A film inspired by the work of Jean Leloup is in preparation. The project is still in its infancy, and could take several more years, however, before materializing.
Paradise City is one of 21 projects that received initial funding from the Cultural Business Development Corporation (SODEC) on Thursday under the development assistance program. The feature film should be directed and scripted by Jean-Philippe Duval, to whom we owe among others Dede through the mists.
Except that unlike this 2009 film which tells the tragic fate of the leader of the Colocs, Paradise City will not be a biopic on the life of Jean Leloup. “It won’t be a musical either. It will be a musical film inspired by the songs of Jean Leloup. This will be the raw material. But as with Sebastian [Ricard] For Dede through the mistswe will have to find actors who know how to sing Leloup’s songs, “said in an interview with the Duty the president of Max Films, Roger Frappier. He did not want to give more details on the scenario.
Roger Frappier also produced Dede through the mists, which took seven years to come to fruition. Several years could also pass before Paradise City take the poster. Mr. Frappier is aware that the release of the rights to certain songs by Jean Leloup promises to be difficult.
Obtain song rights
“We still have to find the songs that we are going to use in the film, but indeed, it could be complicated. Often, it’s easier to use a foreign song than to use a Quebec song in a film. It is absurd! That’s why we hear so many songs in English in our films, ”laments Roger Frappier. His indignation, which is reminiscent of that of Xavier Dolan last December when his series was released The night Laurier Gaudreault woke up.
Roger Frappier and Jean-Philippe Duval will also have to convince Jean Leloup to sell the rights to his songs. The producer says he has tried a few times in the past two years to get in touch with the singer to talk to him about the project, to no avail. Since the release of his last album, the strange country, in 2019, Jean Leloup stays away from the industry. According to Roger Frappier, the “King Ponpon” is still aware that a film based on his work is in the works.
“We would like him to know more, that’s for sure. We want him to like the movie. The idea is really to pay tribute to his work, “insists the producer, who describes himself as a fervent admirer of the interpreter of cookies And 1990.
Besides Paradise Citythere SODEC also gave its approval on Thursday to several other documentary and feature film projects. Among them, a film on the life of Jehane Benoît, the great lady of Quebec cuisine, precursor of the Josée di Stasio and Ricardo of this world. The adaptation of the award-winning novel Quarrel de Roberval by Kevin Lambert also received the green light from SODEC.