The actor Maxime Denommée will star in Padre, new dramatic fiction co-produced by the box directed by Julie Snyder. Press joined the comedian in Winnipeg, in the middle of filming the series, and spoke with the production.
Twelve years after playing Carl Laplante in Confession, Maxime Denommée will find in Padre another mysterious character who starts a new life to flee his past – and forget the horrors of a life of decay. However, this time, he will play a priest … “A priest like no other, with a lot of empathy for the marginalized, not to mention his way of practicing his religion not very Orthodox”, explains the actor in an interview.
Filming for this new 13-episode series, which will air next fall on Unis TV, has been underway for two weeks in the Saint-Boniface, Manitoba area. It will end in ten days. Editing and post-production will then take place in Montreal.
A municipal elected representative in the distribution!
Created in tandem with Les Productions Rivard (established in Saint-Boniface) and Toros, in Montreal, a subsidiary of Productions J, Padre is directed by Jim Donovan and Danielle Sturk, based on an original idea by Alberto Simone. The text was written by Pierre-Marc Drouin (Headquarters) and Luc Thériault. In addition to Maxime Denommée, there are several Franco-Ontarian and Manitoban performers in the cast, as well as actress Martine Musau. She is a lawyer by profession and worked for the Canadian military. Since November, Mme Musau is also a municipal councilor of Villeray, and the first black woman to chair the municipal council of Montreal. This is what we call an atypical course!
PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNIS TV
Martine Musau plays sister Sophie in Padre.
“Martine has had a passion for playing since childhood,” explains Denommée. She studied with Danielle Fichaud [maman Dion dans le film Aline]. She has talent and she gives me the answer wonderfully in the role of Sister Sophie. ”
PHOTO DAN HARPER, PROVIDED BY UNITED TV
Maxime Denommée on the set of Padre
The actor, who has been seen in the theater, cinema and television for two decades, feels “completely out of place” on the set of Padre. And not just because it’s in the heart of the Prairies and it’s – 40 ° C: “When I got here, I didn’t know anyone on the plateau,” he says. Not an interpreter or a member of the technical team. It’s rare, but I love it, meeting new people. That’s the beauty of this job. ”
The theme of forgiveness
Maxime Denommée plays David, aka the Padre, a priest who was younger addicted to drugs and homeless on the streets of Montreal. Supported by a member of the clergy, David is sent to an abandoned church in Saint-Boniface, which has become a refuge for squatters. Beyond good and evil, this unconventional priest, with a troubled past, will be interested in the vulnerability of the marginalized. And refuse to lecture them.
“Should we forgive everything?” Can you steal from a thief? Can a pedophile redeem himself? These are some of the questions raised in the series.
“ Padre deals more with spirituality than with religion, nuance Julie Snyder. It is a closed door, an intimate drama, which focuses on redemption, empathy. And Maxime is a fabulous actor. He has a lot of interiority, in his eyes, his gaze, even in his casting photo ! He is perfect for playing this very human role. ”
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Producer and host Julie Snyder
For Julie Snyder, this is the first drama series of Productions J. Padre is part of its goal to have more fictions in its catalog. And to diversify the content of his company, which mainly designs variety shows, reality shows (Double occupation), documentaries and projects for the web (Completely high school). Moreover, Marc S. Grenier has been working with the host in this direction for several years, as a producer, fiction and development, at Toros. It is he who produces Padre with Micheline Arbez.
The dissemination of Padre is scheduled for fall on Unis TV, included in the basic TV package across Canada. Padre will also be available online.