Stars answer questions at Government House Q&A

Saturday 14 April 2018

Members of the Arts Foundation Guernsey got to attend a special Q&A event at Government House with some of the stars of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during their visit to the island.

Across two panels, both the daughter of Mary-Anne Shaffer; Liz Froneberger, and Mary-Anne's co-author; Annie Barrows spoke about the process of turning the novel into a film, with the stars and producers speaking about their experience of the film and finally coming to Guernsey.

During their part of the Q&A on Thursday, both Ms Barrows and Ms Froneberger spoke about how Mrs Schaffer learnt about the Occupation and decided to commit so much of her time to telling its story.

"She was stuck in Guernsey airport because of fog - she was there for a reason we cant really decide on, but she was there - for about 30 hours, and of course in that time you need something to read, so she went to the gift shop and ended up reading all of the books, and they were all on the occupation," Ms Barrows said.

"She was almost embarrassed that she hadn't heard about it before. I think she considered herself somewhat of an expert on the war - and she was quite the historian - but she knew nothing, so she committed to researching it, and that was where the idea came from."

Pictured: Left, Ms Froneberger, the daughter of Mary-Anne Shaffer; centre, co-author Annie Barrows, who finished the novel after Mary-Anne's death, and right, Tom Bezucha, the script writer.

Ms Froneberger said it was humbling to attend the Guernsey premiere of the film after all of the years the story had been part of her family: "It's like coming back home" she said.

Both of the women said Mrs Schaffer would have never believed her book would be turned into a film, but they did add that the idea of it would have probably excited her beyond anything else.

"She loved movies, she really did," Ms Barrows said, "I really think she would have loved how it turned out as well. When the process started my only real concern was that it would turn into a love story, and not a true study of the Occupation and the history of the island. That wasn't the purpose, it was to tell the story of the Occupation the best she could. 

"I couldn't be more pleased with how we have ended up. I think Lily James has done a splendid job."

Pictured: Lily James and Glen Powell meet Lt-Governer Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder and Lady Corder.

Speaking during their part of the Q&A, the stars and producers of the film reiterated their excitement at coming to Guernsey for the premiere.

They said the island had been beautiful, and they loved how everyone was "buzzing with excitement" about both the film and its premiere. They were also all in agreement that working on the project had been a privilege, as had learning about Guernsey, its history and its people.

Lt-Governor Sir Ian Corder thanked the Arts Foundation and its members for organising Thursday's event and attending, along with thanking the cast and crew for coming to the island.

The Arts Foundation itself also thanked everyone for attending and for their support.