PEASANTS by Kristina Grosspietsch
MATT TORONTO interviews KRISTINA GROSSPIETSCH about her television pilot PEASANTS: In a medieval castle where only the nobles have fantastical quests, a quirky chambermaid befriends a new magician in the hopes of bringing some adventure to her and her fellow peasants’ menial lives.
MATT TORONTO: What do you consider the themes of this script?
KRISTINA GROSSPIETSCH: In a more fun sense, the themes are adventure and fantasy! But underneath the silly, mythical surface, this is a story about longing for more, about following your dreams in a world that discourages ambition in certain groups of people. So on the outset, it seems like a fun romp through a medieval fantasy past, it's also a deeply critical take on rigid, classist social structures. Surprise!
MT: Why is it important for you to tell this story? What inspired you to write this script?
KG: I am a big fantasy nerd. If I could spend all day reading books and watching shows and movies about a girl with a sword and a dragon, I would. But in devouring this genre, I noticed a pattern, which is that only certain people are partaking in the fantasy. This world we know and love, like Game of Thrones, for instance, gives its adventures exclusively to knights, nobility, and royals. The peasants are in the story, but they are faceless and dying in droves in the various battles led by our aristocratic heroes. There are definitely fantasy stories that feature a nobody villager suddenly thrust into a wider world, but there is usually a sort of exceptionalism to this person. They are only on this quest because they are the "chosen one."
The regular person, the person who most of us would be if we were transported to this mythical past, lives in the same world as people learning magic or battling monsters, but knows none of the wonder. I didn't want to ignore those people any longer!
MT: This story takes place in a mythical past. What makes it relevant today?
KG: There's something so human to me about longing for more. We may not be yearning to ride a dragon in our world, but how many of us are spending Sunday mornings on Zillow, gazing at bigger houses and wishing we had a little bit of a different life? We may not be serfs, but we do live in a classist society — and most of us are not in the 1%. We are regular people, and there are wondrous things in our own world that are out of our reach.
MT: Why did you make this an animated project rather than live-action? How does that help you tell the story?
KG: I love how animation removes limitations. Our characters can encounter any manner of wild magical being without there being a production meeting about the CGI budget. That means we can take the story to where it demands to go, instead of what would be the easiest to film.
MT: What is your favorite moment in the script and why?
KG: Oh goodness. This is a hard question. I love so many! And I still love so many moments I had to edit out that will never see the light of day. This story is my baby! You can't love the baby's feet more than its hands!!!
But if I had to cut my baby into little parts, I'd say I'm a big fan of Rosalind complaining to everyone in the castle about being rejected. It's so relatable to me. I'm also partial to when Milo pretends to be distracted by grass while Bess fights the shadow cat. I love their dynamic; it was always so much fun to write. Wait, I also love everything with Henry inventing jogging! And Wolf stealing glances at Roz! Ack! Stop making me cut up my baby!
MT: What was the hardest thing for you in telling this story? What surprised you most about writing this script?
KG: I felt intimidated by writing fight scenes and sword-fighting moments. Especially with animation, you have to be very clear about everything the audience is seeing, and as I'm not secretly a fight coordinator, I was nervous I'd be out of my depth. But, surprisingly, I ended up loving writing those moments! Since I wasn't worried about actors and can have cartoons do... whatever I want, there was a literary quality to it, almost as if I was crafting a passage from a book. It was really fun.
MT: Peasants is a pilot for a series. What can you tell us about where the story goes in the first season and future seasons?
KG: These characters go on all manner of adventures while still attending to their duties at the castle. War comes, and everyone except Bess is desperate to avoid the inevitable peasant slaughter. Milo falls in love. Nora's attitude angers the King and Queen. Henry bakes some exquisite desserts and doesn't get the credit. Wolf leads a massive rebellion and Roz joins, living with the bandits as Robin Hood-style outlaws in the forest. Unfortunately, she finds she's not a big fan of camping. And that's just the first season!
MT: Which character is your favorite, and why?
KG: Wolf!!! In every fantasy story, there is a brooding character with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a heart of gold. I am always in love with this character, so I obviously wrote one into my script as well.
MT: They say that oftentimes a writer creates a character that is a version of him or herself? Is one of these characters based on you?
KG: I plead the 5th!!!
MT: What audience do you hope to activate with your series?
KG: I think this is a story for animation fans, fantasy fans, and comedy fans!
MT: What are your biggest hangups when it comes to turning your script into a film/ TV show?
KG: My biggest hangup is that it's not already a show! C'mon, people! What are we waiting for?!
MT: What was your experience being a part of the Casino Theatre?
KG: Casino Theatre was an invaluable experience for me. First off, it was deeply emotional to hear and see these characters I've spent so much time with coming to life before my eyes. But Casino Theatre also afforded me an opportunity to meet people and make connections in the industry I'd otherwise have had no access to. I'm really grateful for everything Casino Theatre has done to support me and my project!