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Welcome To Paradisco

For a whole week, a quiet residential street in Bagnolet resounded to the rhythmic beat of Paradisco, the new short musical film of Stéphane Ly-Cuong.


31 December 1979 was reconstructed in a studio on 22 April, 2002: Hollywood? No, Bagnolet. As the sun shone on this day, the ‘headlines’ of Libé (Le Pen’s face crossed with a radical ‘No’) is affixed in the cabin where the make-up girls and hairdressers busy themselves getting thirty or so actors/singers ready for filming. Everyone is talking about the result of the first round of the presidential elections : it’s true that the content of Stéphane’s film is vehemently opposed to the ideas of the FN leader. Paradisco speaks about homosexuality, tolerance, memory, lost loved ones that some might have called the awful names.


For the time being, the set is coming to life. The party shots are complicated to set up. Everyone is concentrating and in position. In the small garden, many of the talented cast are noisily laughing waiting for their turn to be called forward for the shoot. Stéphane asked Jérôme Pradon to play the lead role, that of François, “a man who makes his new lover, played by Nicolas Larzul, discover his past by plunging him back to the start of the 80’s, where everything seemed to be allowed”. Jérôme already played in Stéphane’s previous film ‘La jeune fille et la tortue’. Barbara Scaff also played in this film too “I make an appearance, it’s a friendly blink ! But one thing bothers me, the name Stéphane chose for me: Martine…..Fortunately it’s never heard in the film!”. Barbara will be the first to sing. The actors are asked onto the set. After many dance rehearsals with Patricia Delon and Laurent Doëzy, everyone knows exactly what they have to do. The shooting is therefore quick. The playback begins, one can note that many among the crew, from the assistant director to the stagehand, are bumping along to the lively disco music written by Patrick Laviosa.


Stéphane, who is healing his back pains between two takes, explains the subject of his film: “At the beginning, I wrote Paradisco with Fabien Paul for a contest, ‘L'amour est à réinventer’. Indeed, the theme ‘what became of my friends’ particularly touched me. We wanted to speak about memories, mourning with a certain touch of light heartedness, which isn’t for me, in contradiction to a certain gravity. From this came the idea where a guy of today takes his lover - a one-night stand - back to his memories of December 31 1979. The start of the 80’s seemed to open the door towards much more freedom, before the devastating effects of AIDS were known. Our project wasn’t selected and remained in a drawer for many years. After ‘La jeune fille et la tortue’, I decided to rewrite it (in the beginning, the script wasn’t a musical) and make my second short-film. I was lucky to have Athanor Studio to produce it : it took them two years to get the necessary budget to finance the film. Don’t think that they had to find an enormous sum of money, as nobody is paid to make a short film. But it proves their tenacity.”

A guest star came to make his debut in French cinema: Anthony Rapp, the creator of the role of Mark Cohen in Rent. “I liked the script and as my schedule allowed it, I am delighted to take part in a French short film. I love this country and I’ll take this opportunity to improve my French!” Humble and approachable, two qualities of this great actor appreciated by everyone on the set “It’s easy to spot him : Anthony is always seen with a bottle of water and a chunk of bread... He can’t resist French bread!” says assistant director Sophie. “ I met Anthony Rapp in London whilst he was playing in Rent, added Stéphane. We got on great with each other and stayed in touch. I thought of him while creating this character but I was saying to myself that he wouldn’t play it: he’s very busy, and it is just a supporting role. To my great delight, he had 48 hours free in his schedule and came across to perform in my film and for this, I’m extremely flattered.”

Alexandre Bonstein repositions some fake hair on his chest, a device especially made by hairdresser Dominic, to illustrate his virility….Laurent Ban admits: “something’s missing on that shooting: a swimming pool”, one feels it will help in his concentration of his ‘ Dalida dancer’ role. As for Grégori Baquet, the wig that he’s wearing starts general hilarity: “The fans of Roméo and Juliette will certainly be surprised!” Alyssa Landry is enjoying what is for her, her first role in cinema ‘but not my last, I love this atmosphere of filming, this incredible character – a woman who decides to make way to her sensual fantasies – even if it’s exhausting’ It should be said that she looks beautiful in her skin-tight leopard-print dress and hair styled like a lioness. Sinan compliments Ann’So for her pink-spangled dress, a compliment that is returned to this talented young man for his lovely nylon shirt and splendidly matching sunglasses. “Nobody takes themselves seriously, he adds, there is a great feeling of freedom on the film set”. Florence, the key make-up artist, recognizes that “With my two colleagues, we are barely enough to make everyone up, but I’m delighted with how the cast is disciplined : no attitude, no egos. I think that theatrical experience and the camaraderie of the cast has a lot to do with it This spirit is what motivates Stéphane: “I like the idea of togetherness, family spirit. Because of this, it’s natural to bring together Jérôme and Barbara and everyone else who had worked on previous projects”.

To future remarks concerning Jérôme Pradon, who doesn’t sing in the film, Stéphane explains ‘The music and the song relate only to the past, it’s an artistic choice. That’s why you won’t see Jérôme singing….except in the end credits!’

We’ll have to wait until the film is finished in the autumn. A film high in colour, in every sense of the word. Tired after an intense day of working and readying the preparations for the following day, which is still forefront for many of the crew, Stéphane concludes : ‘Directing a short-film, insofar as nobody is paid, is a little like a spoiled child’s dream. The enthusiasm of everyone allows this whim to materialise. Lastly, it is rather wonderful! But I know what I owe all my collaborators.

Bienvenue au Paradisco !
RegardenCoulisse
Rémy Batteault 01/06/2002