GET TO KNOW SUPERCLUSTER: Conversation with Leslie Dupuis-Mendel, Founder & EP of Glitch Paris

SUPERCLUSTER is not just a collective of production companies - it's a global pool of creativity, knowledge, perspectives and industry insights from all corners of the world.

As part of the upcoming Get To Know series, we dive into the unique filmmaking landscapes of each of our partner countries and discover the real stories at the heart of the collective.

In the first instalment we catch up with Leslie Dupuis-Mendel, Founder and EP of Glitch Paris, to discuss the company's mission, its commitment to championing a new generation of talent, the freedom behind producing music videos, as well as the unparalleled importance of honesty in storytelling.

What is the story behind Glitch?

Glitch was created 5 years ago. I was already working for BANDITS Production as a producer at this time, and I felt the necessity to create a new identity which was aimed more at my own generation. There was a new wave of talent happening and I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to create a young company that works with up-and-coming, talented directors and pushes them forward to create cool content.?

How do you spot the representatives of this new wave? Is there anything specific that you look for in directors' work?

There’s several things. When I see a film, it has to cause emotion. It can be any emotion - even if I don’t like it. I can then ask myself why I don’t like it, what would I like instead, etc… When I start questioning myself on a film or director’s work, that's when I know there is something interesting there.?

Then, it’s about the power of the image. Nowadays, the director has to have a very strong, impactful image. Visually, it needs to have longevity - that’s very important for me. As important, of course, as the meaning behind this image. We are telling stories so, as much as it’s good to create a very nice image, it is only a way to help tell the story. So the two must come together.?

And what sort of stories would Glitch like to tell??

I think as long as you are telling the truth, it can be anything. A story of an athlete, or a story of a family... It can be very simple, but it’s important how you tell this story and how it touches the audience. I prefer not to specify what type of stories we like, because that can be very restricting. At the end of the day, filmmaking is human relations. If it doesn’t captivate, if it doesn’t show something human, then there is no story. The most important thing about filmmaking is honesty. You have to be real.?

Are there any specific projects that you are especially proud of, and that really capture the essence of Glitch?

There is a short film called Seconde Souffle (“Second Breath” Dir. FJKO). It’s about a very famous kickboxer called Joe Prestia who used to fight in the 90’s. The story closely follows his life in the first part, and then it’s about his retirement and finding out he can’t fight anymore. We shot with Joe Prestia and we were welcomed by the entire kickboxing community. The idea is to turn it into a feature film next year.

Then, there is also an IKKS commercial which we made with Francesco Bonasia, one of our SUPERCLUSTER directors. He is an Italian director based in Paris and we shot a film with him in the South of France about the work-remote, digital generation. I’m very proud of this one because I think it represents what we want to push at Glitch on the advertising side.?

You are also heavily specialised in music videos. Was that always a conscious direction??

For sure. Music videos give directors freedom that they would never have on commercials. The real freedom to explore themselves and find out who they really are. It’s basically like a short film, on a track which you either like or don’t like. Of course we prefer to work with artists that we really like, but I’ve often produced videos where I didn’t like the music. In fact, it’s even stronger if a director doesn’t like the music, because it allows them to push their talent and create great stories.

Music videos are also a great way to approach and meet people from another industry. I think film and music must work well together because sound is just as important as the image.

It’s true that the correlation between music and film is very important. It has the power to change the visual completely.

Completely. You can have the same sequence and put two or three different music tracks in the background, and it will completely alter the emotions of the audience. I definitely want to continue doing music videos as it is part of Glitch’s vision for the future. Along with SUPERCLUSTER.?

Great segway. As one of the earliest partners on board of SUPERCLUSTER, what was it about this concept that interested you?

When I first heard about the idea, I said - I’m down. I could immediately see all the opportunities that could come out of it. Having partners around the world and helping out with service production is a very small part of what SUPERCLUSTER is. For me, production is about trust. So the fact that we are all coming together with real trust and that we are all aligned as true partners is so important.

It’s also great to have so many opinions. I can ask any of the partners for advice or ideas and get great insight. It’s a very strong asset. And, of course, being able to co-produce and create content together is something very nice.?

As the French partner, what are some unique aspects of the French filmmaking industry that you bring into the collective?

I think we have a certain tone that we bring to whatever we are creating. We have a very strong and creative cinema industry with commitment to freedom of speech - there is no taboo, we can make a film about anything. It’s something that French people really believe in. Then there’s culture - for example in Paris, you can just walk in the street and see people and art everywhere. I think that one of our strongest assets is having the opportunity to live in this cultural, historical and creative place. It’s not something you can measure - it’s just a part of it.?

Discover our global collective below and stay tuned for more insightful stories at the heart of SUPERCLUSTER.

Asymetric , AVION FILMS Athens , Be Sweet Films , Carbon Films , COURAGE Production Milan , Glitch Paris, BEING , Mamá Húngara , More Maria , Mother Media, FutureFrank? , Mr+Positive Tokyo , O2 Filmes , Reel Factory , Saltwater Films , Warsaw Production Team