Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondryis a French independent film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is noted for his inventive visual style and distinctive manipulation of mise en scène. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as one of the writers of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is often ranked one of the greatest films of the 2000s...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth8 May 1963
CityVersailles, France
CountryUnited States of America
I'm always excited to work with actors.
I read about some movie where they did everything on blue screen, and the actors were not even connecting to each other.
When I shoot actors, I have that dilemma. I want the actor to be good, and sometimes I have to push them to a place that isn't pleasant. I always think: 'Is it worth doing for the sake of the movie?' But I have to remember the bigger picture.
I like actors who just are who they are, with a little bit of qualification to adapt to their character. But mostly they just use their own personality to embody the character.
I like actors who don't have to think too hard about what they have to do to achieve their performance.
In a way, putting actors deep into this sort of complicated universe frees them from thinking about who they should be. They just are somebody.
The beauty of doing film is that you construct whatever you do block by block and you can build something that will stay.
I try to learn from both, from features and documentaries. In both cases you have to find a way to make the camera as discreet as possible, and flexible enough to be able to capture the moment when it happens. I know from documentary how to not have a preconceived idea of what the scene could be.
There's nothing worse than a dream sequence done all in post-production.
We were hoping to define an era and a community without being too lecturing - to show people having a good time. On camera and off, Dave is charming. I thought it would be good to follow him around with a camera because he generates so much warmth.
I think it was interesting not to lie about it and see that it's actually their work to entertain people and they have their own way to do it.
It is not pretentious. It just gives you the feeling you could do it yourself.
I always had disturbing dreams from when I was a child. Seeing that they disturb me, I might as well make money from it.
He doesn't believe he loves his relationship until he dreams it.