It’s a Sunday summer night in New York City. It’s hot, it’s humid, and the traffic’s thick air just adds to the discomfort. The only reason I am not home in front of the AC is because I am headed to a Brooklyn BBQ, the perfect way to celebrate the summer. The stop is Flushing Ave. off the G line, Williamsburg; the hipster and artsy Mecca of New York, arguably the center for the “Brooklyn Renaissance.” How appropriate of a setting then, for interviewing Paris-born director Jean-Emmanuelle Godart. The 22 year old is set to direct the Wembe commercial, and will ultimately help realize its eccentric feline concept (see Wembe Commercial post for more information.)
The destination: an open concept apartment with high ceilings and wooden floors, I’m in love. I say hello to the shirtless DJ spinning Eric B and Rakim, pass the Christmas lights decorated living room and kitchen and head towards the window: as in the window that leads out to a rooftop BBQ! Well more like a bonfire at this point, its 9:20 p.m.
Small talk with the colleagues, and a couple of beers later I am finally introduced to Jean-Emmanuelle Godart. The case study: golden locks, an easy t-shirt/shirt combination, a slim fitted pair of jeans, and of course a deep articulate French accent.
- How would you describe a typical day on set?
Exciting with a large sense of community. I love that excited feeling when preparing to shoot and knowing that I have a great team, a great support system. We are all links in a chain and each individual contribution is necessary and important.
- Why did you get into this line of work?
I always had a love for the visual. In my opinion, the image, especially in our current day and age, is very powerful. Not only is it very powerful, but it also gives power. I think it’s an amazing tool. I appreciate the different layers provided by the image and how one can utilize this or how we choose to interpret it.
- Who is your favorite director? Why?
The first one would be Bertolucci. He’s an Italian director. Have you heard of him? I remember watching his movie Les Dreamers and that movie just made me want to become a director. I felt inspired by some of the scenes and the passion that was evoked in them. Next, Tim Burton. He’s a man that allows the spectator to change environments, worlds. His movie Big Fish is a testimant to this. The way the real and the dream are so related, it makes you think. And finally Klapisch. He’s a French director. He’s known for Les Poupees Russes and L’Auberge Espanol. I like him because of the small connotations that he makes in his films.
- Describe the perfect day.
I wake up early in the morning, with my wife by my side. Then, I head out to my production house. Afterwards, I’ll spend the rest of the day on different sets during shoots. And later on I’ll take a plane to screen foreign sets that are shooting some television series.
- What else interests you aside from the visual?
Current Events. Anything that has to do with what’s going on in the world today. Things like how we are affected by globalization and how it came to be.
- If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?
Napoleon [a smile]. I respect him because he came from nothing, but he still managed to conquer the world. He succeeded in creating his Empire and continuously building, always wanting more.
- Who would you love to be able to work with?
Obama - a documentary about him. Because I believe that he is the pioneer of the New World, the Modern World, and he is one of the main sources for how our word is changing. He is definitely the pinnacle that defines the 21st century.
- When you get projects, how important or inspired by the clients’ views are you?
At our age [a second smile] I think one has to be open to everything. It is important to be able to get inspired, but it’s more important to be able to be open to different kinds of projects and to create concepts, something refreshing and innovative, with whatever comes your way. Maybe having to be inspired by the clients will be something I will look for as I get older and more experienced, but not now.
- Do you have a favorite genre in film?
The documentary. The French method of filming, which is very different from the American method. Which almost always depicts the cliché of the hero who falls into some hurdle but then miraculously, and without much surprise, prevails. I don’t want my movies to be like that. I want to reveal what happens in everyday life. The problems that we face on a regular basis and how we deal with them, how real people deal with them.
- What makes a great actor?
To have a mind and expression that can radically change. He can adapt to a multitude of personalities and can easily adapt to every character he plays. He gets involved and develops an emotional connection with his character. He also has to be open. Talent isn’t always everything though. In castings, for example, it’s also about being able to have a feeling and connection with the actor. Johnny Depp is a great actor. In all of his roles he changes expressions, he never looks or acts the same. He is able to play multiple characters because of his ability to mold himself.
The interview lasted a cool twenty minutes. Jean-Emmanuel’s friends approached him about leaving shortly after. We said our goodbyes: French bise. Pleased with the outcome of the interview, I am psyched to see the Wembe commercial. We will be posting continuous updates and the commercial as soon as it’s done. Side note, I am also planning on watching Bertolucci’s Les Dreamers.
