Freshly graduated with a bachelor's degree in history and civilization, Charles-Olivier struggles to find a job in his field and must rely on a clerk job in a pool shop. Feeling down, he navigates his gig as best he can.

Interview with Writer/Director Alec Pronovost

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thanks! I did it because at the time I was working on a project that was really unfulfilling. I needed something else, something that would make me go somewhere else. I wrote Pro Pool during somewhat a transitory time in my life (I had just gotten a new apartment and a production compagny, which had been my home for a couple of years, closed its doors). All that energy went into the film, and it made me reminisce about another time when I was transitioning and that was just after film school, I got a job as a clerk in a pool shop. So I used that setup to express some of the emotions I was trying to process and I tried having fun while doing it! I felt really free writing and doing this short, I was doing it for myself first and foremost. The only goal was to make something for the sake of doing something for me.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

I believe Pro Pool is a fun time! It's dynamic, funny and it's highly relatable. It's an enjoyable ride I think.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

It speaks about having ambitions but being stuck and unsatisfied. I feel it's about wanting more out of your life while being in an environment that's a bit suffocating. There's also a bit that's about anger slowly building up inside you but trying to keep that under control. And also, it's a fun time to laugh about casual encounters when you work in a retail store.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Since the film is a bunch of small scenes, the first draft contained a whole lot of scenes that didn't make the cut. If I remember correctly, the first version was 33 pages long, it's a bit overlong for an 8 minutes short film ahah. However, I also wanted more options than not during the editing process. That way, I had a lot of options when working on the pacing and the emotional buildup.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

It's been really really great, more than I expected really. I thought the film would go, have a little screening and be forgotten. I didn't have a lot of ambitions for it. I did it for myself and that purpose had been fulfilled. Somehow, it resonated more than anticipated! It's certainly a pleasant surprise!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Actually no, it mostly amplified it. Making me realise that it's a universal feeling and it was actually a great conversation starter with people about their own experiences when they were just out of school or trying to do something more with their lives.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I'm hoping that it reaches more people and that it can make more people have a good time laughing!

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I don't know ahah, the more the merrier!

Everyone is welcome aboard, let's spread this little comedy. I'm sure everyone can have a good time watching it and reminiscing about those damn jobs and every problem that comes with it.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

It kind of already exceeded my wildest ambitions for it so everything is a bonus!

Would you like to add anything else?

I wanna put the spotlight on my team, they all were on board the minute I reached out to them. I believe they are all extremely talented artists and the film wouldn't exist if it wasn't for them. So I raise the glass of water that I have in my hand as I'm typing this to them! Natan B. Foisy, a great cinematographer and friend. Louis Carrière, an amazingly great actor and also a great friend! Louis Chevalier-Dagenais, a precise editor that brings so much to the project (and a great friend too), Sarah Warren who did miracles with an absurdly small production design/costumes budget (and also a great friend!) and also Patrick Francke-Sirois, producer extraordinaire and, you guessed it, great friend! Yeah!

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I just release a TV show in Quebec called Complètement Lycée (Totally School) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16302906/) which is a big fun parody of teenage drama hits such as One Tree Hill and The OC. I'm also currently developing a couple of things: 1st, a short series that's a hybrid of a mockumentary and a biopic about an energy drink founder. 2nd, I'm working on a TV show about life coaches and I hope we can get it off the ground this year, it's called VIVREplus (in English: Living+). All of that takes place in the great world of comedy.

Interview: January 2023

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

Pro Pool

Length: 8:00

Director: Alec Pronovost

Producer: Patrick Francke-Sirois (Club vidéo)

Writer: Alec Pronovost

About the writer, director and producer:

Former Club Piscine employee, Alec Pronovost left the aquatic world to work as a director and writer. He is the creator behind the series The Killing as well as the short films Jeep Boys, Tony Speed and Sainte Marie-Josée part en croisade. Alec loves fun, rock and sunny afternoons!

Key cast: Louis Carrière, Alexis Martin, Sylvie de Morais, Sébastien Rajotte, Oussama Fares, Louis Girard-Bock, Zeneb Blanchet, François Ruel-Côté, Maxime Genois, Craig Weiss.

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Sundance