Erie International Film Festival - The Interview
Christophe passes a job interview in the company where his girlfriend, Emma, works. The same night, convinced he got the job, Christophe asks himself if he will be chosen for his skills or if he received special treatment.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Marc Gurung
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My first idea when I wrote The Interview was to raise the question of integration in France, my country. I wanted to talk about unconscious racism and a kind of discrimination which are familiar to me. To do so, I decided to confront two different views on the matter, two characters, madly in love, but deeply opposed at the same time.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's a generational film that marks an era. When I wrote this film, I wanted to testify to the absurdities of French society through the prism of the couple: conformism, ordinary racism, the world of work ... I had so much to say. I wanted to show that at age thirty, you lose your revolutionary adolescent ideas and gradually return to boxes without even seeing.
But I especially wanted to mark an "era". As was the Italian Neorealism with the post-war cinema. Let's show the cinema post-crisis. I want to in twenty years to say: "they were the 10’s in France".
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I grew up in the Paris suburbs. I was raised surrounded by people who were, or felt like they were, discriminated against because of their origins, religions, skin color. Some of them grew up with an aggravated sensitivity to the topic. It’s the case of Chris, trapped in his own assumptions. Through many years of failure, he is embittered and hardened. Emma, on the other hand, found her way in society and he sees in her all the perversity of the system.
Through the private sphere of a couple, I aimed to retranscribe the complexity of love when it comes to political and social beliefs.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I organized writing sessions with friends. Each had to develop a story in order to realize it a few months later, keeping in mind: the economy of the story.
The idea was to meet weekly in the form of a round table, and to expose the group to the progress of this work.
It is in this process that "The Interview" was born.
I wanted to make a first film in total independence. Since this is my first film, I did not want to take the risk of being dependent on a production company, financing or a deadline. I had access to real freedom that allowed me to develop background work on the characters with the actors for two months. We went at our own pace, we tried things, we dug into the characters, we upset the writing, we reinvented new objectives to keep spontaneity and following this line of thinking, we had no idea of the date of the shoot.
I shot with three technician friends and two comedians friends, in the living room of my former roommate, with a budget of 700 euros (food and rental). Everyone knew more or less what we were doing, so we were in a family, without pressure, in joy and good mood. Everyone was free to give their opinion on a catch, a game intention or a goal. There was no hierarchy within the group.
Halfway through the editing, I met my producers who agreed to help me finish the post-production of the film.
The film has been selected in 52 international festivals and won 20 prizes.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Briefly, the return that I could have from festivals:
The film highlights the constraints and expectations we face every day by focusing on issues of discrimination, be it skin color or gender.
The script was very well written, being intelligent and dramatic at the same time and he instilled the film with a warning rhythm, from where he kept the audience focused, involved and eager to know the end.
Despite its simplistic approach, cinematography is really good, because everything from the movement of the camera to the light was pretty well thought out.
You have created something atmospheric, which is not easy. Cinematography supported the dialogue without being simplified, and the staging was well placed.
The action was impressive and everything mixed, giving life to a very good short film, which we recommend to all movie lovers.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
When you make a "hybrid" movie of this kind, you always ask yourself, "will people understand, will people be receptive to this speech?" During the rehearsals, it happened to me with my actors to pause and question everything, because we do not take the classic path of a classic short film. The film takes place in a room, in real time, close-up, without music, just people who speak loudly and who drink. The device is quite special. From time to time, I said to myself: "why do not I make a more classic film?"
But the beauty of a work is to go into a new field and test new tools in the service of a discussion.
When I have the festival or spectator return on the film, I am very satisfied that the film is understood and provokes discussions after the screenings. It means that we sicceeded the film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to expand the public. If the film can be seen by a maximum of people thanks to this platform, we will have won.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I will need a journalist to promote the film, sellers and buyers for the film to be seen internationally and to reach a maximum of directors of festivals! For the moment, it's me who sends them to the festival. To say to you: entering the festival is more expensive than the film! ahaha! When one is independent, without private or public funding, without partnership, without purse, without contacts, it is hard to reach a maximum of people.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like people to question our condition as a citizen. I would like the viewer to point out the aberrations of our society. I would like the viewer to reflect on what is advanced. We can create debates about our time around a drink! haha! But first of all, there is "love". It's a couple who love each other above all else but who do not understand each other anymore.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
« Is there love in your movie? »
Would you like to add anything else?
After the festival tour, I would like to submit the film to events around integration, discrimination and living well together, organized by different local authorities and cultural services of cities or associations.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have an independent film that I shoot early January on discrimination with comedians. And another short in preparation on the integration of a Nepalese family in France.
Interview: December 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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The Interview
Christophe passes a job interview in the company where his girlfriend, Emma, works. The same night, convinced he got the job, Christophe asks himself if he will be chosen for his skills or if he received special treatment.
Length: 17min38s
Director: Marc Gurung
Producer: Marc Gurung
Writer: Marc Gurung
About the writer, director and producer:
I wrote, directed, produced the film and distributed it to festivals.
Key cast:
Christophe - Christophe Ntakabanyura
Emma - Pauline Cassan
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Yes I am looking for a sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lentretienfilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marcgurung
Instagram: www.instagram.com/markos_gringos/
Other: http://marcgurung.com/
Funders:
Made in association with: Co-productions with "piano sano films" came to help me in the final post production.
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
The film continues its festival tour at the international, so no official projection for the moment.