Adrian Moyse Dullin of THE RIGHT WORDS: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker
Learn to enjoy solitude! As an auteur, a writer, you spent a lot of time alone dreaming and working on your project. At first it’s a massive obstacle, after a while you finish to enjoy it and to find that it’s the condition of any creation.
As a part of our series called “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker”, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Adrian Moyse Dullin.
Taking place within the confines of a chaotic city bus, The Right Words (Haut les Coeurs) is about seizing the moment, taking chances and about writing your own narrative. A microcosm filled with teens and their raging hormones, this debut short throws cupid off its course and then more. Among the ten films in competition for the Short Film Palme d’Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, French filmmaker Adrian Moyse Dullin‘s short would then be selected for a slew of international fests including the 2022 online edition of the Sundance Film Festival. It would then be programmed for Clermont and win a prize there. I got to speak to chat with the filmmaker directly after the fest discussing how he charted his young protagonist’s journey, how he worked within the confined space alongside cinematographer Augustin Barbaroux and the he spun Mahdi and Jada narratives.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit of the ‘backstory’ of how you grew up? Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
First of all, I have to say that I’m French, so I’m sorry for my English !
I grew up in the suburbs of Lyon, France. My teenage years were very tough. I moved to Paris at the age of 18, because I wanted to “run away”.
I can share one thing from my childhood: my father was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer when I was 3 years old. He died when I was 15. At home it was very complicated, emotionally and financially. It determined a lot of who I am today and the choices I made.
I think I write and share stories now for the kid I was back then, to testimony his point of view, his look and emotion at that time. That’s also probably why I’m so interested in stories and movies from a kid’s point of view.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your filmmaking career?
I made my first fiction short film at the age of 34. Sometimes, it takes time to allow ourselves to create, not to be shameful. And specially to create something from yourself, from who you are, with your own sincerity. Sometimes, It takes time to find your sincerity, to connect with your desire. Not to be ashamed of who you are and what you write and create.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Well, other artists that I met along the road. Makes me understand that it’s ok to be “slow”. Creation is a process, you grow up with your film, with your script, with your material.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I’m inspired by many quotes ! I love quotes! Right now, and It’s a good transition with what I was saying before, I love Oscar Wilde “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”.
I love it because it’s funny, ironic and so true in terms of creation. The more sincere, specific and particular you are, the more your story will be universal.
I am very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Well it’s more than important, it’s necessary. Storytellers create character’s archetypes. They create fiction that children and young generations integrate.
As a child I can say that some films have a massive impact on me and on the way I build myself. I can quote “Titanic” “The lion king”, “The full monty”…
Screenwriters have the responsibility to create new archetypes and ask themselves how to create new values, new characters and new types of heroes (and anti heroes). They have to.
Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Well, I’m thinking of one thing. Learn to enjoy solitude! As an auteur, a writer, you spent a lot of time alone dreaming and working on your project. At first it’s a massive obstacle, after a while you finish to enjoy it and to find that it’s the condition of any creation.
Be patient also. In the “auteur cinema” it takes a lot of time to make a film. And it’s ok. It’s good to take time to write and think about your project, its form and philosophy.
When you create a film, which stakeholders have the greatest impact on the artistic and cinematic choices you make? Is it the viewers, the critics, the financiers, or your own personal artistic vision? Can you share a story with us or give an example about what you mean?
It’s an association of many things. At first, and during all the creation of the film, the most important thing to follow is your desire and intuition. Cause you made a film to speak about something you want to personally share. So you have to always remember and ask yourself why “me” I wanted to share this story. When you doubt or you’re lost, you always have to go back to your initial desire. The producer and all the crew at first are here because they want you to share the personal vision, your specific point of view.
And at one point, your personal vision has to become emotional and entertaining. At that moment you need to have artists and professionals around you, a smart team that understands what the film needs to be better, more emotional, more engaging. And at this point the creation begins to be a discussion between your desire and your team’s point of view. So I would say that any significant participant is important because they’re part of the discussion.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Well, I’m very curious and I love to meet people ! A lot of people inspire me.. If I had to choose one, I would pick Xavier Dolan.
How can our readers further follow you online?
On my Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/adrian_moyse_dullin/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Adrian Moyse Dullin of THE RIGHT WORDS: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.