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Allocine Interview #1

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Samuel Interviews
Allocine Interview #1

January 29, 2001 Interview

Allocine: If you had not become an actor, what would you have been?

Samuel: A mechanic.

Allocine: What was your first exposure to the cinema?

Samuel: I was four years old. My uncle was baby-sitting. Rather than keep me at the house, he took me along with him to the cinema.

Allocine: Who is your actor of reference?

Samuel: Bruce Willis (laughs). I was going to go bald to test the limits (hard to translate). I am just kidding. Robert De Niro is perhaps my favorite actor.

Allocine: What is your best professional memory to date?

Samuel: It is difficult to chose one. I would say the day when I again took the part of 'Deal With Amelie' with the Comedie-Francaise. I had very little time to prepare. It was a very intense experience.

Allocine: What is your favorite film?

Samuel: 'The Man of Rio' (L'homme de Rio). I liked everything about this film; the tone, mood, the work of Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Allocine: What is your professional desire?

Samuel: To work with Francois Truffaut.

Allocine: What meeting determined your career path?

Samuel: (He hesitates) Bertrand Tavernier (they worked together on 'Captain Conan' in 1996).

Allocine: What was your first line?

Samuel: It was for television. I was to say to Florent Pagny; 'Are going with the sports service now?' (bursts out laughing). Really enthralling, isn't it?

Allocine: Your first casting call?

Samuel: A bad memory. I had answered an advertisement in 'Release'. I went there with a buddy and we were asked to strip off our clothes. That one slipped by...

Allocine: Briefly, what is 'Le Pact des Loups'?

Samuel: In two words, it is the history of the beast of Gevaudan.

Allocine: Your role in the movie?

Samuel: I play a chevalier (knight, lesser nobleman) who has returned from the Americas. My master, upon request of the king, sends me to inquire into a series of mysterious murders. Murders obviously commited by a wild beast. I carry out this investigation in a very meticulous manner. I imagine that my character would use many of the same techniques used by the FBI of today. I take measurements of the animal prints and marks. My work is also connected with that of a naturalist and botanist.

Allocine: Do you have particular memories of the movie shoot?

Samuel: I have many. But if I were to chose it would be the filming of combat scenes at 1,500 meters altitude, in March, in the Pyrenees. We received 80,000 liters of water on the head. The tankers took turns to provide water and keep it constant. By the time we were finished, we were in 50 centimeters of mud, exhausted and cold and stiff. We had diving suits under our costumes, but we were soaked all of the time. The only moments we were warm were those when we were fighting!

Allocine: Your next project?

Samuel: Nothing precise. There may be a sequel to 'Jet Set' but nothing has been written yet. It would be a pleasure to work with Bruno Solor, Jose Garcia or Lambert Wilson for another episode.

'Allocine' Interview #1 Link