The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2018 - French Waves
Through a series of interviews with iconic artists from yesterday and today, Julian Starke’s documentary offers a take on French electro from the younger generation’s perspective. He tracks down the American roots of techno and house music, brings the era of illegal raves to life, and tells the extraordinary tale of French Touch, a music style that has played a pivotal role in the recognition of electronic music throughout the world. Most importantly, he showcases the newest wave of French artists, exploring how the heirs of this modern history are making it their own.
Interview with Director Julian Starke
Watch French Waves on Tubi
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thanks! I decided to make this film first of all because I am a fan of electronic music and I wanted to share my passion. The second reason is that my roommate played the role of DJ in Eden, a fiction film by Mia Hansen Love. a few years ago. I then realized that DJ’s from the French Touch era, twenty years ago, had the same spirit as we have with my collective (Pain Surprises) and I wanted to link those two different generations.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think you should watch this film as a story of handover and not as a journalistic document. In my opinion the film tells a story and I think you can be sensible to it even though you are not an electronic music lover.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think the purpose of French Waves is to share something personal, my passion at first and my vision a second time. I hope that this impulse brings themes such as creation, transmission between generations, sharing experiences to a universal cause.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I think that what evolved the most was the support. At first I had the idea of the story but I only wanted to do a short documentary. Then I asked myself how do I watch movies and music videos? How do I listen to music etc… And I realized that I should try to tell this story on as many different platforms as possible. That’s how the project became trans media. So now French Waves is a feature documentary but also a web series of 10x5min episodes, each one of them tells the story of a track, an interactive website and international tour with live shows.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
A lot people asked me why are there so few women in the electronic scene. I think that the field is still sexist; it's a shame. Otherwise people always wanted to go to the party after the screening. If people finished the screening with a positive energy I am happy.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Challenged a bit, yes. Some people asked me where is the English scene? Where are the women and so forth. The film is my own vision of electronic music in France for the past 30 years. It is not an objective document of what happened. I tried to share a glimpse of artists that I love with the audience.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The film still does not have a streaming platform so I hope that all the people who wrote to me to see it will be able to do it here.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I think there are two key partners that can come on board now: film festival directors and international distributors to promote the film in countries all over the world. We have been touring in Asia, South and North America, Europe and Middle East and everywhere we had a great response. I hope that this adventure will continue for a while.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If the film can make people discover this scene, especially younger artists such as Jacques, Superpoze or Petit Prince, I would be glad.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is there still a French Sound nowadays?
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope we can throw a party in your town soon!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am currently working on my first feature fiction film about two teenagers. It is a coming of age story with the skateboard field as a background.
Interview: June 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
French Waves
25 years of electronic music
Length: 86'
Who is being interviewed for this article?
Director: Julian Starke
Looking for: Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frenchwavesexperience/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/french_waves/
Funders: Zorba, CNC, Mairie de Paris, Institut Français, Canal +, Région Alsace, Sacem
Made in association with: Zorba, Canal +