Swimming has lived in Yan England since childhood. She is the gateway to the action of Sam, her second feature film which was shortlisted at the Rome Independent Film Festival. Give everything to achieve his dream: this is the quest of his main character. But also that of the passionate and disciplined Yan England, who is already working on another project.
To hear from the crew members of the movie Sam, you would sometimes send emails during the night. We would be inclined to believe that you get little sleep!
(Laughs) I have a good nights sleep. But I’m lucky because my job is a passion and I’m in good shape: I train. I go swimming every day, even today.
At what age did you start swimming?
At five years old. I started tennis at the same age and have been a fan of running since I was 14. I also do triathlons. In the past, you have even taken part in swimming competitions.
What level have you been to?
At the provincial level. I followed up with coaching. I trained young people from 6 to 18 years old for 15 summers, despite my shootings. For a while, I was also responsible for another swimming league on the south shore of Montreal. I liked to transmit my passion. Swimming and sports have given me discipline as well as the desire and happiness to set goals. If I didn’t manage to reach them, it was okay. The important thing was that I had done everything to get there. Sport has always fueled what else I did. I need it, it’s like a valve.
It is part of your life balance …
Yes. That’s why with Sam, it was above all a psychological thriller, but the entry point is the sport. He is inspired by what he gave me and the respect I have for the athletes who go to the Olympics. All the time they devoted to making their dream come true and their dedication to their passion! It is the ultimate goal of an athlete. This is the premise of my film, what I wanted to give my main character: how far are we willing to go so as not to lose everything? I directed the film and I co-wrote it with André Gulluni. From the start, our goal was to take people on a roller coaster of emotions.
Have you ever cherished an Olympic dream yourself?
No. But I’ve always had the dream and the passion to act, direct and tell stories. I’ve been lucky enough to play since I was eight and never really spent. In the beginning, all the money that I earned as an actor, I put it in my films. I saw it as a long term investment. After my first short film and again after my second, I was broken like a nail. I returned to live with my parents.
Sam’s filming had to be cut short due to the pandemic and lockdown. How did you react at the time?
First, when you are told that everything is stopping on the entire planet, it is not about you. At the time, the questioning was: “Can we resume shooting in two weeks or not?” We were in the dark. There were nine days of filming left. Two days after the announcement of the Quebec pause, my team and I were in solution mode. We were able to resume filming about four months later.
How did the return to the sets go?
On the first take of the first day, it felt like we hadn’t stopped. All the actors had the same feeling and the same reaction of the style: “It’s as if we were continuing the filming interrupted only the day before.” Antoine Olivier (Pilon, who plays the main role) continued to train, we all still had the film in our bodies. There is therefore no lag between the scenes. I’m happy, it’s the culmination of five years of work.
On the personal side, you are in a relationship with journalist Marie-Andrée Leblond and you have become the owner.
Yes, Marie-Andrée and I have been together for two years, it was a great meeting. And, a little before the pandemic, I bought a small house, my very first! I also have a new dog, a 19 month old Saint-Pierre. I thought he looked like a Sam!
The filming of this new series is taking place in a former convent in the Ahuntsic district of Montreal. Enthusiastic, Yan has only good words for the young actors who play the main roles. “The Red Bracelets tells the story of young people aged 9 to 17 who make friends while they are hospitalized.
Noah Parker, Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau, Léanne Désilets, Anthony Therrien, Étienne Galloy and Malick Babin are totally invested in their role. They shaved their hair, researched their character’s disease, or consulted experts. This series goes from darkness to light, from dramatic events to fabulous moments. The emotions that these actors make us experience are genuine. Every day, I am amazed by their talent! ” he confided. To see the chemistry that reigns on the set, the admiration that the director has for young people is mutual. In addition, exceptional comedians slip into the skin of the adults of the series. “Isabelle Blais, Sébastien Delorme, David Savard, Julie Beauchemin, Frédérick De Grandpré, Éric Bernier … they support the game of young patients wonderfully. I have a lot of fun directing them, ”concludes the director, before finishing his dinner break to resume filming.
The new Red Bracelets series will debut on TVA on Tuesday, January 4, at 9 p.m.