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
You cannot do everything you want with the 3D camera, it's too big, and the digital quality of those cameras is a little bit limiting. With film, you have a lot more subtly, like with highlights and color. In terms of sharpness they (both formats) are very close; but in terms of nuance, of color and contrast, film is far superior.
The problem when you edit a film together, when you shoot a film, you are drawn into the moment. You want each moment to be special and full of life.
I want to explore new ideas and put myself in a place where I can finish a project that is more unusual or that doesn't seem doable.
I think the purpose of test screenings is different for the studio and for the filmmaker. For the studio, I think they want to know whether the film works or not.
It's very hard to say I'm surrealist. It's like saying I'm poetic. It's not something you want necessarily to be aware of.
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.
Of course, from time to time, I want to do everything myself and be more involved on my own with the creative process. But I don't mind the collaboration at all.
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.