Subhash K Jha in Patna
Jean Dujardin, The Artist's leading man and the latest Best Actor Oscar winner, can't believe the response his movie has got. The French actor thinks this might be a start for an American movie career for him.
In this interview with Subhash K Jha, he talks about how he prepared to play George Valentin and his Hollywood aspirations.
In this interview with Subhash K Jha, he talks about how he prepared to play George Valentin and his Hollywood aspirations.
Your performance has won this year's Oscar for best actor. Does the Oscar matter to you as an actor of such immeasurable talent?
I've never concerned myself with the labels people want to put on you. What matters to me is my own estimation, and I'm very tough on myself. I need to be proud of what I've done and I work hard for it.
The Artist has made you a household name across the world. Did you at all envisage such a massive global popularity for the film?
I knew the movie was universal and would work all over but I was surprised by the response it got.
How do you plan to take this sudden surge of superstardom to the next level?
By working on another silent movie with Jim Carrey!
'I want to work on another silent film with Jim Carrey'
What is your next project?
Hereafter I will shoot for Mobius, a romantic thriller set in the finance world, playing a spy opposite Cecile de France.
How difficult was it to act without dialogues?
It's not really different than a sound film. For you, it's a silent movie. For us, it's a talking movie because we had lines on set. There's a lot of noise on set and music. We spoke in English, in French, in gibberish.
The Artist is a revelation for all movie buffs like me who have never seen you work. Jean, where do you come from (I don't mean that in terms of geography) and where are you heading to?
I began contemplating a career in acting while serving my mandatory military service. Thereafter I went on to work in OSS 117 . At present I have a lot of opportunity in France but may be this is the start of an American movie career for me.
'This may be the start of an American movie career for me'
How did you bag the role of the pompous but affable silent star ? How did you approach the role?
I think the first time Michel (Hazanavicius) told me about the movie was between two takes during the filming of OSS 117, but I didn't believe him! You never know if Michel is serious!
He gave me the script and I read it in one go and the first thought was that it was gutsy to have pursued his fantasy all the way. But then I was touched by the promise of the project and was really excited to work with Michel again.
He gave me the script and I read it in one go and the first thought was that it was gutsy to have pursued his fantasy all the way. But then I was touched by the promise of the project and was really excited to work with Michel again.
What preparations did you make before embarking on the journey charting the decline and redemption of your character Georg Valentine?
I watched a lot of Douglas Fairbanks movies. He always played the same role with a mustache -- Zorro, The Musketeer , Tarzan -- all had him with a mustache.
And I watched Gene Kelly for his smile, energy, Vittorio Gassman for his movement, Clark Gable for his mustache (laughs). And I watched Lassie who was happy as a dog.
And I watched Gene Kelly for his smile, energy, Vittorio Gassman for his movement, Clark Gable for his mustache (laughs). And I watched Lassie who was happy as a dog.
'My character in The Artist is based on Douglas Fairbanks'
Your association with the director Michel Hazanavicius goes back a long way. Did that prolonged camaraderie with the director help you get the character so right?
Michel and I work happily with irony, with pastiche, and here we had a story loaded with new developments and tons of action but mainly full of emotion. I think I am some kind of projection of his fantasy of himself as an actor ! He knows how to draw you very well, he lights you.
This is the third film we've made together. We saw a lot of each other in the meantime, we're friends, but we always feel the need to win each other over.
This is the third film we've made together. We saw a lot of each other in the meantime, we're friends, but we always feel the need to win each other over.
Did you study silent films and actors before playing this part?
I knew Chaplin and Keaton, but the real discovery was seeing silent cinema, dramas like Sunrise and The Crowd , which were more minimal and had a real purity of performance.
Valentin is based on Douglas Fairbanks, who was very happy in his own skin and content to make the same pantomime movie again and again. It was good to know there was another silent acting style to help build a bridge to modern audiences. Working on this film was very exciting .
Valentin is based on Douglas Fairbanks, who was very happy in his own skin and content to make the same pantomime movie again and again. It was good to know there was another silent acting style to help build a bridge to modern audiences. Working on this film was very exciting .
Are you aware of Indian cinema and actors? Have you watched any Indian films?
No.
Any plans of visiting India?
Hopefully someday...
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