In the fall of 2022, the novelty Before the Crash made a huge impression on viewers by addressing issues everyone could relate to, namely the obsession with power and money, and more broadly, ambition and the pursuit of happiness.
This first season featured imaginative production, stunning scenes and amazing performances. In addition, last March, comedian Éric Bruneau received the Zapette d’or du Wow of the Year, awarded by the team at C’est just de la TV, for his performances in Avant le crash, Virage – Double Fault and The Night Laurier Gaudreault Awakened .
Building on its success, the series was recently, unsurprisingly, confirmed for a second season, to our delight. Filming is underway in and around Montreal. We wanted to hear some news that kind director Stéphane Lapointe kindly shared with us, giving us a glimpse of an even snappier sequel.
“The shooting is intense, but in the usual good mood,” he tells us immediately. “I find my long-term employees, all just as talented as they are pleasant, not a bad atmosphere on this set, that’s important.” Such a climate promotes everyone’s creativity, and of course everyone wants to be there. When it comes to photography, I find my old accomplice Mathieu Laverdière, with whom I designed the All About Me series 17 years ago. He is a master. »
He describes his creative approach in this way: “Building on the success of the first season, I’m sure I’ll approach this new shoot with confidence and a desire to break new ground and go even further creatively.” For me it stays an existential thriller that speaks to us all and confronts our notions of ambition, success and achievement. What are we running for? Why are we running? I like it when the whole universe talks about the inside of the characters. In this sense I use images, light, camera movements and music to put us in certain emotional zones and moods. Without fear of sometimes leaving reality to approach the dream. If we are true, we can go far visually. As I often joke, reality is overrated. »
See here what the story of this second part will consist of.
Furthermore, the talented director – notably behind the hits “Let Go”, “A Criminal Affair” and “Different Facts” – doesn’t hesitate to speak of a plateau full of challenges when it comes to “Before the Crash”:
“Our filming began with several major production and directorial challenges. The weather didn’t help, we had to shoot golf tournament scenes on cold days and pouring rain. Everyone had to be patient and creative. On the challenges of this start of filming […]I think we shot the hottest scenes on Quebec television. “It promises!
We will recall that several scenes from the original version, in particular those involving Karine Vanasse and Émile Proulx-Cloutier, then Éric Bruneau and Marie-France Marcotte, caused quite a stir. Karine Vanasse also spoke to us here about the “sexy” side of the production.
In the second season, characters are presented “in survival mode, ready to lose everything in order to win”: “All trying to rebuild themselves in their own way. What direction will each take to find some harmony in their personal and professional lives? Will they make the same mistakes again? Will they be able to fix their past mistakes and forgive each other? asks the director.
He concludes: “For this series I have influences and references to Martin Scorsese, Gaspar Noé, Paolo Sorrentino, Ruben Öslund and Yorgos Lanthimos.” I admire the power of their staging, their criminality, their artistic freedom. There’s always that madness and authenticity and you never get bored. They create works that shape, that stay in the heart and in the memory for a long time. I hope to touch that grace sometimes. »
The promising second season of Before the crash will be presented on ICI Télé next autumn.
The first season can be read on ICI.Tou.tv’s Extra.