Time is Eternal - Short Film

Berite Labelle, why did you write this story, what inspired you in choosing these women you portray?

I started my training as an actress by joining a troupe/company of actors in Geneva, Switzerland for 6 months in 2018 until I felt the need to act in English rather than French. I attended different workshops in London, New York, and Los Angeles.

Before taking the decision to peruse my acting studies in Los Angeles at New York Film Academy, I would continue to take as many classes as possible I could to improve my skills.

While I was taking Pilates and ballet class in Geneva with Melanie, (who became my friend) she would also recommend me to take private classes with her boyfriend, Bazile, who graduated as a Ballet Dancer like herself in Geneva, and as an Actor in the most prestigious Drama Acting school in Paris: “CoursFlorent” and the well-known school in Los Angeles, Stella Adler.

Everything made sense to me when he handed me a monologue from Mary Wollstonecraft from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

“My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone. I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists -- I wish to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness, and that those beings who are only the objects of pity and that kind of love, which has been termed its sister, will soon become objects of contempt.”

Since that day I felt like I could read her work with passion, love and devotion and benefit of the knowledge of my own strengths and the Beauty of English Language by studying her heritage.

I learned this monologue and performed it to Bazile, his techniques allowed me to travel through time and be Mary.

The spirit of Mary would never leave me, and I would study her life and take many notes. She was close to me and ignited something in me – The dedication for work.

Many months later, after performing this same monologue in front of many students and teachers in Los Angeles while I was enrolled in an Acting Program on Camera at New York Film Academy the new idea of studying Cleopatra would come to me naturally. I think I’ve seen some book at the airport and felt like it would be interesting to read it. I also once watched the incredible performances of Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra in 1963 inspired by The life and times of Cleopatra.

I would remain passionate and in Love with the fierce spirit of Cleopatra and in parallel by Elizabeth Taylor herself.

I wanted to perform too! Like a little boy who is dreaming of becoming Peter Pan or Spiderman!

Also, which woman has never dreamed to be Cleopatra during a Halloween night?! 

Having these 2 women in my mind, their voice came through my mouth while I was preparing myself in the bathroom on a morning.

I would be 3 different characters having discussions about my actual thoughts. It was between my own conscience, Cleopatra and Mary W. And it was FUN!

My voices and state of mind would change fast. Pretty Interesting. And it wasn’t Halloween! 

At the end of my Acting year, we were asked to choose a scene or write one in 2 weeks so we could prepare it to film it properly to celebrate our gradation.

The COVID-19 decided differently. We finished the year on Zoom and I could not make my mind up, I needed to shoot that scene!!

I actually wrote a lot and my teacher helped me to reduce it in one scene during one of the last classes. The reaction of my classmate motivated me to achieve that vision since all liked it.

I also casted a girl in my class from Sweden to play Mary W.

When I contacted DREAM TEAM DIRECTORS, I also asked her to play it with me, but she was back to Sweden due to COVID-19 and didn’t know when she would be back in Los Angeles.

To be honest, it was at the first place hard for me to “give away” that role because I’ve been studying the life of Mary W. closely for months! I handed her all my materials and I knew that she was talented and smart enough to play it right but doing it myself would fulfil my vision and since she was not in town anymore, I decided to achieve as it was at the beginning of my journey, playing it myself.

I also wanted to challenge myself, be creative and showcase my talents to the industry.

2. Is this your first film script, your first performance in a feature film, did you appear in commercials ?

It is my first film script. My only experience came from school. I was on Camera every week and I was playing with the camera from a young age and then as a model.

3. What inspired you to move from modeling to film

The relation with the camera and the power of expression and creation. In this film I deeply wanted to play all the roles, even the mermaid one, I didn’t want a body double for that either and I am Thankful for the directors precious support, trust and help. Everybody in the team was respectful and totally ready to achieve their specific work with love and dedication in order to make this DREAM VISION come true the time of filming.

Berite Labelle, writer and actress is also the Executive Producer of the film.

Dream Team Directors made her Dream come true : TIME IS ETERNAL is now ready for the festival circuit.