CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER

BON ANNIVERSAIRE CAPUCINE!

MEET THE ON-SET PHOTOGRAPHER

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JONATHAN CHARPTENTIER is a French photographer and artist, originally from Paris. Studying at a Parisian photography school, he learned his trade as an assistant studio and news photographer, specializing in portraits, objects and illustrations, as well as institutional and event photography. He is also an active member of several audiovisual associations and participates in various projects and events such as the short film festival Le 7è Art du Lys. Acting as an on-set photographer for many short films (sometimes doubling briefly as an actor and an extra), he also likes to pursue other artistic endeavors. His work has already been shown in several expositions in France and the Netherlands and he most recently premiered two new series in Minnesota and Michigan. Today, he currently runs his own business: Jonathan Charpentier Photography.

1) How did you get involved with L’Américain?

I’ve been an on-set photographer since 2007, and I love working on different projects. It was François René Whyte - a friend of mine that I’ve known since kindergarten - who talked to me about the project and introduced me to Jim. Thanks to my work in photography, I’ve become a big traveler. My girlfriend is American, so I hope to move to the US next year. Communication is not always easy with the distance, cultural differences and the language barrier. So when I read the script, I was touched by the story, and I said to myself, “How wonderful to work on a film with a story like this and with a crew composed of people coming from all over the world !” All the ingredients were there for me to jump on board.

2) What was your favorite experience abroad?

My trips around and to the United States are my favorite, specifically the first time I went in January 2010 to meet my girlfriend, who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The temperature was below zero, so when I left the aiport, icicles began forming under my nose! And I loved it! My first time in the US is still my favorite. I was so excited to be on a plane that I couldn’t even sleep! I also think that love is the best reason to travel or at least, meeting the locals, understanding their culture and learning other ways of life.

3) Where will your next voyage be?

That’s easy to guess! BACK TO THE USA! I think that next year, I’ll probably ask my girlfriend to marry me. I’ll be living in the States while keeping my French heritage, of course, and continue working here and there. I’ve always dreamed of traveling around the world. I would love to visit Canada and Australia, but that depends on work and such. But I’ll always follow my intuition. 

4) Tell us a story of someone who unexpectedly changed your life.

I met a Yogi Indian named Sri Swami Umasankar. He had an extraordinary life not only because he was a Yogi, but because he was a saint who took a vow to spend his life trying to bring world peace. I had the chance to learn a bit from him, and I’ll be seeing him again in September 2013 in France.

5) What is one secret talent you have?

My secret talent won’t be a secret anymore if I talk about it! Ok, if you insist… And if you’re luring me with dark chocolate, well, then, alright! It’s been a long time that I haven’t been in a group, but I sing. Originally, I learned opera, but then I tried out other different styles of music because if you like music or art, everything is interesting no matter what time period it’s from or what genre. I also have another secret talent, but that will remain a secret… unless you seduce me with chocolate!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY “L’AMÉRICAIN”!

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BON ANNIVERSAIRE to L’AMÉRICAIN!

One year ago today, my crew and I embarked on an incredible, fun and memorable shoot together. And we still can’t believe it’s already been a year since we filmed L’Américain because we’re just barely starting to share this film with the public!

But we’re very happy, at least, to have already shared it with our beloved Kickstarter donors and friends, who made this all happen in the first place. We’re all very grateful for your contribution to the project, and also for all the kind words and comments you’ve sent our way since seeing the film. Thank you so much!

I did manage to catch up with some of the original crew recently, including my first assistant director Sarah, my production coordinator Clémence, and our French actor Romain. We had a round of beers and did some reminiscing… Here are some highlights below! ;)

Production coordinator Clémence leading the crew… to lunch! 

Our Frenchie actor Romain getting a little touch-up.

Camera buddies Isarr (cinematographer) and Just (assistant camera).

Clémentine (make-up), Simon (location manager) and Capucine (production manager).

Using my friends as extras and having them do what they do best: “apéro” ! 

Our lighting team Linnea and Micsha having a good laugh with our sound guy Emmanuel.

My two awesome assistant directors Sarah and Asa.

Production designer Eliza on set with our cigarette prop.

A little bilingual note for our crew.

Our actors Romain and Jamie mimicking my old short film, Park Bench. ;)

The cast and crew together at the wrap party, celebrating the end of a great shoot!

FIRST OFFICIAL FESTIVAL SELECTIONS !

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BRAVO to the cast and crew of L’Américain!

I woke up this morning to find out that we had gotten into not one, but TWO, film festivals! Our very first official film festival selections are:

« Côté Court » Short Film Festival - Pantin, France / June 5-15 2013

A unique short film festival in the Seine-Saint-Denis department just outside Paris. Over the years, “Côté Court” has become one of the top three short film festivals in France (up there with the festivals of Clermont-Ferrand and Brest) due to its ambitious and unique film program. Short films, which are less dependent on the economic criteria of feature films, benefit from greater freedom in creativity as well as form, allowing an opportunity to teach, learn, and experiment. L’Américain was officially selected in the Festival’s out-of-competiton « Panorama » selection.

Palm Springs International ShortFest - California, USA / June 18-24 2013

A short film festival renowned worldwide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts, and for the quality and scope of its programming. ShortFest 2013 will present more than 300 short films from over 50 countries. The ShortFest Film Market will make available 3,000 films to film buyers, industry representatives and the press. L’Américain has been selected both for presentation in the official line-up, as well as a featured film in the Festival’s Short Film Market.

SNEAK PEAK TRAILER

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We presented a short teaser last year, but now get a closer look at the film by checking out the sneak peak trailer above, put together by the talented cinematographer himself, Isarr Eiriksson. And if you like the music you hear, that’s French musician Olivier Marois. You can actually download the official track, “Libre et Léger,” for free at his music label Roy Music ! Profitez-en !

PREMIERING AT THE CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER!

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We’re still keeping busy with festival submissions, and of course, we couldn’t miss out on the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival. Unfortunately, we were unable to submit our film into the Official Short Film Competition because of length regulations… BUT we’re still very happy to announce that L’Américain has officially been accepted into the Short Film Corner: a meeting place at the Festival where filmmakers and professionals can mingle and network while a thousand or so short films are readily available to be viewed in the Digital Film Library that they have on site. L’Américain will thus be accessible to all Festival-goers in Cannes from May 15 - 26. A great way to start our 2013 festival circuit run!

THE SOUNDTRACK

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There’s no official soundtrack release for L’Américain, but we’d like to take the opportunity to praise these French artists who were very kind enough to lend their music for the film. Most of them were friends of friends or even suggestions made by friends. So, I guess I knew the right people because the music I discovered was just great!

It was a real pleasure meeting every one of these talented people in person and listening to their music… and I have to say that it was a really fun experience doing all that!

Here is the soundtrack list of the film, and I highly encourage everyone to listen and support these talented musicians (if you click on their name, you’ll be directed to their site or album).

Thanks again to the artists below for their music!

Olivier Marois - “Le chant des sirènes” / “Libre et Léger”
Cyril Adda - “L’insouciance”
Ana Pankratoff - “Passeurs de lumière”
Arnold - “Lonesome Troubadour”
Curtis Newton - “La vie est belle” 

… and if you just can’t wait and need a music fix right now, here are two music videos of the songs we used for the film…

MEET THE SOUND MIXER

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CYRIL ADDA was born on July 26, 1980 and quickly discovered a passion for music at a young age. Practicing the guitar and piano, he became interested in composing music, including computer-based composition and arrangement. After spending a year studying film and performing arts at the University of Montpellier III, he finally prepared a BTS (associate’s degree) in audiovisual and sound. He has interned for France Bleu Hérault, the Montpellier Convention Center, and also the Marciac Jazz Festival. However, Cyril is more interested in studio work and sound mixing. He worked as an assistant for Studio Recall 30 in Pompignan, Studio Davout and Studio Belleville where he participated in a number of recording sessions for film and music. Each year, Cyril mixes many documentaries of various subjects (sociology, religion, cultural, institutional, etc.) and continues to work in freelance today. [ WEB SITE ]

1) How did you get involved with L’Américain?

I guess you could say I met Jim by chance. We worked together on the same movie project for the same production company. I was in charge of the sound mixing for this documentary about Josephine Bonaparte, and Jim was at my home/studio to get the final mix back. At the time, he talked about a short movie he was working on and suggested that I mix it. So I was very lucky and pleased to collaborate with Jim on his own project. 

2) What was your favorite experience abroad?

I really enjoyed my trips in Norway, India, Thailand and over the North-Eastern part of the US. I’m now planning to leave Paris in a few weeks to spend a few months in London. I really need to experience life abroad though. I love talking to people who don’t speak the same language or share the same culture as I do.

3) Where will your next voyage be?

I may go to Florida next summer, but not completely sure at this point. I was also invited to Iowa by an American family who had already hosted me last summer in Des Moines, but if it’s too expensive to go, I’ll probably stay in Europe (Sweden or Sicily). 

4) Tell us a story of someone who unexpectedly changed your life.

I was a 20-year-old student, and I had an internship at one of the biggest and most famous recording studios in Paris. I spent three weeks locked up in a little studio, sitting in on an album recording by French singer-songwriter Jean Louis Murat. It wasn’t the kind of music I was into. I was really fond of jazz at the time, so I didn’t expect I would love this guy and his music so much. It made me want to write songs! So not only am I a sound mixer, but I’m first and foremost a musician. I always try to mix work with my musical activities, and I hope that music will continue to inspire me throughout life.

5) What is one secret talent you have?

As I mentioned earlier, music gives me energy and the will to keep up. But I don’t want to be a slave to my own music though. That’s why I have been expanding my skills: sound mixing, production management, accounting… but sound mixing is my favorite activity so far as it demands both artistic and technical skills.

THE MUSICAL SCORE

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I’m a big fan of film score music, so I was very excited to work with someone who could create something specifically for my film. However, it was important for me to find a composer who could understand that this was a film that didn’t need a lot of music. I needed someone who would be sensitive to the story and build on the tone of the film without overwhelming it.

I immediately thought of Hamdija Ajanovic, an incredibly talented and attentive composer who had created the music for my first short film Park Bench.

However, Hamdija and I were five thousand miles apart, and we had less than two weeks to come up with an original, subtle yet effective score for L’Américain. Thanks to Skype, we got in touch to spot the film together and discuss the musical direction. All further (and daily) communication between us was done through e-mail and transfer sites. He sent me rough cues, I critiqued them, and he re-worked them.

“It was quite a unique challenge,” Hamdija says, “mostly because Jim and I decided to keep it as minimalistic as possible, hence, giving the film lot of space to breathe. Contrary to the popular belief, creating simple, yet effective, score is not so straightforward!”

In the end though, Hamdija came up with something that we were both happy with!

Check out Hamdija’s web site to see more of his amazing work!