Been a busy past week here on Rue des Plantes as we’re hosting several visitors while simultaneously preparing for our departure from Paris (next week!). Will hopefully (but most likely not) have the time to fill you in with the details soon, but, in the meantime, feel free to check out some of the pics from our first photography gig earlier this month.
A bientôt!
Earlier we referred to an incident we experienced last month after signing up for a short film challenge at Kino Paname. Kino is an international movement of filmmakers who meet monthly to screen the short films (under 6 minutes) they made the previous month, either by choosing their own subject or following a theme from the challenge, le défi. Upon entry to each screening, participants enter their names into either the “directors” bowl or the “actors” bowl, and throughout the night during the break between films, a director’s name is called, who then comes up to pull a theme (this month was “rabbits”) and as many actors as they wish to use in their upcoming project.
Just as Catherine’s cold feet were about to get the best of her, her name was called. From the hats of mystery, she pulled (at random!) her comédiens – an adorable blonde woman named Béatrice Amaury and a scruffy-faced beau gosse in the back calling himself Mikael Ayele.
“Coup du lapin” was the theme. Catherine had never heard of such a phrase, but upon going home and watching a few instructional videos on youtube, she came to the conclusion that a “rabbit punch” in French is what we call “whiplash” in English. But how could she get more literal with that French expression?
Maybe Mikael’s new dreads could provide some inspiration?
In typical Catherine fashion, she didn’t get to writing the film until the Friday before it was due. This plus some scheduling conflicts led to some scrambling towards the end, to say the least. And by the time she was emailing Kino to say the upload might be later than the 12 noon deadline, they received some terrible news – news no one who has been awake since 8 am the day before ever wants to hear – the screening was full.
But that didn’t stop them. They toiled until they were satisfied, Mikael making the final tweaks to his originally composed score, Catherine trying to stay awake. They were determined to show up at the 8PM screening with the movie in pocket, gallantly proclaiming as the credits of the last film rolled, “BUT WAIT, there’s one more!” The crowd wouldn’t be able to say no. They just couldn’t!
But the bed was…right…there. So soft, so warm. Their bodies were kind of convulsing, and maybe they experienced a handful of psychotic episodes (but they’re not sure because neither one of them were present for any of them).
And then they woke up the next day.
Anyways, we did wind up screening it at May’s meeting instead. We enjoyed hearing the audience’s chuckles, applause, and bravos, but neither one of us can deny that we may have laughed the loudest.
Voilà! Hope you enjoy, and for optimal viewing, click on the HD icon to open via Vimeo.
A few weeks ago we got our first gig as videographers in Paris – Dimanche Rouge. A monthly series of live performances showcasing the work of experimental artists from around the globe, DR proved as eye-opening to watch as it was exciting to shoot, offering an open platform for any and all kinds of self-expression. Our day/evening consisted of standing, squatting, walking, running, climbing, sitting, cringing, laughing, cramping, dancing, dumping (as in footage), freezing, sweating and smiling as we did our best to capture every move and sound of these uniquely talented artists, both in action and behind the scenes, for the world to see and hear… now, thanks to Cassandra Tytler’s skillful editing, it’s finally possible.
*DISCLAIMER!!!* Experimental art = anything goes. For those sensitive to nudity or strobe lights, you’ve been warned.
Oh yeah, and what’s going on to the left of the action in that last frame?
Last weekend we got a surprise visit from our good friends, Natascha and Brian. Having last seen them in Prague over winter break, it was great to catch up over an impromptu meal of rumsteaks (sauf Catherine) and Pinot at L’Ecurie. As it turns out Natascha had a gotten a little surprise of her own the night before – a proposal on the steps of the Sacre Coeur.
Naturally, we were thrilled to hear this and jumped at the chance to be first in capturing the joy of this romantic engagement. Lucky for us, the two were naturals in front of the lens, despite having had no warning before we showed up with the camera the following day. Besides, with the sincerity of their love it would’ve been hard to go wrong!
We had a lot of fun together and hope these snapshots do their milestone justice.
Félicitations aux fiancés!
Practically lost... 