Bounce
October 2022. Radio-Canada announces that it is pulling the plug on the Gala Québec Cinéma, which it has presented since 2003. At Québec Cinéma, the organization responsible for the ceremony, the surprise is total.
Dominique Dugas, general director of Québec Cinéma: “It was quite sudden. The current general director, Sylvie Quenneville, immediately got involved with the community. People went to meet the minister [Mathieu] Lacombe. »
Suzane Landry, vice-president, content development and French-language programming, of Bell Media (Noovo): “When Radio-Canada dropped the gala, Québec Cinéma met with me. I wasn’t hard to convince. Because it was a natural association. Bell Media has been a partner of Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma for a long time. We buy around twenty Quebec films per year to supply our platforms. And more than ever, it’s important to celebrate our cinema. To convince people to go see Quebec films, you have to give them a showcase.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Dominique Dugas, general director of Québec Cinéma
Dominique Dugas, Québec Cinéma: “Sylvie Quenneville and Patrick Roy, the president of the board of directors, worked hard to find a solution. The challenge was to move from a public broadcaster like Radio-Canada, which assumed 100% of the production costs of the gala, to a private channel, like Noovo, which had to put in place a structure to finance the ceremony. »
Suzane Landry, Bell Media: “Québec Cinéma had taken steps with the government. They had a financial solution. »
Call for tenders
Spring 2023. Bell Media is launching a call for tenders from production companies to resurrect the Gala Québec Cinéma. Media Sphere (The little tannants, Beautiful and bum) wins the bet by proposing a ceremony led by Jay Du Temple, a specialist in relaunching shows, after giving a second wind to Double occupation in 2017.
Marie-Pier Gaudreault, executive producer, variety, at Sphère Média: “We have aligned ourselves with the DNA of Noovo. We wanted something inclusive, which spoke as much to moviegoers as to the people we would like to bring to the cinema. »
Suzane Landry, Bell Media: “We wanted a modern, unifying and festive gala. »
Marie-Pier Gaudreault, Sphere Media: “Jay [Du Temple] had all the qualities required to host this evening. For me it was a no-brainer [une évidence]. This is the one and only person I called. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Comedian and host Jay Du Temple
Jay Du Temple, host: “I was surprised [qu’on me contacte]. But quickly, my brain started looking for ideas… Obviously, there was something that attracted me. My body was sending me a signal. The little hesitation I had was in relation to the cinema industry: did he agree to me hosting his gala? »
Dominique Dugas, Québec Cinéma: “We have often been criticized for offering a program for the industry. With that in mind, coming back with someone like Jay at the helm made sense. We put the public at the center of the equation. »
Jay Du Temple, host: “I have met several actors and actresses over the last few weeks. They were all super generous to me. They were reassuring, kind. I feel a lot of support. »
Difficult context
Galas haven’t had it easy in recent years. In Quebec, TVA has abandoned the Artis awards, audiences are declining, critics are questioning the relevance of ceremonies of this type… The context in which the return of the Gala Québec Cinéma takes place has not dampened the enthusiasm of Jay Du Temple. On the contrary.
Jay Du Temple: “When you have just hosted six seasons ofOD, the gala review is not stressful. And I liked the challenge side, the “it’s not a foregone conclusion” side. I find it rich. It wasn’t just another year in the history of a gala that’s already rolling. »
Suzane Landry, Bell Media: “We have just gone through two years of pandemic. The galas that we did during this period obviously did not have the emotion, the flavor, the color that they had before. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Melanie Bhéré and Suzane Landry, from Bell Media
Mélanie Bhéré, general manager, variety, lifestyle, documentary, at Bell Media: “All the decisions we made, including the choice of host, were always with the audience in mind. This is our guideline. »
Preparations
Preparations for the Gala Québec Cinéma have been going well for several months. Everyone agrees that it is a colossal job for two hours of television, which will notably include a tribute to Rémy Girard, as well as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the event.
Roxane Couture, content producer at Sphère Média: “Compared to other galas, people haven’t necessarily seen everything. We must put forward what they know. Cinema, we sometimes believe that it is niche, but that is not true. There are plenty of super accessible films. You just have to get one foot in the door to want to see others. »
Jay Du Temple: “I’ve been thinking about people in the film industry day and night since the summer. That does not make any sense ! »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Marie-Pier Gaudreault, executive producer, variety, at Sphère Média
Marie-Pier Gaudreault, Sphère Média: “We talk about the rebirth of the gala, but for us, it’s a birth. Point. We are creating something completely new. »
Countdown
The team responsible for the ceremony will move to Studios Grandé in Montreal on Monday to complete the preparations. With the second round of voting having ended last Sunday, Québec Cinéma has only known the winners for a few days. For Jay Du Temple, this is a stressful time.
Roxane Couture, Sphère Média: “There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s exciting! The pieces of the puzzle come together. The gala is taking shape… We want to arrive at December 10 convinced that we have done everything we can do to give the best show possible. »
Jay Du Temple: “I ask a lot of myself, and therefore, I ask a lot of Guillaume Girard and David Beaucage. They are my best friends. We often work together. They show a lot of patience with me, because I lack so much… My goal is to arrive in good shape on the day of the gala. I want my kit ready, my jokes ready… I want to be in a good mood. »
Mélanie Bhéré, Bell Media: “With all the pressure Jay can feel, he remains so reassuring. He is an incredible positive leader. »
Jay Du Temple: “I want everyone at Bell Media, Sphère Média and Québec Cinéma to be happy. I want my mother to be happy. I want the entire film industry to be happy. I want Rémy Girard to be happy. But the important thing is that we pique people’s curiosity. I want us to make them want to go see Quebec films. »
Noovo broadcasts on the 25the Gala Québec Cinéma on Sunday, December 10 at 8 p.m.