Period Pieces and Successfully Rewriting History

Period pieces have been a popular genre in popular culture for decades, and while they’re a joy to think up and imagine, the actual production often requires a large budget and copious amounts of research. The genre remains popular today, with shows such as Bridgerton and The Crown, and films such as Mary & George and Ammonite. Amateur filmmakers often will make simple mistakes in the process of producing a period piece, but, with research and determination, these mistakes can be avoided for a successful period piece.

What is a Period Piece?

A period piece is a film or television show that is set in an earlier historical period. The time period that counts as historical or ‘period’ is usually around twenty to thirty years prior to the piece’s creation, though some will argue that the cutoff is as early as ten years from the piece’s creation.

How to Write for a Different Era

If you are aiming for accuracy in your period piece, the foundation for those accuracies begin with the script. The key to ensuring that your script is accurate is to research heavily. Nothing is off-limits when it comes to researching. Get as much information as you can– the devil is in the details, and you want to ensure your details are accurate. A major section of your target audience is going to be people who are fans of the time period, so they will notice the details. Look for little anecdotes from the period, and you can include or adapt those as scenes or moments for your characters to give life to your script. However, don’t get so bogged down in your research that you lose the point of your story. Remain true to the essence of the period, even if, for a narrative point to work, you need to stray slightly from the exact historical accuracies.

When choosing a historical time period to set your story in, don’t choose solely for the aesthetics of the time period. While period pieces often contain dramatic costuming, elaborate production design, and fun historical references, make sure that your narrative fits in this time period. Is there something about this period in time that gives your narrative a unique twist?

Make sure your narrative is compelling and will keep your audience hooked. People love drama, and often, period pieces are chock-full of it. You can meld different genres together to create a unique story. One notable example is Stranger Things, which is set in the 1980s, but it is, at its core, a thriller and science fiction story; this is still, by technicality, a period piece, despite the fact that many elements of the story do not have true historical ties.

Adding scandals, whether real or fictional, is a great way to spice up your narrative. You can use real-life scandals that happened in history, or you can create your own scandals. Two examples of this are the real-life scandal and drama of The Crown versus the invented dramas and scandals of Bridgerton.

Finally, if you are trying to be cheeky about historical inaccuracies or breaking the fourth wall, be consistent with it. Use these techniques throughout the film or television show rather than bouncing between stiffness and silliness in your script. Consistency is key to a coherent piece.

Tailoring the Production Style

A defining feature of many period pieces is the production design. From elaborate costumes to dramatic sets, the production design of period pieces is really what inflates the budgets of this genre. While you began your research in the writing phase, production design is what brings the time period to life, and it requires the same amount, if not more, research to ensure accuracy.

One style of period piece is the costume drama, which is what people think of when they think of period pieces. This style of piece involves elaborate costuming and set design. Oftentimes you see large manors, beautiful gowns, and dramatic romances on screen in this style of period piece. Commonly, period pieces adapted from historical novels or plays are considered costume dramas. Some examples of this are Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and Downton Abbey.

You can also bring a historical feel to your production by tailoring your cinematography style to the period as well. Viewers should feel a difference when they watch this piece beyond just the historical clothing and sets. You can draw inspiration from historical texts, films of the time period you’re setting your piece in, and photographs and newspaper articles from the time. If it helps, you can also look at other period films and shows that are set in the same period you are setting yours.

What We Can Learn from Period Pieces

The details matter in a period piece, no matter the time period it is set in. Any historical inaccuracies or jarringly off-tone cinematography will be noticed by the viewers, and it will dampen the success of your film or show. Research is key. Having an innate understanding of a film’s world will cater to your success, though this is not unique to period pieces– knowing the details of your world will help you shape your characters and aesthetic profile of the piece.

While period pieces may be difficult to accomplish successfully, take your time and do your research, and you, too, can be successful in creating a wonderful and historically-accurate piece.

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