Mitigating Circumstances (video story)

Mitigating Circumstances was a standalone short film released in 2011 on YouTube. It constituted the first completed live-action appearances by Jenny Everywhere and Jenny Nowhere, although the unproduced film The Peculiars predated it by two years.

Jenny Everywhere tries to get Professor Alexander to grant her an extension to the deadline of the essay she has due in the course of her art studies. This does not sit easily with the teacher, as he has already granted her two such extensions for motives he perceives as odd or frivolous — such as “compulsory attendance at a chess game” (the chess game having in fact been played by Jenny for the sake of her soul against Death himself), and injuries she sustained during what was actually a confrontation with Jenny Nowhere.

When he asks her what the trouble is this time, she answers that some “relatives” of her are coming to visit and she'll likely have some trouble. At this moment, her companion Langley comes bursting in, announcing that “they” have arrived — he begins to say the word “counterparts”, but cuts himself off and corrects himself with “relatives”. The two rush off. Jenny briefly goes back on her tracks to ask the Professor if she has obtained her extension; the teacher grumpily acquiesces but warns her that it is the last one she'll get.

Worldbuilding

Jenny Everywhere

Jenny Everywhere appears in an incarnation who is currently studying at an art college. She speaks Swedish and has already started having “eccentric” adventures, but does not know how to shift herself, even if she is aware of the existence of her “counterparts”.

Jenny Nowhere

The Jenny Nowhere in this story dresses in a similar style, but is not physically identical, to Jenny Everywhere. She wears a light blue scarf and green-tinted goggles.

Behind the scenes

Background

The story did not include any writing or directing credits, but it did give a full cast list. Interestingly, one of the credited actors, Matthew Harris, said to play a “Student”, is nowhere to be seen in the finished film, suggesting the existence of a deleted scene featuring this additional character.

Watch online

This story was, and remains, posted on the ‘Eton Crow’ YouTube channel.

Jenny Everywhere in "Mitigating Circumstances"