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Meet Alain Deslongchamps: Montreal’s Talented Film Director

Alain Deslongchamps is a talented film director from Montreal, Canada, with an impressive portfolio that includes fiction and commercial films, as well as corporate videos. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Communication at UQAM. He also completed a filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy in 2004. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, his work has been showcased at various events and film festivals across Canada, the US, and Europe.

Alain’s most recent film, “Le Choix de Sofia (One Last Thing)” draws parallels between Sofia’s life and climate change issues. The film is about the choices we make and the consequences that follow. Alain says that he hopes viewers reflect on the options Sofia has to escape her crisis. “Finding meaning in our life is key. We all know that. What if we choose to base our life on other values? Rather than looking for meaning in our lives, what if we choose to strive for comfort, or money, or the prestige of a job? What are the consequences of those choices?“ said Alain.

Alain said that he approached casting and working with actors to bring his vision to life by choosing an actress who could portray a strong, intelligent woman with a vulnerable side. The lead role was supposed to be played by another actress, but Véronique Gallant, who had worked with Alain in a previous film, was ultimately cast.

“Besides having the proper fit for Sofia’s character, she truly stands out in complex roles requiring nuanced and precise work. With the proper preparation and understanding of the material, directing her was easy, like suggesting As-Ifs or Verbs to explore, whenever necessary.“ Said Alain about his experience from filming.

The film deals with themes of stress and burnout. The director hopes that viewers who may be struggling with these issues take away the message that stress and burnout do not happen alone. A proper balance between work, social activities, physical activities, and more is necessary to prevent them. Alain says that it’s okay to ask for help and that there isn’t as much of a stigma around mental health issues as there used to be.

Alain faced some challenges during the production of “One Last Thing”, such as finding an apartment appropriate for Sofia’s lifestyle. The apartment chosen for the film was decently big, but Alain was looking for an even larger apartment to show how lonely and lost Sofia feels. To solve this problem, Alain combined cuts showing this section of the apartment and relied on the sound of news reports on other occasions.

His previous film, “Good Vibes”, was successful and received critical acclaim. He says that filmmaking is an ever-evolving practice, and each film experience adds to the next. Alain knew from making “Good Vibes” that for “One Last Thing” he needed to have the ability to move the camera using a steadycam to cover a much broader spectrum of action and for a more advanced type of mise-en-scène.

“One Last Thing” has been screened at various festivals, including the Edmonton International Film Festival, where it was discussed in a Q&A session with filmmakers from all over the world. Alain says that it was a memorable experience, and he received positive feedback from the audience.

Overall, Alain Deslongchamps is a talented film director who is constantly evolving and improving his craft. He tackles important themes such as finding meaning, climate change, and the choices we make in life through his films, creating thought-provoking pieces of art that resonate with viewers. He is currently preparing a first comedy feature titled “Roads Less Traveled”.  “It will be funny, enlightening and entertaining, all at the same time. Right now we are polishing the screenplay and working on the pitch deck.“ said Alain.

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