A documentary feature about the French writer-director Michel Gondry is in the works, according to an exclusive story in Variety.
To be directed by François Nemeta, Michel Gondry: Do It Yourself will be an 80-minute film about the acclaimed director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It also will focus on Gondry’s latest film, The Book of Solutions, which was featured at this year’s Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. Described as an “off-beat existential comedy,” Solutions was the first film Gondry had made in eight years; it stars Pierre Niney and Blanche Gardin.
Nemeta’s upcoming documentary is a project of Reservoir Docs, which will handle all streaming and broadcast rights as well as festival and other non-commercial screenings.
The new film will be produced by Olivier de Bannes at O2B Films and Robin Acard at The Red Ceiling; co-producer will be ARTE France.
In announcing the new film, Reservoir Docs’ partner Anaïs Clanet said the company was “attracted by [its] creation, fun and quality” and “couldn’t be happier to highlight Michel’s talent around the world.” He added that both Do It Yourself and Solutions would “help buyers acquire both hopefully and [allow them to] have a real insight on Michel’s working process, a process really being one of a kind.”
The producers of Michel Gondry: Do It Yourself joined Clanet in expressing their enthusiasm, declaring: “For the production of this documentary, we had the great opportunity to have Michel on board with us, as well as many of the international talents – musicians and actors – with whom he’s been working during his 30 years long-lasting career. It’s amazing to realize how many images from Michel are now part of the common memory! Through Michel’s life, the film is also a strong call to creation… whatever one’s background.
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In addition to his films, Gondry has directed music videos for major performing artists, including Bjork, the Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Paul McCartney, Metronomy, Radiohead, the Rolling Stones, and the White Stripes.