An American actor faces a decision about his accent when he is hired to star in a Shakespearean play.
An American actor faces a decision about his accent when he is hired to star in a Shakespearean play.
Directed by: Thomas Vallely
Comedy about a retired Hollywood actor, played by Dominic Chianese (The Sopranos, Godfather II), who decides to fulfil a lifelong dream to do Shakespeare. But at the audition, he faces an unexpected twist. When Dominic auditions to do John of Gaunt’s iconic “This Sceptred Isle” speech in his own American accent, the British director Hayden and his vocal coach Della protest. Will the Brits make Dominic do a “proper” British accent? Or will the American actor win them over?
Thomas Vallely is a director from Manchester, England. He trained in directing theatre with internationally renowned director Katie Mitchell. His latest short film, ‘Breathe Truth’, won Best Indie Short at the New York Film & Cinematography Awards 2025. His first short film, ‘Oil Paint’ (2023), made as a student, screened at the Oxford University Short Film Festival. He has directed for theatre at the Bush Theatre Studio and the Southwark Playhouse. He has script-edited an upcoming feature film by a Cannes Grand Prix-winning filmmaker. He was a Script Reader for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2025. In August 2026 he will direct a theatre show at an International Festival of Theatre and Performance in Greece. He is currently in talks with producers about his next two shorts.
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