Movie Talk with Jean-Pierre Jeunet
ID: 3DD-01-0014
Format: HD
Description

French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet discusses his film The Young and Prodigious T.S Spivet 2013 and how he felt a kinship with the central character, a young gifted boy who loves to sketch and make things. Jeunet shot the film in 3D which he loved to do, creating a bigger visual experience. Helena Bonham Carter also stars, Jeunet met her through his friend, director David Fincher. Jeunet recalls building a make-believe theatre as a child and sketching animations, saying he had wanted to make films from a very young age. His first film Delicatessen 1991 took 10 years to make and finally premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was a huge global success. The City of the Lost Children 1995 was the very first film to be shot digitally in France. Fashion Designer Jean Paul Gaultier designed the costumes which Jeunet believes added so much 'texture and vibrancy' to the film. The film was very successful in America, this led to Jeunet being asked to direct Alien Resurrection, he now talks about his part of the franchise not being particularly popular in America because it contains more heart and less action. He goes on to praise the star of the film Sigourney Weaver. Following his time in Hollywood, returning to Paris after a couple of years, enabled him to now see the city with fresh eyes, which inspired Jeunet to make his next film Amélie 2001. It was a hugely successful film that was so easy to shoot, 'it felt like a dream.' He remembers first seeing Audrey Tautou on a poster and deciding to screen test her, it was immediately clear she was his perfect Amélie. Jeunet is amazed people are still taking tourist photos of the cafe featured in the film, 12 years on. A Very Long Engagement 2004 again starring Tautou follows next. This is a love story set during WW1, Jeunet was always fascinated by the subject, as he grew up not far from the battle grounds in Northern France and read every book possible. Jeunet cast Marion Cotillard in a small role that she won a Cesar for, launching her career. Jeunet talks about turning down Harry Potter due to everything being on the table and no room for freedom and his vision. He closes by explaining that he needs to 'feel in love' with everything involved within and around a project.

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