Two years ago, OH, CANADA premiered in competition at
@festivaldecannes . As this year’s festival begins, I found myself thinking back to this moment—the very first makeup test I did with Richard Gere.
One of the great challenges of the film was figuring out how to make someone so naturally vital and magnetic feel like a man approaching death. I remember walking into the studio and realizing it was just the two of us for hours, so I sat there studying Richard’s face, watching
@hershny57 and
@craiglmkup work and how the light moved across it.
At one point Richard looked at me and asked, “I’ve heard a lot about you from Paul. How are you gonna light this?”
I was nervous, talking to a hero and a real movie star, but I answered honestly:
“Richard, I will give you light and I will give you shadow in every frame. It’s up to you, moment by moment, which one you want to embrace.”
He smiled. And that was the beginning of a really special collaboration and friendship over the months of making the film.
Later, after our premiere, as we finished lunch in the jury room at the Palais with
@thierry.fremaux , Richard turned to me and said, “I knew the second I met you that I could trust you.” Another moment that will never leave me.
What stayed with me most was his calm. No matter what chaos or personalities swirled around the production, Richard carried himself with grace, steadiness, and generosity. Watching that taught me so much about what an actor can bring to a film beyond performance alone.
Very grateful to have this little memento from our first day together. And good luck to all the filmmakers walking up those steps this year. It’s an experience that stays with you forever.
