. Davies is about as subtle as a sledgehammer, but these new versions sound as if they are from the same school (except perhaps Persuasion).