"The new face": a video manifesto.
Here's a video demonstration entitled New Face. The objective: to symbolize the evolution of Productions Optimales and present our new values with strength and poetry.
Together, director Jean-Philippe Nadeau-Marcoux, cinematographer Stéphane Thériault and Marc-André Leclerc imagined a narrative inspired by the craftsman's work. As the craftsman shapes the material, so we shape the image. This quest for perfection and transformation was at the heart of our approach.
To illustrate this idea, we filmed artisans in the midst of their creations:
- Dominic April, blacksmith from l'Atelier du Vieux Corbeauwho teaches his art to former servicemen suffering from post-traumatic stress.
- Thierry Sterckeman, double bass luthier and jazz double bass player, captured in his workshop. Ex Fabrica in Limoilou.
- Romain Francès, a Geneva-trained watchmaker, works on exceptionally precise mechanisms in his workshop in the Eastern Townships, Ilmarinen's Forge
We also invited top artists and athletes to join us, including the fencers from the STH Fencing Club and violinist Marie Jobin. Each illustrates the symbiosis of craftsmanship and excellence.
For this occasion, Productions Optimales also had the privilege of filming the youngest model in its history, Maël, an infant of just two weeks, tenderly carried in the arms of his mother, Karolane Dubé Bouffard. We also had the honor of filming a senior model, Hélène Jacques, a former champion swimmer with an extraordinary life story.
To symbolize matter in transformation, we explored visual effects inspired by the craft techniques of cinema and film. Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan: particles filmed in aquariums, sparks flying from metal, paint floating in water, chemical reactions in dry ice... Our studio has become a veritable laboratory for visual experimentation.
Talented actor Steven Lee Potvin embodied the image artisan, exploring the challenges and transformations inherent in our profession. Practical effects - projections, water games, choreography interacting with smoke - enriched the video with an immersive dimension.
Thomas Morin's sound design played a key role in the immersion of this video. As sound designer, he produced a real sound recording on the set, meticulously modified in the studio. Sounds were created in foley to evoke the noise of matter, and skilful mixes of sounds created a disorienting sound universe, immersing us in the energy that circulates at the heart of matter. Every sonic detail was given special attention, with as many hours devoted to sound as to image, to guarantee a complete sensory experience.
A making-of to share our approach
To document this colossal undertaking, our director Simon Perrier captured key moments in our creative process. This making-of illustrates the effervescence that animated our team throughout the project, and testifies to our commitment to always pushing our limits. A making-of film is an undeniable promotional asset when it comes to showcasing a team and its efforts. It's a way of preserving memories while satisfying the public's curiosity with a fun, behind-the-scenes look at our work.
