Filming was like a marathon

Roy Dupuis plays the leading role in the comedy C’est pas moi, c’est l’autre, a film that allows the actor to demonstrate his talent for humour. He claims to have had a great time making the film.

“We took the time to have fun, even though the film was shot in 25 days (which is not very long) and it was a something of a marathon. Meeting people was fun and the crew were fun; we had quite a laugh.” The actor hasn’t done a comedy since 1997, since Claude Fournier’s film J’en Suis with Patrick Huard and Charlotte Laurier. This time co-starring with Lucie Laurier, he plays a rather inept burglar who has criminals hot on his heels, and who is mistaken for a policeman who’s like his twin.

“I read the screenplay and liked it. Something in it aroused my curiosity. And I knew that Anémone was going to be on the project. She’s an actress for whom I have a lot of respect. I wanted to meet her and work with her.”

So, a passion for the screenplay, even though director Alain Zaloum is said to have waited a little over a month before obtaining a definite response from the actor. “A film – as my father used to say talking about hockey – is played on the ice. Once I’m on the set and in costume I often add things, if I’m inspired by an object, by a sentence spoken by another actor,” he explains. “I never choose a film according to genre. I think it depends above all on the story, the characters, the director, the people who make the film. It’s all teamwork. But from the start, on reading the screenplay, the story must engage me, be it a comedy, a drama, a fantasy or science fiction.”

Roy says he particularly enjoyed working with singer/actor Luck Mervil, who plays the role of his best friend in the film. He didn’t know him before, but the relationship between them was quickly established. “Luck really wanted to play this character and he came full of ideas. It was good to get to know him.”

As for Lucie Laurier, Roy met up with her again 11 years after working with her on the film C’était le 12 du 12 et Chili avait les blues. When asked if he had problems seeing himself on the big screen at premieres, Roy stated: “When I see the film it bothers me; I see the cuts, the technicalities, what they’ve done with the film compared with what I had in my head. I’m never totally satisfied.”

As for the Maurice Richard film project, whose screenplay has been written by Ken Scott (La grande séduction), it seems to be going well. All indications are that Roy will reprise the role he has already played in the television series. 2005 is likely to be a very busy year for Roy if all his film projects materialise, but he has nevertheless planned a bit of a break in January. “I’m going to Honduras to sail with a friend who is quite experienced in navigation. This is in preparation for sailing round the world in three or four years.”