“I’m looking for a boat to sail round the world in”

This week, Roy Dupuis attended the launch of the original soundtrack of Jack Paradise, of which he is the star. The film will be released on 20 February. The soundtrack, Jack Paradise – Montreal Nights, features the great vocal talents of Dawn Taylor Watson, who also appears in the film. In short, this ode to the jazz of another era is delightful and very delicious.

Roy, do you listen to jazz at home?

It’s one of the musical styles I like. I quite like all styles, even disco which I find interesting because it depicts an era.

What track or artist do you have in mind?

The songs of the Bee Gees which are fun to listen to sometimes, they’re funny  and remind me of people I’ve known. (he smiles) I’ve never been to a disco, but today I think that this music defines an era. Personally I prefer other styles, all the way from classical to electro-acoustic. I can even listen to good country.

You can’t have a lot of spare time at the moment, can you, because you seem to be doing quite a lot of filming?

Yes, I’m getting ready for a excellent film, I think, a very interesting one.

Mémoires affectives, by Francis Leclerc?

Yes. It’s unusual, and I’m sort of in that place at the moment.

What’s the story of the film?

A guy comes out of a coma and he’s forgotten everything. He tries to find out who he is, but some bits of information don’t match up. So he becomes … (he laughs) more and more mixed up, until he discovers just what is happening.

What was it that particularly attracted you to the script?

The script is constructed like an amazing puzzle. It’s not The Sixth Sense, but it’s that sort of film. There’s mystery, fantasy, but it remains an auteur film.

Do you have filming bulimia, or is that just the impression we get?

Last year I did three films. It’s maybe too many, but they’re projects I couldn’t say no to. You see, in the case of Jack Paradise, my character is there throughout the whole film but, in terms of time, it wasn’t very demanding. Jack is an introvert, he expresses himself through the piano. The film has an unusual style. Afterwards, there was Manners of Dying. That I really couldn’t say no to.

What is Manners of Dying about?
The action happens on death-row. The film is written and directed by Jeremy Peter Allen and is inspired by a short story by Yann Martel. After that I went on to Monica la mitraille, where my role amounts to a bit part. So filming hasn’t signified that much work for me.

As an actor who went off for four and a half years to Toronto, are you in a position to notice the buzz that seems to surround Quebecois cinema at the moment? Is there more work around?

I don’t really think that there are more shoots. Quebec has always been very prolific. I believe that at any given moment the number of film productions per capita is comparable to that of India. (he smiles) But certainly lately, well, there are films that have been more … successful commercially. Maybe that’s what gives the impression that there are more of them.

You and I have spoken on occasion about the little world you are building for yourself year after year on your land, on your estate, in the country. How’s the development of your territory going?

(Silence) It’s coming along. (he smiles) It’s not finished, I have enough left for … a lifetime. That’s the whole point of it. But for the moment  I’m caught up in sailing. I’m looking for a boat to sail round the world in, which I’ll do maybe with a view to making a documentary. I’ve several ideas. We’ll see. (he smiles)