Breaking News: Just recently, Jann Halexander released his new CD Le
Marginal, a collection of chansons written and sung by himself, for the most
part accompanied by no more than a piano. you can buy this CD online
from these places:
http://www.ebay.fr,
http://www.priceminister.com,
http://www.underprod.com,
http://jannhalexander.free.fr
Fans
of French chansons will not want to miss this one ... But
now, off to the interview:
First of all, could you please introduce yourself in a few phrases to
those who don't already know who you are.
I'm a singer but moviemaker as well. I make movies cause I want to show
my world, personal world with music and pictures. I'm 25 years. I've got my
own society. And I'm French and Gabonese.
You are about to release your new movie OCCIDENT, Statross
le Magnifique II. Can you tell us what that film is actually about ?
This is a sad and strange story between 2 men : a white nazi guy and a colored
guy, whose name is Statross Reichmman. This young mixed man has problem with
his white family, especially a ghost (his uncle).
What can you tell us about making the film ?
This is the second tome of a trilogy. The first tome was trash and erotic.
Very strange and short. This movie, Occident, is longer and more
serious. This is a trilogy about racism, difference, Nazism, and
interracial relations in Europe. Of course, it's poetic sometimes, I didn't
want to make a realist movie. Occident
for me is like a dream.
Could you talk a little about your role in the film ? I
play the role of Statross Reichmann. Of course, Occident
is the second
tome of the trilogy STATROSS LE MAGNIFIQUE (Statross
the Magnificent). In the first part, which was realized by Rémi
Lange in 2006, I played Statross Reichmann as well, and I've written the script
too. How
did you come up with the idea for the movie, and what were your
inspirations when writing the script ? I was 16 years when
I created Statross Reichmann. I wanted to make a story about a mixed
guy. I had the choice between a gipsy, a jewish and a mullatoe guy … the
story took place in Vienna. Much later, and I can say merci to Rémi
Lange, my editor, I could produce the trilogy but the story now officially takes place
somewhere in Europe. The 64 Dollar question:
When will the film be released, where can one buy it, will the DVD be with
English subtitles, and is there an international release planned ? I
hope for an international version. Before, my first movie, J'Aimerais
J'Aimerais was not translated but it was not a problem cause we sold
this movie in Canada, Italia, Spain, Germany. For the translation, I'm
dependant of the success of this movie in French speaking countries. But
anyway, it's just a matter of time and organisation, and I will translate
this movie into English, and, maybe, into German. Actually, people can buy
this movie through alapage.com, fnac.com, and very soon,
at fnac, virgin, ebay, priceminister … [Editor's
note: According to my information, the film will be out on March 20th,
2008.]
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The
film's website and/or mySpace and/or whatever else ?
There
are several websites :
http://occidentledvd.blogspot.com
http://occident2008.blogspot.com
http://occidentphotographies.blogspot.com
http://occidentlemanoir.blogspot.com
http://occidentlespersonnages.blogspot.com
http://occidentreflexion.blogspot.com
http://statrosscartoon.blogspot.com
http://statrosslemagnifique.blogspot.com
Let's talk
about your previous films for a bit: OCCIDENT, Statross
le Magnifique II was preceeded by Statross
le Magnifique in 2006. What can you tell us about that movie, and how
closely is it connected to OCCIDENT ?
Statross
le Magnifique was realized in Remi Lange, not me. I've written the
script, the music and I've produced the movie. In a big and dark
house, a rich mulattoe, Statross Reichmann, lives with his girlfriend
(the transsexual actress Pascal Ourbih). He 's very sad cause he
doesn't like his poor life ...
There
is a very big difference between the two movies. The common point :
Statross Reichmann. But it's not necessary to see Statross 1 to see
Statross 2. I would say it's like Troll. You have no links between
Troll and Troll 2.
In 2007, you made J'Aimerais,
j'Aimerais, a film you also directed. A few words about that one ... It
was a tragical experimental and musical short movie about love between
too colored men in a little town of province. It' was the first time in
France that a moviemaker talked about this kind of story …
Any
other films I forgot to mention ? None for the moment ! Any future film projects we
can look forward to ? Yes of course. Statross le Magnifique
3. My new movie will be the drama of a old gay man in Paris.
After I will make a romantic dark movie about the love between a white
young woman and a South African vampire…I will realize a movie with Jean
Guidoni too, a famous French singer.
Your films are usually labelled as gay
interest movies. Does that at all bother you or do you embrace that
label ? It's very problematic. I don't like ghetto. I want
to be honest : Presently I make movies about the love between men but
that's not really gay. Anyway, I'm not a big success in gay community in
France cause a lot of gay people want to have romantic and commercial
stories. I'm too dark, too strange. A lot of people who like my movies
are white and straights. It's very interesting, no? Your influences as a director, writer and actor ? I
don't think I'm really an actor, it's just a necessity cause I don't find
an actor, it's very difficult in France. My influences : Rémi Lange, of
course, Catherine Breillat, Fassbinder, Pasolini, the Z-movies, B-movies, John Waters …and Walt Disney … Your
favourite films, both recent and all-time favourites ? I
like The Lord of Rings very much. The Black Cauldron too.
Querelle, by
Fassbinder. I like Gremlins, Troll, Critters, Dracula by Coppola. The
movie of François Ozon. I like Sleeping Beauty by Disney … My
Parents,
by Rémi Lange.
Apart
from your films, you are also a singer and musician. What can you tell us
about your music and where can one listen to it ? Yes, I've
got a global work, or career. It's chanson française. With
piano. You can listen to it at http://www.myspace.com/jannhalexander
... and if you want to buy, you can contact me, jannhalexander@yahoo.fr ! Anything else
I have forgotten to mention but you're just dieing to tell us ? No,
I just want to say MERCI to you, cause I like the concept of your
website. Thanks
for the interview.
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