(Hi I'm writing in English, but it's for a French movie with English subtitles.)

Every year, the Nikon Festival establishes a theme for short movies with a 140 second maximum. This year the theme is the "gift" because it is the 100th year anniversary of the " Nikon " company. The festival begins October 5th, a date by which we can send our movies and and viewers can begin to vote for the short films. Usually, the end of the application period is at the beginning of January and the voting is completed, mid-February. Here is the link for the page of the festival : http://www.festivalnikon.fr/?lang=fr .

As well as the video of presentation of the festival:

MY PROJECT : I AM A CREAM PUFF:

This project means a lot to me for several reasons.  

. The first reason : because it's going to be the 3rd short film since university and my 1st after my graduation.  

. The second reason is because it is an adaptation of a little story named "the wooden hand" from " Poum (adventures of a little boy) - written by Paul and Victor Marguerite, published by Plon in 1897". I discovered this short story when my mother told me that she had studied it in primary school. The fantasy in the story spoke to my inner child and made me dream. Since I read it, I have not stopped trying to write a script. I couldn't get it right until this version. It was difficult because it takes place in an another era. Once I discovered the theme of the "GIFT" for the Nikon Festival, I decided to take advantage of it to adapt the story in a modern way. I imagined it in a way that would be coherent with the theme. (If some of you have already read this story, perhaps you will enjoy seeing it on a screen. - No English speakers will ever have read this story)  

. The third reason is that the Nikon Festival provides an annual opportunity for all kinds of directors, even some still studying, to hone and display their talent in a theatrical setting. I appreciate this platform. What is important to me, is not to win a prize (although that would be nice), but to make progress after every Nikon festival. I am grateful for all the the comments from viewers. In the past, I have never really needed to request financial support for my movies. However, this short movie requires some financial support in order to be completed in the most creative way.  

"La Main de Bois ( The Wooden Hand) " :

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I decided to write "I AM A CREAM PUFF":

A fantasy comedy seen from a child's point of view.

THE SYNOPSIS :

A little boy named Nathan is going on his sixth birthday tomorrow. He's the child of aristocrats. This evening, his parents are having friends over for dinner. Nathan is alone in his room. He is a curious youngster, full of imagination. Instead of going to bed, he goes down the stairs to spy on his parents and discovers that they are going to eat cream puffs, his favorite dessert. He wonders if there are going to be any left for his birthday ? Maybe the night will bring good counsel. He’s going to try to sleep on it.

This short movie is a fantasy comedy with a little dramatic tension.

INSPIRATIONS (Films) : It is, first, a literary adaptation. But every good director is inspired by certain movies. I can't forget the use of the sound which is going to be very important here. I will have to manage with the behavior of the child, voice-over, and music. A good example :

- "The Shining" : In the movie, Nathan is going to speak to himself via a voice-over which he seems to hear. Lets look at Danny from The Shining :

With the camera, I have chosen to use Nathan's point of view. I'm going to use sequence shots with intercutting. Small details are going to be decisive on the behavior and the performance of the character in the story. Filmed with bright and dark toned light, highly contrasted. I often work with light to communicate the "feelings" of my characters. With a little fantasy, here are two great examples :

- " Bridge to Terabithia " : All children are in touch with their imagination. While adults are totally blind when you think about that kind of stuff.

Nathan is scared of the dark. This is why I’ve decided to create monsters. Certainly with light and shadow effects (1) in reference of the French animation movies : Princes et Princesses (2) ; Les contes de la nuit (3) de Michel Ocelot.

(1)

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(2) (VF)

(3) (VF)

The music will be used to create tension.

THE TEAM :

. THE DIRECTOR : Miles Drexler ( me )

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My name is Miles, I am 22 years old. I started studying movies 4 years ago at university in Paris. I have already directed 2 short movies for the same festival these past two years :

-"I am spinning around" :

- "I am Riding for a Fall" :

These 2 short films are indeed totally different from "I am a Cream puff". It is a new challenge for me.I also enjoy working as a gaffer, a Lighting Operator. I’ve worked many times with Matthieu Lafrance, my assistant director. We worked on, "I am very close" by Lionel Manuguerra, where Matthieu Lafrance was filming the Making Of. I was the chief lighting techinican.

I worked with Amélie Zibret on several projects. She's going to be my chief camera operator. I worked on a film of hers as the chief lighting operator too : "I am a childhood".

.THE ASSISTSANT DIRECTOR : Matthieu Lafrance

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Graduated from "EICAR" (well-known French film school) and specialized in " Organisation", Matthieu has been working on a lot of short-movies as an assistant director. He also edits and works as a cameraman. We have known each other for years. Here you can see one of his films: "Crossed looks" :

Or this documentary which he made for the Center for Cultural Diversity entitled : "What young people dream about?"" :

On my movie, he's going to be the assistant director. It's the 2nd time that he’s worked for me as an assistant director after "I am spinning around". Here's the link to his "demo":

And Showreel :

. THE CHIEF CAMERA OPERATOR : Amélie Zibret

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Amélie is 24 years old. She has studied for 3 years at l'ESRA Paris. She did her optional 4th year in New York. She has had the opportunity to work on several projects such as short-movies, sets, documentaries, clips...

Last year she directed " I am a childhood" for the Nikon Film Festival and I did the lighting as I said earlier. She's going to be my "camera girl" on " I am a cream puff".

her Demo :

. CAMERAMAN: Emeric Gallego

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Emeric Gallego studied with me at university. He began to make experimental movies before trying fiction. He usually works as a screenwriter and he's also the Cameraman on "I have ‘fallen’ in with the wrong crowd" and director of "I am a woman" :

- "I am a job like any other" :

- " Adrift" :

Emeric is going to help Amélie film the movie. They have worked together several times. If you want to checkout his website :Book of Salander.

WE ARE STILL RECRUITING THE CAST AND THE REST OF THE TEAM.

We will shoot the movie "NEAR PARIS ; FRANCE".

THE DATES :

- The preparation : more or less until the end of the crowdfunding.

- The shooting : 26, 27 in the afternoon, 28 and maybe the 29th of October 2017

-Post-prod : will start editing the movie step by step mid-November. The release date is going to be maximum on the 10th of January 2018.

About the rewards : everything will be sent at the latest the beginning of january.

Je suis un Chou à la Crème (I am a Cream Puff) - Nikon Film Festival - 8ème édition