left field ventures presents a vincent lannoo film

LEFT FIELD VENTURES PRESENTS
A VINCENT LANNOO FILM
They’re...
.
Not scary. Not sexy. Not trendy.
VAMP RES
Just Belgian.
www.vampires-lefilm.com
LEFT FIELD VENTURES presents «VAMPIRES»
CARLO FERRANTE, VERA VAN DOOREN, PIERRE LOGNAY, FLEUR LISE HEUET, PAUL AHMARANI, ALEXANDRA KAMP and JULIEN DORE
director of photography VINCENT VAN GELDER - editor FREDERIQUE BROOS - associate producer FABRIZIO VERDIANI
in coproduction with BELGACOM - with the support of Le Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Communauté française
de Belgique et des télédistributeurs wallons - written by VINCENT LANNOO & FREDERIQUE BROOS
produced by JOHN ENGEL - directed by VINCENT LANNOO
Production Company (Belgium)
LEFT FIELD VENTURES
97 Avenue Louis Lepoutre
1050 Brussels
Belgium
phone +32 2345 45 05
fax +32 2343 69 92
marie@leftfield.be
www.leftfieldventures.com
International Sales
HOUSE OF FILM
Ava B.
427 N.Canon Dr. Suite 107
90210 Beverly Hills, CA
US
phone 310.777.0237
distribution@houseoffilm.net
www.houseoffilm.net
Film publicity at film festivals
THE PR FACTORY
Barbara Van Lombeek, Marie-France Dupagne
21 rue des Myosotis
1180 Brussels
Belgium
info@theprfactory.be
+32 477 62 67 70
VAMPIRES
SYNOPSIS
(ENGLISH)
A TV crew is asked by a community of vampires to film their
nightly life. After a few failed attempts (costing the lives of some
crew members), a new crew finally manages to penetrate the
home and un-lives of Bertha and George St.Germain’s family,
with their good-for-nothing son Samson, and their daughter
Grace, who’s in the throes of an existential teenage crisis. Your
basic everyday family...
VAMPIRES
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
It’s time we ask ourselves what vampires are really like… Time we go beyond the
good old Bela Lugosi, but mostly, beyond today’s films that depict this pack of
monsters as a bunch of subdued smurfs.
How better to discover the truth than by making a documentary in which we’re
immersed in the daily life (er, nightly un-life?) of a vampire family? I was naturally led
to choose the vampire community that was “close to home”: the Belgian vampire
community. I could never have imagined how closely these living dead resembled us
in their daily lives. In fact, I must admit, their humanity is still quite sizeable.
I quickly found myself amidst the struggles of a nearly typical family, with
troublesome neighbors, issues of power and respecting rules. Ironically, though,
night after night the documentary I was making was becoming increasingly political,
and incorrect!
Admittedly, VAMPIRES is a political comedy, a satire on humanity, in which
appearance and reality are in constant opposition.
Belgian, French, Canadian, we all know vampires, men and women with long teeth,
capable of any type of rhetorical acrobatics if it means sucking our blood.
I will not name names, or sides, but at the few public screenings I attended, the
audience’s laughter showed that a vampire sleeps in each one of us.
Humor is an enjoyable, almost subconscious, way to ask ourselves important
questions. It certainly was for me on this sometimes puerile, burlesque and, I’ll admit,
slightly cynical adventure.
One of the advantages of genre cinema for a filmmaker is that he can show his
demons and anxieties with no real conscious hope of sharing their teachings. In
VAMPIRES, the three-genre mixture – documentary, B-series and comedy – offers
us a playground but also a critical look at our own contradictory behaviors, our own
infamies.
Ever since my first short films, actors have been my work’s center of gravity; they
exacerbate natural behaviors and fuel the film. The actors in VAMPIRES, with or
without a “name that can be recognized anywhere,” became real vampires on the
set. They are the true stars of this hilarious feature film.
Meet them, meet us…
Vincent Lannoo
Interview VINCENT LANNOO
As a child, you dreamed of driving a tram or managing a chip shop.
Now you’re a filmmaker. Why such a change of heart?
Actually, as a child I dreamt of being a director. There. I think I’ve always wanted to
direct, since the age of 9 anyway. I haven’t evolved since. I grew up in an
environment where film was very prominent so it was a natural development.
Your opinion on cinema: art or sleaze?
Sleaze I think. I love sleaze, me.
Do you make films for the money or to please Mom and Dad?
That’s a funny question. I definitely make films for Mom. Or rather to make money
‘cause that’s what pleases Mom the most. Either way, she has a lot to do with it.
Do you have other, hidden talents?
I have no other talents. Or maybe one talent…but very well hidden. I can’t show it to
you. (Laughs).
What do you do when you lack inspiration?
I sleep. I nap and nap again. It works.
If you hit a wall, take a nap, and when you wake up… Either it’ll be too late and time
to pick the kids up from school, problem solved -- or you’ll have an idea.
What is Belgian cinema in your eyes?
Belgian cinema doesn’t exist. I think cinema exists. Belgian cinema is just cinema.
What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen and tell us why?
The problem is the bad films that come to mind are by people I know personally, so I
can’t tell you.
But the worst film I’ve ever seen is quite possibly a short film I did called “Xmas in
Space”. Terrible.
Interview JOHN ENGEL
What’s your opinion on cinema – art or sleaze?
I like it when sleaze is part of art. Combining what’s attractive, what’s fascinating,
with what’s thought-provoking and inspiring. I don’t think they must be separate; but
that’s the greatest challenge of a good film: to combine the interesting, provocative
aspect with the entertainment aspect.
For Vampires, Leonardo do Caprio wasn’t free during the dates planned for the
shoot. How did you transform that snag into an advantage?
(Laughs). Thanks to Carlo, of course. Leonardo was taken, so we found another
Italian. With Carlo, who needs Leo?
If you were to redo it?
If we were to redo it…We might start with a script! More money… and in English?!
Nah… It’s fine as is.
What have you learned recently from another artist?
Damn, I don’t like that question! Oh boy… (Laughs).
One of the first things I learned from Vincent (Lannoo), is that it’s important to
communicate desire. Joy, as well. Also to stay in that improvisational aspect that’s so
dear to him, which is the particularity of both STRASS and VAMPIRES. It’s
communicative.
Do you make films for the money or to please Mom?
I make films to become very, very rich.
The end of the world is nigh, you have two hours left, which film do you watch?
APOCALYPSE NOW… Or CLOCKWORK ORANGE. But they’re both longer than
two hours.
What’s Belgian cinema in your eyes?
To me, Belgian cinema is high-quality cinema. Having lived outside Belgium for so
long, I feel a bit like a foreigner and I think I can say that without seeming
chauvinistic. Belgian cinema, on average, is particularly good and it’s a shame the
Belgian public doesn’t realize it or is not exposed to it enough.
Interview CARLO FERRANTE
Did you have to sleep with anyone to be in the film?
(Laughs) Yeah, I had to sleep with Vincent Lannoo a lot.
The end of the world is nigh, you have two hours left, what film do you watch?
Vampires! They’re eternal.
If you were to redo it?
Start existing, quite simply. The same thing but earlier. In which case I’d use my brain
now, but slightly earlier, to gain a few steps…
Do you have other hidden talents?
Well, I can fall asleep in a blink. It’s called the gift of sleep. When I want to sleep, I
sleep.
What do you do when you lack inspiration?
I breathe. Then I breathe in. Normally, it returns after that.
What is Belgian cinema to you?
Belgian cinema is like what we call “mitraillette”, or “spéciale” in the Region of
Charleroi. A big bread baguette, you put Andalousian or American sauce in there,
two “fricadelles” one beside the other, some chips, more sauce…and you eat it.
Basically, you could say Belgian cinema is like a joke being told, with a punch line
that’s still unknown.
Who do you admire the most?
Besides me?! (Laughs).
Only joking.
What would interest me is meeting someone who is beyond time, beyond feelings.
Immobile strength. Something like that anyway.
VAMPIRES
CAST LIST
GEORGES
BERTHA
SAMSON
GRACE
...
...
...
...
CARLO FERRANTE
VERA VAN DOOREN
PIERRE LOGNAY
FLEUR LISE HEUET
CARLO FERRANTE
2009 : VAMPIRES (VINCENT LANNOO)
2008 : LA MONIQUE DE JOSEPH (DAMIEN CHEMIN)
2004 : ORDINARY MAN (VINCENT LANNOO)
2002 : STRASS (VINCENT LANNOO)
VERA VAN DOOREN
2009 : VAMPIRES (VINCENT LANNOO)
2008 : LA MONIQUE DE JOSEPH (DAMIEN CHEMIN)
2006 : LE GENERALISTE (DAMIEN CHEMIN)
2004 : ORDINARY MAN (VINCENT LANNOO)
PIERRE LOGNAY
2009 : VAMPIRES (VINCENT LANNOO)
2008 : GET BORN (NICOLE PALO)
2005 : COMME TOUT LE MONDE (PIERRE-PAUL RENDERS)
FLEUR-LISE HEUET
2009 : MANON LESCAUT (GABRIEL AGHION)
2009 : VAMPIRES (VINCENT LANNOO)
2008 : GET BORN
VAMPIRES
TECHNICAL SHEET
A FILM BY VINCENT LANNOO
WRITTEN BY VINCENT LANNOO & FREDERIQUE BROOS
CINEMATOGRAPHY
EDITING
SOUND
ART DIRECTOR
MAKE-UP
…
…
…
…
...
VINCENT VAN GELDER
FREDERIQUE BROOS
GUILHEM DONZEL
VALERIE ANDRE
FABIENNE ADAM
PRODUCED BY JOHN ENGEL – LEFT FIELD VENTURES
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER FABRIZIO VERDIANI
IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH BELGACOM
WITH THE SUPPORT OF LE CENTRE DU CINEMA ET DE
L’AUDIOVISUEL DE LA COMMUNAUTE FRANÇAISE DE BELGIQUE
ET DES TELEDISTRIBUTEURS WALLONS
1H31min
35mm, 1.85 :1, COLOR, Dolby Digital, BELGIUM, 2010
VAMPIRES
FESTIVALS / AWARDS
APRIL 2010
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL
AUDIENCE PRIZE
MAY 2010
SCI-FI LONDON FESTIVAL
JULY 2010
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL (CANADA)
AUGUST 2010
ESPOO CINE FILM FESTIVAL (FINLAND)
FANTASY FILMFESTIVAL (GERMANY)
SEPTEMBER 2010
LUND INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL (SWEDEN)
OCTOBER 2010
SITGES FILM FESTIVAL (SPAIN)
KAOHSIUNG FILM FESTIVAL (TAÏWAN)
RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (UK)
NOVEMBER 2010
TÜBINGEN-STUTTGARD FRENCH-SPEAKING INTERNATIONAL FILM
FESTIVAL (GERMANY)
SAN SEBASTIAN HORROR AND FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL (SPAIN)
MALAGA FILM FESTIVAL - FANCINE (SPAIN)
TORINO FILM FESTIVAL (ITALY)
Vincent Lannoo-Bourton
C u r r i c u l u m
V i t a e
After graduating from a performing arts high school, this child of television and film
professionals goes to the IAD (Broadcast Arts Institute),
then takes over Daddyʼs shop (his father is film director Jacques Bourton), making
his Mom very proud (Nicole Demeulder, makeup artist)…
Filmography
1995
directs «Meilleurs vœux» («Best Wishes»), school short, experimenting
with actorsʼ improvisation on the theme of hypocrisy.
1996
directs «Nathan», IAD end-of-school short. Wins many prizes at
festivals -- e.g., Munich, Tel Aviv, Tunis, etc.
1997
directs «Xmas in Space», science-fiction short film.
1998
directs «Jʼadore le cinéma» («I Love Movies»), short, starring Olivier
Gourmet and Gaëtan Bevernaege.
Selected at more than 40 festivals worldwide, this short film won the grand prize at
the Villeurbanne Festival, the Gold Iris and the Christal Star at the Brussels Festival,
among others.
1999
directs three music videos tracing the history of motion pictures, for the
«Bonjour mon chien» («Good Morning, Doggie») stage show, which
won the prize at the Company Theater Festival, Brussels.
2000
directs «Si jʼavais dix pauvres» («If I Had Ten Poor People»), a short
film for the tenth anniversary of Canal-Plus Belgium.
2001
directs «Strass», his first feature film, made according to the ʻDogma
95ʼ rules.
«Strass» won several competitions at international festivals, including the grand prize
at the Angers Film Festival, presided by actress Nathalie Baye.
2002
- directs a series of national commercials for Côte dʼOr chocolates.
- writes a feature thriller, «Le Troisième étage» («The Third Story»).
- takes part in several festival juries, including FIPA and Cabourg
Romantic Film Festval.
2004
directs and exec-produces his second feature film, «Ordinary Man», a
Belgian thriller. Production co.: Hélicotronc.
2005-6
- writes «Alice en Voiture» («Alice By Car»), feature film project.
Production co.: Hélicotronc.
- writes «Les sept derniers jours de Lucy» («The Last Seven Days of
Lucy»), feature film project. Production co.: Artémis Productions.
- directs several commercials.
2007-8
- directs «Vampires», a feature-length mockumentary. Production co.:
Left Field Ventures.
- directs several commercials.
2008-10
- writes several feature film projects.
- prep "The Tamed Ones", his fourth feature film
- President of the Association of Film Directors (ARRF), 2005-2008
- Co-founder of Cinéastes Associés (production company), 2007
- Vice-President of the Belgian Committee at SACD, 2003-2007
- Member of PROSPEREʼs Board and Audio-visual Consultation Committee
- Member of the Selection Committee at the Film Center of the French-speaking
Community, 2005-2008
John
Engel
97 Avenue Louis Lepoutre ~ B 1050 Brussels
tel 02 345-4505
fax 02 343-6992
johnengel@mac.com
mob 0476 698 412
C u r r i c u l u m
V i t a e
~
F I l m o g r a p h y
President of two film production companies : Cinéastes Associés scrl (founded in October 2007)
and Left Field Ventures sprl (founded in March 2002).
{Projects in development not listed}
Producer
The Tamed Ones
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Vincent Lannoo. Prod., Left Field Ventures. May ʻ11.
With Cameron Bright, …
Vampires
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Vincent Lannoo. Prod., Left Field Ventures. April ʼ10.
With Carlo Ferrante, Vera Van Dooren, Fleur Lise Heuet, Paul Ahmarani, Alexandra Kamp and Julien Doré.
Miss Mouche
(Miss Fly)
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Bernard Halut. Prod., Cinéastes Associés. Jan. ʻ10. [exec prod Left Field V.]
With Bernard Cogniaux, Valérie Bauchau, Thierry De Coster and Mona Jabé.
Avec ma mère à la mer
(A Son At Sea)
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Alexis Van Stratum. Prod., Cinéastes Associés. Oct.ʼ09. [exec prod Left Field V.]
With Hervé Guerrisi, Nicole Colchat, Cachou Kirsch, Maaike Neuville.
Furor Absurdüs
Producer
Feature Documentary. Dir., Maxime and Michel Pasque. Prod., Left Field Ventures. Jan. ʻ10.
With Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jean-Claude Botte, Johnny Cadillac.
Get Born
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Nicole Palo. Prod., Cinéastes Associés. Sept.ʼ08. [exec prod Left Field V.]
With Pierre Lognay, Fleur Lise Heuet, Eric Castex, Fabrice Murgia.
Menteur
(Liar)
Producer
Feature film. Dir., Tom Geens. Prod., Cinéastes Associés. Oct.ʼ08. [exec prod Left Field V.]
With Jean-Benoît Ugeux, Christelle Cornil, …
James and the Giant Peach
Co-Producer
Feature film. Dir., Henry Selick. Prod., Walt Disney Pictures / Tim Burton. 1996.
With Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, …
Maniac Cop 2
Co-Producer
Feature film. Dir., William Lustig. Prod., Medusa / Vestron. 1990.
With Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, …
Molly O
Line Producer
Feature film. Dir., Gino Bortoloni. Prod., Leo Pescarolo. (US)
With Bonnie Bianco, Steve March, …
Dozens of commercial films (US and UK)
Producer / Line Producer
Production Manager
Interview With the Vampire
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Neil Jordan. Prod., Warner Bros / Stephen Woolley, David Geffen. (SF)
With Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, …
Raising Cain
Feature film. Dir., Brian De Palma. Prod., Universal / Gale Anne Hurd.
With John Lithgow, Lolita Davidovich, …
Production Manager
+ Post-Production Supervisor
Cabin Boy
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Adam Resnick. Prod., Touchstone / Tim Burton.
With Chris Elliott, Brion James, …
Cast a Deadly Spell
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Martin Campbell. Prod., HBO / Gale Anne Hurd.
With Fred Ward, Julianne Moore, …
Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Anthony Hickox. Prod., Vestron.
With David Carradine, Bruce Campbell, …
Tripwire
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., James Lemmo. Prod., New Line.
With Terence Knox, Viggo Mortensen, …
Good Morning, Babylon
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Prod., Edward R. Pressman. (US)
With Joaquim de Almeida, Greta Scacchi, …
Dance To Win
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., Ted Mather. Prod., MGM.
With Daniel Quinn, Garrett Morris, …
One Man Force
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir.,, Dale Trevillion. Prod., Shapiro-Glickenhaus.
With John Matuszak, Ronny Cox, …
Maniac Cop
Production Manager
Feature film. Dir., William Lustig. Prod., Shapiro-Glickenhaus / Larry Cohen. (NY)
With Bruce Campbell, Richard Roundtree, …
Also worked in various capacities on the following films:
Wall Street
Crossroads
Insignificance
Cat People
F/X
Ghost Busters
Legal Eagles
Payoff
by
by
by
by
by
by
by
by
Oliver Stone
Walter Hill
Nicolas Roeg
Paul Schrader
Robert Mandel
Ivan Reitman
Ivan Reitman
Stuart Cooper
th
20 Century Fox
Columbia
RPC / Zenith
RKO - Universal
Orion
Columbia
Universal
Showtime
Forced March
Stone Pillow
American Journeys
The Joy That Kills
by
by
by
by
Rick King
George Schaffer
Jeff Blyth
Tina Rathbone
A-Pix
CBS
Disney
PBS
And more…
Has given classes and lectures on script writing, production and film history at the following
universities: Boston University, University of New Orleans, University of Monaco, Université
Libre de Bruxelles.
Professional Affiliations, Honorary Titles, Degrees
- Member, Union des Producteurs de Films Francophones (U.P.F.F.) (BE)
- Founding Member, UniversCiné Belgium
- Member (as director and u.p.m.), Directors Guild of America (US)
- Member (as screenwriter), American Screenwriters Association (US)
- Member, Association des scénaristes de lʼaudiovisuel (A.S.A.) (BE)
- Fellow, Hoover Foundation
- Fellow, Belgian American Educational Foundation
- Bachelor of Arts, English and American literature , ULB, Magna cum Laude.
- Master of Arts, Drama & Communications, University of New Orleans, National Deanʼs List.