Experiencing Interruptions?

Fine Knacks for Playwrights

Where does inspiration come from? Sometimes from unexpected places.
When a key prop is missing for an upcoming performance, Will Shakespeare must venture into the distracting world of SHOPPING! The situations, people and things he encounters get filed away into his subconscious, perhaps to emerge in future works....
This animated comedy is chock full of Shakespearean references and in-jokes with a whole new look at the Bard himself.

  • Deb Ethier
    Director
  • Deb Ethier
    Writer
  • Alex Phelps
    Key Cast
    "Shakespeare; Hamlet"
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 20, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital animation
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cift Festival of Toronto
    Toronto
    Canada
    Official Selection
  • FROSTBITE International Indie Fest
    Colorado Springs, CO
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Bridge Fest
    Vancouver
    Canada
    Best Animation November 2020
  • Berlin Flash Film Festival Berlin Flash Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    Outstanding Achievement
  • Shakespeare Shorts
    Stratford upon Avon
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Changing Face International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Semi-finalist
  • AltFF
    Toronto
    Canada
    Semi-finalist, Winter 2020
  • Couch Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Semi-finalist
  • Acting Awards Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Honorable Mention, Voiceover
Director Biography - Deb Ethier

I have at various times in my life been an artist, musician, writer, educator, history and vintage film buff, puppet maker and children's theatre director, finally tying them all together with stop-motion and mixed-media animation.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Fine Knacks for Playwrights" draws on my continuing fascination with things Shakespearean. The title comes from "Fine Knacks for Ladies" a song by John Dowland (who was an exact contemporary of the Bard).