THE SHORT FILMS


Short films were a transition between industrial films and features. I only made one fiction short because I quickly realized how complex the economic aspects were. At times, it is almost harder to find money for a short film than for a feature. I think you have to be careful not to become a "short film professional" and so tackle the difficulties of features fairly rapidly, notably in the areas of screenwriting and dramatic art.
THE RED APPLE
CONTRE L’OUBLI (1991)
For the 30th anniversary of Amnesty International, a non-profit organization had the idea for this venture set up with Canal Plus: "30 directors, 30 short films" on the conditions of prisoners of conscience around the world.
L’ECOLE DES CHEFS (1981)
I had submitted several subsidy applications to the CNC for various projects, in vain. At the time, I was making a lot of corporate programmes on video. I came up with the idea for a film that could be shot very quickly in a studio. I asked someone to lend me a sound stage and a control room for a day and, with my savings, I made this short film.
ENFANTS DU BENGLA-DESH
I had taken part in a screenplay competition and had won a Super 8 camera and a plane ticket. Bangladesh was emerging from a huge famine. I went there. I didn't know how to use a camera. The result wasn't much good.