Sophie Dupuis is currently filming Drag, his third feature film. As the working title suggests, this film is set in the drag queen scene of Montreal. Théodore Pellerin, the actor muse of the director, is the headliner with Félix Maritaud, revealed thanks to 120 beats per minute.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
A room adjacent to the stage and runway installed on the third floor of the Sky Complex in Montreal. At the time of the visit to The Press, Sophie Dupuis shoots an intimate party scene, in which drags take part in “civilian” attire. Théodore Pellerin wears a little green “bellied” camisole, a red miniskirt and black booties. In comparison to scenes where her drag queen persona – for which he must sometimes take up to four hours of preparation – is performing, it’s a “small” day at the office…
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Drag is the third feature film written and directed by Sophie Dupuis. Here she gives her indications before shooting a scene.
Producer Étienne Hansez, from the Bravo Charlie company, also points out that a team of 15 people has been assembled for the hairstyles, costumes and make-up department alone. One hundred and fifty extras – all recruited from the LGBTQIA2S+ community – are taking part in the filming, and a good part of the budget for this $5 million production has been allocated to the release of rights to international hits. Théodore Pellerin performs, among others, to the sound of Do you want to (ABBA) and HotStuff (Donna Summer).
The transformation of Théodore Pellerin
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PHOTO LOU SCAMBLE, PROVIDED BY THE PRODUCTION
Theodore Pellerin in Dragthe film directed by Sophie Dupuis.
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PHOTO LOU SCAMBLE, PROVIDED BY THE PRODUCTION
The production includes an impressive team of make-up artists and hairdressers.
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Passionate about the art of drag for a very long time, Sophie Dupuis has been working on this feature film for two years. She wanted her shoot to be as inclusive as possible. Mean by that that to bring together her cast, she saw in audition about 250 actors from the community. Most key contributors also know this environment inside out.
“I really see a difference, confides the filmmaker during a break. The discussions we have had with queer people who play in Drag greatly enriched the project, because their perspective differs from that of straight people. The emotions, the way of being in a couple, of evolving in society…”
I probably wouldn’t have been able to make the same film if I wasn’t surrounded by them. We paid great attention to making these choices, so as to open our arms to the whole community, with people of all ages.
Sophie Dupuis, director
Two inspired actors
Théodore Pellerin, whose compositions were striking in Watch dog and Underground, the first two feature films by Sophie Dupuis, this time slips into the skin of Simon, a rising star in the world of drag queens. Her love affair with Olivier (Félix Maritaud), a new recruit at the show bar where he performs, is gradually marked by a toxic dynamic resulting from the latter’s narcissistic personality. At the same time, Simon tries to reconnect with his mother (Anne-Marie Cadieux), a famous opera singer who returns to the country after fifteen years of absence.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Félix Maritaud and Théodore Pellerin are the two headliners of Dragthe film that Sophie Dupuis is currently shooting.
“I remember that at the end of the shooting of Watch dog, Sophie asked me if there was a type of character that I would like to play, recalls Théodore Pellerin. I answered: a drag queen ! Drag has been part of my imagination for a really long time and I can’t explain why. I had this desire to explore a femininity pushed to the extreme, clownish limit, as a way, perhaps, to free myself from a masculine construction that is neither sickly nor oppressive, but still present. This exploration really gives me the freedom to navigate from one genre to another. »
Even if he claims not to know “how to do” to prepare for a role, the actor, involved in the creative process of Sophie Dupuis from the beginning, has nevertheless well documented on queer culture and its history.
Drag competitions have now become part of popular culture, but I remain so impressed by these drag queens who, decades ago, carried this underground culture into an already homophobic society, which was even more so towards these men. who were said to be effeminate.
Théodore Pellerin, actor
“The courage, the strength and the freedom of spirit that they showed to exist at that time really made these people beacons. Today, we have gone elsewhere thanks to them. Even if, in this altogether luminous film, the relationship between Simon and Olivier is toxic, drag represents a space of freedom, creation and validation. »
PHOTO LOU SCAMBLE, PROVIDED BY THE PRODUCTION
The love relationship experienced by the characters played by Théodore Pellerin and Félix Maritaud in Drag gradually becomes toxic.
Revealed five years ago thanks to 120 beats per minutea remarkable feature film by Robin Campillo (Grand Prix at Cannes in 2017 and César for best film in 2018), Félix Maritaud found himself on the set of Drag after receiving an email and a script. Sophie Dupuis quickly thought of offering the role of Olivier to this cultural icon queer in France, not without having had some apprehensions.
“When I sent him the screenplay, I was terrified because I told myself that if he didn’t like it, that meant the film was badly written, specifies the filmmaker. I knew that Felix could have good judgment on this story. Fortunately, he answered us very quickly. He has been here since December to get ready! »
A political gesture
Sophie Dupuis also believes that going on stage in drag is still a political gesture today, despite the presence of programs like drag racewhich have helped to make this art known and to integrate it into popular culture.
“In this discipline, there is no gender, no predominant sexuality, no more barriers,” she points out. It deconstructs the heteronormative world. There is still a lot of work to do, because we are only just beginning to envision a society where gender issues are no longer an issue. I believe that, clearly, young people are going to help us a lot to grow collectively. And I realize how good this project is going to be! »
Drag (working title), whose filming continues until March 30, will be released in 2023. Distribution will be provided by Axia Films.