New Artist Week: The Big Ten with Film Director/Producer Chris Lagarce

Interview by JayUp

Here at The Higher Plane, we like to consider ourselves somewhat of a “canvas” for up and coming artists to show their work. Traditionally, we have only covered musical artists, but we were recently able to sit down with talented film director/producer Chris Lagarce, a 2005 graduate from Southern Illinois University. Chris is from southern Illinois, but also has experience working in various cities around the country. He has been able to produce some impressive films and commercials for SIU. Bon appetite…


THP: We usually cover stories and interviews with musical artists, but as of late, we would like to expand our reach to those who we consider artists in other areas. You definitely fit that mold. Tell us how you saw your future as a youth. I mean, did you always have aspirations to become a film producer/director?

CL: For the most part, yes. I knew I wanted to be in entertainment. I use to make small skits on a VHS camcorder when I was a kid. I also watched tons of films when I was a kid. I still do. I watch at least a film a day.

THP: What were some of your influences as a youth? Are there any documentaries, movies or commercials that you can look back on now and say, “That definitely had a big impact on me?"

CL: Absolutely, I’ll keep this brief and not name every piece that influenced me, but as far as cool directors I loved Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, Chris Cunningham, Jonathan Glazer, Patrick Daughters, Garth Davis, David Cronenberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, Coen Brothers etc. I mean that is all I really do is take what I think is so fascinating about their work and try to incorporate it into my stuff. I’m a creative biter.

THP: Since we are a website that focuses heavily on music, what were some of the musical influences in your life coming up? We all have those songs or albums that make us reminisce about middle school or high school. I know you have some.

CL: That’s another long list. As far as what music I listened to growing up I would say Radiohead, Beastie Boys, and Nine Inch Nails. That’s one of those things that always changes though. Like right now, I’m listening to Ennio Morricone, Madlib, MF Doom, Aerial Pink, Prefuse 73. Last month, it was sixties Brazillian surf bands and The Delfonics. I don’t sit still with music. If it’s really good I listen to it.

THP: As a fellow Saluki (shout out to those Southern Illinois boys) I have to ask, what made you choose SIU as your college of choice? Was there anything that sold you on the school, specifically in your major of choice, or any other areas?

CL: My major was the one sole decision for me going to SIU. I actually went to high school in Carbondale. When it came time for college I wanted to leave bad, and I was set on U of I, but for what? I didn’t want to do anything but go into film, I already knew that, and that meant SIU. I don’t think I would’ve fit in at U of I, it’s not known for it’s art scene.

THP: At what point were you able to finally branch out to produce and direct your own commercials and films? And what did you learn about the process that you might not have known otherwise?

CL: Well I was given the opportunity to do any and everything through Barking Dawg Production. I was living in Chicago looking for freelance. I came home to visit, bumped into this guy Ryan Claypool, and he hooked me up with a job. This thing was just two guys in a room at the time. I got to do everything by getting in on Barking Dawg when it just starting, everyone was on equal ground, we just had this attitude that was “sure why not, lets do that." It was a learn as you go world, every project we did got just a little better.

THP: I’m glad we got a chance to chat because I remember sitting in my apartment one day (down in Carbondale), and this extremely dope commercial came on TV featuring Bryan Mullins, SIU’s starting point guard. It was something I had never seen before, and something I most definitely did not expect out of SIU. What was your thought process and inspiration for that particular commercial?

CL: Athletics came to us and said they would like a tickets sales piece to get seats filled for the new season. Our only stipulation was that it had to be no more than 30 seconds. We thought well we could just make a nice safe ad that was like, “come to games have a nice day” and it would be forgotten about in a month, lost in the barrage of other commercials just like it. Or we could make a serious piece that frankly could scare the shit out of people. Something where people would be like, “what was that, what just happened, I don’t know but I’m interested." It’s important to ruffle people’s feathers. I think Ryan named it Second Nature, and we made a storyline about the split second decisions an athlete has to make in a game. Something to bridge the gap between academics and athletics.

THP: On your website, you cover an array of things in your productions. Do you feel you have a specialty area in filming such as sports, or do you enjoy trying your hand in anything?

CL: I have done several sports pieces because the athletics department has faith in my work and I appreciate that; but I flip flop between serious pieces and funny pieces. I used to film short comedy skits and I really want to get back into that. I don’t have a specialty, nor want to. It’s a lot like the music I listen to, it changes all the time. Some months I want to shoot serious, some months not. I’m bipolar when it comes to projects I want to do.

THP: Out of all the commercials and films that you completed while attending Southern Illinois, which project or film would you consider your flagship? Meaning which one is your best work, in your opinion?

CL: I don’t think that is something I can answer, they all are different, I don’t have a favorite. I can tell you the hardest one’s to shoot were the One Place ads because every scene was somewhere different with completely different people, it took a long time to shoot. My most quintessential piece was called “imouth”, it’s an old piece that isn’t on my site yet. “imouth” was the first time I used graphics, it was my biggest learning experience; and I think my most creative piece would be my crude cartoons, because they don’t have any production value and are just crazy rants. Sorry that didn’t really answer your question.

THP: You were able to put together another classic commercial for the SIU men’s hoop team. It featured footage from the Midnight Madness dunk contest in 2008. This is might be my favorite film. Let’s take a look . . .

THP: Within any field of work, there are those who set the standard. Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, Bill Gates, and so on. Who are some of the people in your profession that you look up to? What makes these people so good at what they do?

CL: Well like I said to the question about “Who are some of my favorite directors” those are some examples of people I really admire. But in general, people that are able to have a successful profession at creating innovative entertainment are who I look up to. It is a fantasy job to be able to have an idea for, say a music video, then get people to give you a lot of money to make it, then have it be popular because it was a good idea. I mean that takes a special type of person. Besides a bunch of famous directors, there are some great people coming out of the SIU program today. There’s a group called Magic Hugs, which consists of two guys that make hilarious shorts online, and they are getting huge buzz from everywhere, they make comedy look easy.

THP: Now that you’ve completed your time at SIU and have moved on, give us an idea of what you’ve been up to. What can we expect from Chris Lagarce in the near future? Looking a little further down the road, what would you like to be doing 10 or 20 years from now?

CL: Well right now I’m finishing up a music video that has long been postpones, and I also want to film some webisode skits I had written a while ago. That’s what is on the front burner, but as far as long term I guess directing or producing. I don’t know what to expect with this economic crisis baring down on the creative fields right now. I’m considering even going back to school to get a degree in producing. And as far as where, maybe LA, I don’t necessarily like a lot of LA, but it is a place consumed with the business I want to pursue.

OT:
Your top 3 movies of all time:

Uhhh… Vertigo, There Will Be Blood, and Ghostbusters 2

Pick a group: Victoria’s Secret models, Playboy Bunnies, or the Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleaders?

Victoria’s Secret models because there is a chance I could hold a conversation with one of them.

THP: Hey Chris, We appreciate you letting us take a glimpse into your world. Best of luck with everything.

Anytime, Cheers

Web: http://chrislagarce.com
E-Mail: chris.lagarce@gmail.com