Jesse Mattias Guttridge
Jesse Guttridge is a young Canadian filmmaker born in Vancouver, raised in France and currently living in Paris. Growing up in a family of artists, his father being a composer and he himself playing the cello since the age of four, he felt a certain connection to other art forms, especially cinema. Having taken an interest in acting at first, he now spends his time writing films and doing everything possible to make them on his own terms, directing, editing and acting in them with the help from his family and friends and other talented actors.
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
“Un Homme Bien” is a psychological horror short about a young man by the name of Ethan who works as an online journalist. Life as Ethan knows ends abruptly as the people he trusted and loved all turn against him. When everything is lost it would seem that the only thing left to lose is one’s mind, and to stay good in a world full of bad is a losing battle.
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
I have often noticed a talent for acting in very close friends of mine, most of them being
sensitive creative musicians. I knew that I would appreciate working with them not only
because of the requirements of long shoots mostly during nights; but seeing as we know
each other and are able to connect and communicate well, for a project of such serious
subject matter and difficulty, I preferred knowing my actors on a personal level.
How did you communicate with the cameraman?
The moments when I wasn’t holding the camera myself, I would go over the shot and make sure what we had was exactly what I imagined. All the while I would be very open to hearing new ideas and ways to film a certain scene.
What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
I am very familiar with Montmartre, a beautiful area of Paris known for its unique streets and interesting un-city-like sites. I knew that the long winding streets would make for a nice separation between the main character’s home life and where we filmed his work. Courbevoie, an area just off of La Defense, Paris’ business district, was for us the best place that could appear neighborhood-like with a side of cold business for Ethan’s work.
Why should distributors buy your film?
“Un Homme Bien'' is a film I wrote, directed and spent a year of my life creating with only the help of my closest friends and my family. With its strong teamwork and no budget, it still possesses the quality of a large budget film without straying far from an experimental "rough” horror environment. This along with its goose-bump inducing music and sound design, its convincing performances and special effects: “Un Homme Bien” paves the way for a path that many fans of horror and psychological dramas would enjoy walking down for an unusual yet unique experience.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your
work?
I use Ethan’s Metaphysical character as an expression element, his alter ego that gives up and gives in to every darkest urge that comes from a lifetime or pain and negativity. His life is characterized as a lifelike nightmare in which neither the beginning nor the end is distinguished.
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
I am waiting for the coming year to hear back from specific festivals. Other than that, I've had a couple of small screenings in some cultural spots in Paris.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
As well as having a father and brother in film composition, film has always been very important in my family. Being shown only the best from the youngest age, I just fell in love and have been making movies since I was 10 years old. I feel like I have many stories to tell and lots of messages to share with the world. I would love to do it by film.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
How could I not say Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 for its sheer brilliance and capacity to make such a human story through a sci-fi “AI” led adventure. And I would have to mention most of the cohen Brother movies, especially The Big lebowski for their capacity to capture your full attention with simple stories and amazingly interesting and unique characters that can help but hit close to heart. These movies are really what made me fall in love with filmmaking.
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
I like to deal with the gray spot we often find ourselves between courage and selfishness. The never ending path we walk on, as various people join us. The hard lesson is that some people will drop off whether you want them to or need them to. And to be able to continue walking with just enough tunnel vision on our destination, it takes the strongest will and the right mindset towards others. I find that the human experience is so fascinating, because everyone goes through a different version, and only some come out at the end. And we all find a way to go through it and for some, filmmaking is one way, and the kind of film reflects the way we see this experience. That is why I am not alway married to making that experience dramatic. I truly believe that you can cover these serious topics in any kind of way and genre.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
I have found that I am open to shooting different stories as different genres. It comes to me with how I feel a subject should be covered. I love horror when it comes to covering the unknown in the universe. How our brain perceives and how events can change a person. The unknown is so terrifying to me and even more when it’s impossible to figure out. However, when it comes to serious subjects that we face in our world everyday, I enjoy a healthy mixture between drama and comedy.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I’ve been writing feature length scripts since the age of fourteen. With a few stories to tell, some funny, some heartbreaking; I’m just waiting for the moment I have that opportunity to tell them.
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
I started playing music at the age of four, and it’s truly been an art form that boosts me and makes me more open in general. I’ve played cello since I was four and taught myself electric bass once I was fifteen. Now whenever I’m not on set, I’m playing with my band “Les Cas Perdus”: lescasperdus.com
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I have another short and a feature I hope to shoot in the near future. Those who follow my work won’t be disappointed, there’s plenty more to come!
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/OUH6gBI7cuA?si=xf0pS95X5FVwYVCO
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12482751/?ref_=nmbio_ov
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
“Un Homme Bien” is a psychological horror short about a young man by the name of Ethan who works as an online journalist. Life as Ethan knows ends abruptly as the people he trusted and loved all turn against him. When everything is lost it would seem that the only thing left to lose is one’s mind, and to stay good in a world full of bad is a losing battle.
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
I have often noticed a talent for acting in very close friends of mine, most of them being
sensitive creative musicians. I knew that I would appreciate working with them not only
because of the requirements of long shoots mostly during nights; but seeing as we know
each other and are able to connect and communicate well, for a project of such serious
subject matter and difficulty, I preferred knowing my actors on a personal level.
How did you communicate with the cameraman?
The moments when I wasn’t holding the camera myself, I would go over the shot and make sure what we had was exactly what I imagined. All the while I would be very open to hearing new ideas and ways to film a certain scene.
What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
I am very familiar with Montmartre, a beautiful area of Paris known for its unique streets and interesting un-city-like sites. I knew that the long winding streets would make for a nice separation between the main character’s home life and where we filmed his work. Courbevoie, an area just off of La Defense, Paris’ business district, was for us the best place that could appear neighborhood-like with a side of cold business for Ethan’s work.
Why should distributors buy your film?
“Un Homme Bien'' is a film I wrote, directed and spent a year of my life creating with only the help of my closest friends and my family. With its strong teamwork and no budget, it still possesses the quality of a large budget film without straying far from an experimental "rough” horror environment. This along with its goose-bump inducing music and sound design, its convincing performances and special effects: “Un Homme Bien” paves the way for a path that many fans of horror and psychological dramas would enjoy walking down for an unusual yet unique experience.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your
work?
I use Ethan’s Metaphysical character as an expression element, his alter ego that gives up and gives in to every darkest urge that comes from a lifetime or pain and negativity. His life is characterized as a lifelike nightmare in which neither the beginning nor the end is distinguished.
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
I am waiting for the coming year to hear back from specific festivals. Other than that, I've had a couple of small screenings in some cultural spots in Paris.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
As well as having a father and brother in film composition, film has always been very important in my family. Being shown only the best from the youngest age, I just fell in love and have been making movies since I was 10 years old. I feel like I have many stories to tell and lots of messages to share with the world. I would love to do it by film.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
How could I not say Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 for its sheer brilliance and capacity to make such a human story through a sci-fi “AI” led adventure. And I would have to mention most of the cohen Brother movies, especially The Big lebowski for their capacity to capture your full attention with simple stories and amazingly interesting and unique characters that can help but hit close to heart. These movies are really what made me fall in love with filmmaking.
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
I like to deal with the gray spot we often find ourselves between courage and selfishness. The never ending path we walk on, as various people join us. The hard lesson is that some people will drop off whether you want them to or need them to. And to be able to continue walking with just enough tunnel vision on our destination, it takes the strongest will and the right mindset towards others. I find that the human experience is so fascinating, because everyone goes through a different version, and only some come out at the end. And we all find a way to go through it and for some, filmmaking is one way, and the kind of film reflects the way we see this experience. That is why I am not alway married to making that experience dramatic. I truly believe that you can cover these serious topics in any kind of way and genre.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
I have found that I am open to shooting different stories as different genres. It comes to me with how I feel a subject should be covered. I love horror when it comes to covering the unknown in the universe. How our brain perceives and how events can change a person. The unknown is so terrifying to me and even more when it’s impossible to figure out. However, when it comes to serious subjects that we face in our world everyday, I enjoy a healthy mixture between drama and comedy.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I’ve been writing feature length scripts since the age of fourteen. With a few stories to tell, some funny, some heartbreaking; I’m just waiting for the moment I have that opportunity to tell them.
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
I started playing music at the age of four, and it’s truly been an art form that boosts me and makes me more open in general. I’ve played cello since I was four and taught myself electric bass once I was fifteen. Now whenever I’m not on set, I’m playing with my band “Les Cas Perdus”: lescasperdus.com
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I have another short and a feature I hope to shoot in the near future. Those who follow my work won’t be disappointed, there’s plenty more to come!
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/OUH6gBI7cuA?si=xf0pS95X5FVwYVCO
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12482751/?ref_=nmbio_ov