- Your end-of-year project, « Gueule de bois » (hangover) made a big impression. Where did the original idea come from ?

« I thought of a scene : a character wakes in the morning with another face. From there came the idea to make a pun using the French expression « Face of Wood » (hangover) but taking it literally : the character really has a face of wood. We developed the film around numerous familiar expressions : "coup de téléphone" (telephone call OR hit by the telephone), "poser un lapin" (being stood up OR place a rabbit), "se prendre un rateau" (be turned down OR get hit with a rake), etc.

- Tell us about making « Gueule de Bois » ?

In foundation year, I worked a lot on painting and I wanted to go back to it. So I created a real mock-up of the decor : on one hand, the character needed a lot of 3D techniques, on the other hand I treated the decor traditionally. Patrick Huo-Yung helped on the animation part.

"I was hired right after my diploma jury "

Until the end we worked on the scenario which was not constructed, even though we had established the graphic universe. We went into production right away. In retrospect, this is a method I don’t advise : it is important to take time to have a story which holds up before launching yourself in 3D. You move right to your goal and lose less time. But we managed OK and our worked pleased the diploma jury tremendously.

- Then what happened ?

I was hired after the diploma jury. Thomas Nautin, who was on the jury and is the art director of Sparks, took me as an intern. After four months, they gave me professional jobs and I worked on advertising, graphics for a France 2 TV show, on the Superbus clip …

- What are your short and long term plans ?

I will use my intermittant (freelance) status to see how things are run in other companies and work with different people on other projects  I don’t think I will stay in advertising long : I will eventually work on short or feature films.

- What advice can you give Lisaa students ?

Don’t hesitate to go see big companies. I was lucky, I didn’t have to contact them since I was hired right after my jury. But I met other young people who came to Sparks simply because they were at the right place at the right time. So, have confidence in yourself, go see companies and then contact them again. You don’t risk anything and, if it works, you can work for large companies where you learn many things.

To see « Gueule de bois », , click here.