Frédéric Pierre now wears the hats of writer and producer. The ‘Alerts’ actor will be offering his first-ever series next year, ‘Lakay Nou’ – ‘our house’ in Creole – which will chronicle the life of a Haitian family in Montreal.
The 10 episodes of this intergenerational dramatic comedy, in which he will play Fayolle Jean, Mireille Métellus and Catherine Souffront, will be filmed this summer under the direction of Ricardo Trogi, for whom it is a “historic” project in Quebec in that respect the main actors are coming from the black community.
Frédéric Pierre surrounded himself with Angelo Cadet, Marie-Hélène Lebeau-Tasseleau and Catherine Souffront to narrate the intrigues interrupted by an authentic Haitian family but dealing with universal themes. François Avard and Marie-Hélène Lebeau-Tasseleau – also a content producer – will edit the script.
“It focuses a little on the ‘sandwich’ that the children of the first generation of immigrants find themselves in,” summarized Frédéric Pierre on Tuesday, unveiling the series that will be broadcast on ICI TOU.TV EXTRA during the years 2023-2024 becomes season.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
New comedy Lakay Nou unveiled at Radio-Canada in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In this photo: Angelo Cadet, Mireille Métellus, Ricardo Trogi, Catherine Souffront, Fayolle Jean, Fréderic Pierre
Henri (Frédéric Pierre) and Myrlande (Catherine Souffront), both in their early forties, are stuck between two generations, that of their three children aged 10 to 20 who are “quintessentially Quebecois” and that of their parents of Henri, Manmi (Mireille Métellus) and Papi (Fayolle Jean), whose culture is “anchored in Haiti”. Papi started a Haitian bookshop in Montreal, which was frequented by a certain Dany Laferrière, a business we like to say, which he sold to Henri.
Manmi and Grandpa are very present in their son’s life as they live in the same twin. We therefore speak of a “slightly too tightly woven clan”. Myrlande, who comes from a wealthier family, is “the breadwinner” while “Henri is good with children,” an atypical role model in her parents’ eyes.
“It’s a little change, I found it refreshing. This confident woman will experience an important career change that mirrors my experience,” said Catherine Souffront, who was a Crown Prosecutor specializing in domestic violence before becoming an actress and writer.
identity search
There’s also “the whole identity quest of Henri and Myrlande. […] They have access to new opportunities, career changes, big “moves” and, of course, by diving, it will have an impact on the Honoré Prosper clan,” said Frédéric Pierre, who also wants to “celebrate” with “Lakay Nou”. the achievements of the black community and “be positive” by showing “[ant] another model” pours more into the “black joy”.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
In this photo: Fayolle Jean, Mireille Métellus, Catherine Souffront, Fréderic Pierre
“A comedy, I think it’s an open door to come and have a laugh with us. I also found it very sacred to want to laugh at certain traits of character in our communities. We were very inspired by our families. […] We left many characters that we know; It’s my family, it’s my father, cousins, aunts,” he said.
Of course, there’s going to be an issue of racism from people’s “unconscious biases,” whether they’re white or black, “because it’s a super nice vector of comedy,” he says.
In the context of the diversity increasingly reflected on our screens, the 32-year actor – remember 100 Watt Club – wants us to hire more and more writers and black producers. “These are super important positions if we want to continue the change that has already begun.”
We will, of course, hear Creole in Lakay Nou, a language that Frédéric Pierre speaks little but understands. “It’s a tragedy for me that the Creole translation wasn’t done perfectly,” he admitted.
Haitian actors wanted
Although several key roles have already been cast, the team is looking for more Haitian actors. It has rightly been pointed out that there is much well-known talent among young black actors, but very few over 60 or 70 years old. Interested parties can contact [email protected] until February 21, 2023.
Note that Frédéric Pierre created his own box, Productions Jumelage, the result of a partnership with KOTV producers Louis-Philippe Drolet, Louis Morissette and Mélanie Viau to keep “Lakay Nou” safe.