| Mars et Avril | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Martin Villeneuve |
| Produced by | Martin Villeneuve Anne-Marie Gélinas Benoît Beaulieu |
| Written by | Martin Villeneuve |
| Based on | Mars et Avril by Martin Villeneuve |
| Starring | Jacques Languirand Caroline Dhavernas Paul Ahmarani Robert Lepage |
| Music by | Benoît Charest |
| Cinematography | Benoît Beaulieu |
| Editing by | Mathieu Demers |
| Studio | Mars et Avril Inc. Les Productions du 8e Art Item 7 |
| Distributed by | Alliance Vivafilm |
| Release date(s) | 2012 |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | French |
| Budget | $2,25 million |
Mars et Avril is a Canadian science fiction film, currently in post-production, starring Jacques Languirand, Caroline Dhavernas, Paul Ahmarani and Robert Lepage. The feature film, based on the graphic novels of the same name, is written, produced and directed by Martin Villeneuve.[1]
Almost entirely shot on green screen, this independent film has a significant amount of visual effects. The project is being financed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Les Productions du 8e Art and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and will be distributed in Canada by Alliance Vivafilm. It is scheduled to open in theaters in Fall 2012.[2] The trailer was released in Quebec theaters and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on December 21st, 2011.
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Mars et Avril is quite possibly the first Québécois film set in a Montreal of the future. As Man is about to set foot on Mars, a small community of anticybernetics is busy trying to slow down time. Among them is JACOB OBUS (Jacques Languirand), an emblematic and beloved septuagenarian who creates captivating music on instruments inspired by the female body, designed by his friend ARTHUR (Paul Ahmarani). Once Jacob and Arthur fall in love with AVRIL (Caroline Dhavernas), a young and short-winded photographer, the old sex-symbol’s true nature is revealed. Upon discovering love for the first time in his life, Jacob leaves for Mars in search of his muse. In the midst of everything arrives EUGÈNE SPAAK (Robert Lepage), inventor, cosmologist and Arthur’s father, who maintains that Mars is only a chimera.[3]
Mars et Avril benefits from the collaboration of Belgian comic book artist François Schuiten — best known for drawing the series Les Cités Obscures, published by Casterman —, who is working on the film as production designer.[4]
In 2005, genius theater maverick Robert Lepage optioned the rights to Martin Villeneuve's Mars et Avril graphic novels (volumes 1 and 2) through his Quebec city-based motion picture company, Films Ex æquo (who had already produced The Far Side of the Moon in 2003), with the intent of adapting them into a science-fiction feature film. While the author of the books was to write the script, Lepage was attached to the project as actor and producer.[5]
A year later, Lepage shut down Films Ex æquo, deciding at the time that he would not direct any more films in Canada.[6] Nevertheless, he strongly encouraged Mars et Avril's writer to take the director's chair. Martin Villeneuve took over the project, while Lepage remained involved as actor and creative producer.[7]
In 2007, Villeneuve contacted renowned Belgian comic book artist François Schuiten (Les Cités Obscures), who accepted to work on the film as production designer. Schuiten had already worked on such films as Toto le Héros, The Golden Compass and Mr. Nobody.[8] The young director also convinced Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, to finance the creation of the imaginary musical instruments needed for his film. In 2008, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, The Harold Greenberg Fund and Alliance Vivafilm decided to finance the production. Due to the film's significant amount of visual effects, an extensive year of pre-production was necessary. Also, in order to work around Robert Lepage's extremely tight schedule, principal photography took place in Montreal in two segments. The first was in September 2008; the second was in April 2009.[9] The film was almost entirely shot on green screen, in 25 days, using the RED digital camera.[10]
Most of the actors who appeared in the graphic novels reprised their roles in the film, with the exception of Marie-Josée Croze (who portrayed the lead female character in the books), due to a schedule conflict. Caroline Dhavernas (Passchendaele, Wonderfalls) was then hired to play the part of AVRIL, opposite Jacques Languirand (JACOB OBUS), Robert Lepage (EUGÈNE SPAAK) and Paul Ahmarani (ARTHUR SPAAK). From the original cast of the books, Stéphane Demers also reprised the role of BERNARD BREL.[11]
By the end of 2009, the editing of a first cut was assembled. In 2010, Martin Villeneuve searched for new investments in order to complete the 550 visual effect shots involved in the film. In early 2011, Anne-Marie Gélinas and Benoît Beaulieu joined Villeneuve as producers. Telefilm Canada and Alliance Vivafilm both accepted to raise their initial investment, and so did Robert Lepage and Lynda Beaulieu though their new Quebec city-based motion picture company, Les Productions du 8e Art. At this point, Pierre Even (C.R.A.Z.Y.) and Marie-Claude Poulin from Item 7 also joined the team as executive producers.[12]
In March 2011, a reshoot took place at Lepage's request. An additional scene involving Languirand and Dhavernas was shot, and the final cut of the film was completed during the summer of the same year. Montreal-based post-production company Vision Globale (who at that time had just finished working on the upcoming Upside Down) then started the visual effects and sound design. Also, Oscar-nominated Benoît Charest (Les Triplettes de Belleville) was tasked with scoring the music.[13]
A first trailer of the film was released in Quebec theaters and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on December 21st 2011.[14]
Mars et Avril will be completed in Spring 2012 and is scheduled to open in theaters next Fall.[15]