Roman DOPOURIDIS et Thomas BLUMENTHAL
Film directors

Thomas and Roman received a writing grant for their next short film. 

Interview of Thomas Blumenthal
What is your artistic background ?
My artistic career actually started quite early. From the age of eight, my father took me to the Cannes Film Festival and I soon came into contact with the madness of French cinema. My father produced 30 feature films, so I was immersed in this world from a very early age. I never wanted him to help me find roles, but he gave me a lot of advice and above all made me want to work. Since I was very young, I have been taking acting lessons, I was part of the famous Dirty Kids company, a company of child actors, with whom I toured all over France and had fabulous experiences. There I was spotted by a casting director, who tried me out for Les Choristes, my first film role. I haven't stopped since, with, of course, quieter periods, but the day I set foot on a set, I told myself that this job was for me. I then played in a few TV films, then I landed my first big film role with La Crème de la Crème, which remains my greatest filming memory to this day. Then I met Roman, we became very close and co-wrote and co-directed our first short film La Tortue. This year, I have two beautiful projects as an actor and I am working on my first short film which I wrote for a very famous actor with whom I wanted to work. I am also working with Roman on the adaptation of the feature film La Tortue. We hesitated for a long time but many people asked us to do it so we decided to go for it.   

How do you see your profession today ?
My view of this profession is quite special because I experienced it through my father, who brought me into contact with previews, filming, etc very early on. I have a very special way of looking at it. I remain convinced that acting is the best profession in the world, even if you have to be wary of it. If you have talent, do things in your corner, you will surprise people. I think they like mystery and that should be cultivated. I don't actually have many friends in this world, but those I have are real friends. When you shoot for two months, you form very strong relationships. A set gives a pretty unique feeling and then suddenly you don't hear from these people, it's very strange and it can be very painful. So you have to learn from all this, protect yourself and strengthen yourself. My motto in life is to be strong and I try to apply it more and more. Being an actor means knowing how to manage waiting periods, those when you feel that nobody wants you. And then there are wonderful people with whom you form an unbreakable bond. The two shoots I'm about to do are being directed by two of my best friends who have written custom roles for me. What could be better than getting up in the morning to go and work with real friends! It's such a reassuring energy that really pushes you to create! 

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
In five years: I think I will have 14 children, in 14 different countries. Ah yes, I would also like to have a huge house with aquarium walls, full of fish, and a room with my 10 Oscars, my 15 Cesars and all the mothers of my children. No, I'm joking, I think that in five years’ time I'll still be the same fool but calmer.

Interview of Roman Dopouridis
What is your artistic background ?
I went to theatre school, where I met Thomas. At that time we wrote a few sketches and comedy playlets. I also gave theatre classes which allowed me to direct small plays. The writing came later, it started when I met Thomas.

How do you see your profession today ?
Today, with new technologies, it is increasingly easy to create your own projects, but paradoxically it remains difficult to become more professional because of the difficulty in obtaining substantial funding.

How do you see yourself in 5 years ? In 10 years ?
No predictions, I try to live in the present.

This interview was conducted in 2017
Photo credit: Antonin Amy-Menichetti