The MAMMOUTH evening is a passion project that brings together many talented people. It’s a well-coordinated team for which Hélène Girard, who has worked there since the first edition, is full of praise. As head of the non-fiction niche at Pamplemousse (the France Beaudoin company), she was involved in the development ofWe’ll tell each otherfrom Back to culturefrom I come to you with Marc Labrèche as well We’ll pick up tomorrow with Pier-Luc Funk arriving on our airwaves soon. This means she’s not afraid of crazy projects! Thanks to MAMMOUTH, she marvels at the intelligence and generosity of teenagers and their colleagues as they work miracles to create one of the most celebratory and meaningful evenings on our television.
Photo provided by Télé-Québec
Can you tell me about the evolution of MAMMOUTH as it surpasses Gala today? It is now a platform that is fed all year round.
It is a movement that started very small, even the name was difficult to implement in the beginning. We’ve worked hard to build our reputation. We went to school from the first year. Today the doors are wide open. Everyone recognizes the importance of this meeting, where young people can express themselves freely. It is a relationship of trust that we have built with them, a real community in which they feel respected and listened to. They know that their word will be kept fairly and honestly. MAMMOUTH are also artists who care about young people who want to reach them and their parents. We recognize that this leads to extremely important discussions. We are more aware of the impact MAMMOUTH has at the table and in conversations. It is a movement that is growing.
The MAMMOUTH evening is halfway between a gala and a Bye. How do you determine the content?
The researchers are doing incredible work. We meet more than a thousand young people across Quebec, be it in Gatineau, Saguenay, Sherbrooke or Abitibi. You will be given a questionnaire. There are discussions associated with this. Young people also speak up online when we don’t have the opportunity to go to their class. You will be asked to suggest actions that have inspired you throughout the year. This resulted in 15 nominations. The show is being created at the same time with the two content producers and authors Jean-François Fontaine (director), because all these encounters inspire us a lot for the content of the evening. There are expressions that young people and schools recognize because we have used them literally.
What concerns have young people expressed to you? Do you feel like there have been trends in recent years?
The environment is a very big issue. But there is a development. We used to feel a desire to change something, and now we feel a sense of helplessness. There is a shift in their speech. They tell us, “We can’t bear all the burden. » Mental health is a recurring problem. This year they talked to us about inflation. It was the first time. They wonder if they can leave their parents’ house. You have a feeling for the indigenous population and want to find out more. There are also LGBTQ+ issues and racism. They are very afraid of backlash on certain issues. They are aware that we still have to talk about it and fight about it. MAMMOUTH, it’s funny but also extremely touching.
It’s a band of animators who are committed. Do you feel like they have the same concerns?
What’s annoying is that every year more and more artists want to take part in MAMMOUTH. I feel unconditional love for Sarah-Jeanne [Labrosse] and Pier Luc [Funk] that sets the tone. The handover went smoothly. The animators are exceptional. They are driven by the words of young people, but also have their own, and MAMMOUTH allows them to take a stand. This was the case with Alicia Moffet and abortion. The moderators are involved and come to brainstorm. They have the same desire for authenticity.
They say young people are not interested in Quebec culture. How do you manage to collect them?
You care more about it than you think. They call us Charlotte Cardin, Roxane Bruneau, Les bracelets rouge. Roy, Rose and Lou (Ariane Roy, Thierry Larose and Lou-Adriane Cassidy), who are also at the gala. It’s a mix of references you know, like Mario Bros, Sex Education, Billie Eilish and Barbie. We can’t stop them from consuming elsewhere. You have to work with them.
♦ The MAMMOUTH evening Friday 8 p.m. at Télé-Québec