“It’s a very special project,” says director Louis Choquette as he sits down to talk about Vestiaires, his new TV series. In any other context, this sentence would sound hollow and conventional. But today she seems sincere. Because Vestiaires brings together people we rarely see in fiction in Quebec: people with disabilities.
Published at 1:08 am. Updated at 5:54 am.
The sketch comedy was filmed at the Gadbois Centre, a leisure complex in Montreal's Sud-Ouest district, and will air on AMI-télé in the spring (beginning April 8) and possibly in a second window on Radio-Canada.
Adapted from a successful French format presented on France 2 since 2011, Vestiaires paints the portrait of a swimming club that trains in the pool every week. The cast consists of names unknown to the general public, with the exception of Dominic Sillon, member of the comedy duo Dominic and Martin. The comedian, who acts as a content producer, also belongs to the group of authors, some of whom are disabled. Because throughout the adventure, the show's production company, Sphère Média (Cerebrum, Transplant), championed the inclusion of disabled people in front of and behind the camera (artistic direction, sound, editing).
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Director Louis Choquette gives his final instructions to actors Dominic Sillon (left) and Michel Cordey before filming a scene.
“It was important for us to take their point of view,” says Josée Vallée, who produces the series with Renaud Chassé. We wanted to do something believable. »
” It is possible ”
La Presse attended the filming of a scene during their exclusive visit to the set of Vestiaires last week. We could see Dominic Sillon overdosing on caffeine and trying to hold a coherent conversation with Michel Cordey, his co-star. Like most of the actors in Vestiaires, he had no acting experience before being recruited by Louis Choquette and company.
As a ten-year-old television editor and creator of an amusing and informative YouTube channel (Tutorial with Michel), Michel Cordey is realizing a dream that he thought was unattainable through acting.
I'm having a lot of fun right now! Every day I am like a child. I can't believe I'm going through this.
Michael Cordey
The 38-year-old is wheelchair-bound due to a genetic condition called osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and welcomes Sphere Media and AMI-télé's initiative to employ disabled people to interpret disabled characters.
“What I enjoy about Vestiaires is that we show disabled people that it is possible to act on television, that there is a way. When I was young I did a lot of theater, but when I started at CEGEP 15 to 20 years ago I quickly gave it up because there was no real vacancy. »
representativeness
Quebec television has made significant strides in cultural and sexual diversity in recent years, particularly with series such as Après le déluge, Lakay Nou, Les petits rois and Sans rendez-vous.
Vestiaires is part of this line, believes Louis Choquette. “We feel like we are still in a period of change. I just finished filming the third season of Red Bracelets. The episodes feature characters with amputations who are not played by real disabled people. But it seems like something is changing. We are asking more and more questions about it. Isn't this an opportunity to seek out people who are really going through such a situation? »
Film set
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Dominic Sillon while filming a scene with Michel Cordey. In Vestiaires, Dominic Sillon plays Stéphane, the worst swimmer in the group. “He’s the one who keeps losing,” says the comedian. He's not getting any better and besides, he's a sore loser. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Marie-Christine Ricinuolo does makeup before filming her scene. Like all Vestiaires actors, the aspiring actress benefits every day from the advice of an acting coach. “It’s a great safety net,” she says.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Director Louis Choquette describes filming “Vestiaires,” which brings disabled people together in front of and behind the camera, as an “incredible human experience.” “It's really, really strong. I think it can come onto the screen and have the same effect on the viewer. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The writing group sometimes took inspiration from the actors' real journey to write customized sketches for them. Michel Cordey, who plays the role of Mike, really enjoyed the experience. “It's actually more satisfying than 10 years of therapy! »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Choreographer Jacques Poulin-Denis, who plays the role of the very competitive Charles, believes Vestiaires can attract a large audience. “I feel like you can watch the series without realizing it's about disability because it deals with fairly universal themes like romantic relationships. »
1/5
However, Louis Choquette admits that he felt “a little dizzy” at the start of the project, as he was preparing to direct a cast made up mostly of amateurs. In the interview, the director speaks of an enormous challenge, but also of an unforgettable and formative experience.
“In our little lives, Vestiaires, it is an extraordinary event, but I think it is important on a social level. For open-mindedness, tolerance… We all really need that. »
In a swimsuit!
Another special feature of Vestiaires: The scenes are performed almost exclusively in swimsuits. The series features bodies, amputations, prosthetics, etc. As for the actors, we know the importance of “spotting the difference.”
“These are things we’re not used to,” emphasizes Jacques Poulin-Denis, 45, one of the few with gaming experience. This is a big win right off the bat. »
Presenter and speaker Camille Chai, 34, knew what she was getting into when she auditioned. The aspiring actress was born without left arms and legs and “never hid.”
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Marie-Christine Ricignuolo, Camille Chai and Jacques Poulin-Denis
For me it is not vulnerable. I like swimming. It's not a problem for people to see my prosthesis.
Camille Chai
“It can allow viewers to better understand our reality,” adds Marie-Christine Ricinuolo. It can also show them that they need to stop viewing disabled people as victims. »
Dual lens
The words of Marie-Christine, speaker and contributor at AMI-télé, who lost her sight due to glaucoma in 2018, clearly reflect the goal of the team behind Vestiaires: we want to entertain but also raise awareness.
“We want to demystify disability,” explains Dominic Sillon, who has been wearing a glass eye for several years. There are people who are uncomfortable dealing with people with disabilities. They don't really know what to do. This is something I observe when I sign autographs after a show. Sometimes people hesitate to approach me because they are afraid that I will see that they are looking at my disability. »
For Louis Choquette, the humor contained in Vestiaires will be useful.
“To find disabled people on screen who have lives, who have something to say, who are able to talk about themselves and laugh about it… Everyone can win.” »
The first season of Vestiaires will be broadcast on AMI-télé from April 8th and then on ICI Tou.tv