Pierre Richard is one of the most famous and beloved actors in France, known particularly for his comedies. Today we shot our first scene together. He told me he didn’t sleep well last night because he was nervous. Isn’t that sweet? It was a bathroom scene with us brushing our teeth and I lie to him and tell him that my cancer is gone–cured!!
pierre richard getting his pajamas (costume) on
pierre richard sitting by the window which is his habit in the film
Pierre and director, Stephane
In real life, a nice woman doctor came to the apartment this morning (they still make house calls here!!!) And proscribed antibiotics, sprays etc cause I am pretty sick with this cold but not enough to not report to work!!
We’re shooting in an apartment within Paris where Pierre and I are supposed to live. We’ll be here all week. I can’t resist taking pictures of interesting roofs. Roofs are so different in different countries. You can tell the class of a particular neighborhood from the roofs. This one is “petit bourgeoisie”–lower middle class. I play a retired philosophy professor and so the 2 of us live on our pensions but it’s an apartment we bought years ago when we were earning more and costs were less.
Gotta say, catered food on the set–as is always the case in france–is divine, in my opinion. They brought me a plate of haricots verts (string beans, the French kind that are thin) and brussels sprouts that were amazing. I try to have dark green vegetables every day. I also discovered that one of the best butchers in Paris is right near my apartment on Île Saint-Louis and when the doctor left I bought some steak, cooked it and it was really fabulous. I also bought a stuffed tomato (pork and lamb) that I will cook tonight along with rice cause the doc said I should eat rice. Can you tell I am hungry? Don’t you talk and think about food when you’re hungry? Also, the nearby produce shop has the most delicious cantaloupe I have ever had in my life. I bought 4!!!
I am about to shoot the scene where Jeanne, my character, having just learned that her cancer has metastasized, tears up her prescriptions and decides she will no longer try to fight. No one knows this and, as I just said, she tells her husband she is cured. Jeanne has the same attitude I have towards death: she doesn’t want it but if it comes, so be it. She will buy a pink coffin and ask her friends and family to drink champagne and toast as they bury her. Like me, she takes great pains to choose a beautiful, flower-filled place to be buried as opposed to a cemetery.
Enough! Time to film.
Tulea, as usual, on my lap while i am in makeup
me as Jeanne
the film dog taking a liking to Tulea--who can blame him?
persistant
really persistant
many more women on the set of films these days
See you next time
Peter G
Pierre Richard. OMG. Haven’t heard that name in years. I often watched his movies, dubbed in German, when I was as a kid back home in Austria. Love the one where someone’s butterfingered daughter is missing and Pierre Richard’s character gets hired to assist the detective (Gerard Depardieu) to help track her down, the strategy being that he’s so clumsy himself that he would step into all the same pitfalls, and thus his trail of ineptitude would lead right up to the missing person (which, eventually, it does).
Tulea reminds me of GB (“George Bernard,” named after Shaw), Uta Hagen’s little dog. I was in her class for a while, and GB was always by her side, mainly dozing on her desk right next to the ash tray. (Uta Hagen smoked like a chimney.) When a student’s acting was bad, GB would awaken from his slumber and growl. At least that was Ms. Hagen’s interpretion.(Personally, I found that GB’s growls were a bit more random and unrelated to the quality of an aspiring thespian’s performance.)
The doctor prescribed rice? Must have been a Chinese physican.
Kathryn
It’s cool that the character takes such a mature and popular approach to her cancer coming back. That’s what my mom said she would do if it kept coming back (it hasn’t yet, yay!).
And btw, that hair is similar to what all the cool girls at my mom’s post-chemo support groups are wearing too (inclduing hers)- short and awesome.
K I’m done:)
Jeri Dies
I remember Pierre Richard from the very funny film “Le Chevre” with Gerard Depardieu. Donne-lui mes meillerures voeux.
Ana Amelia
Dear Jane, I admire you so much!
Congratulations for your beauty and healthy living!
I´ve read a poem by Viviane Mosé, philosopher from Rio de Janeiro, and I´ll share an excerpt with you:
“Who have eyes to see the time blowing furrows in the skin, blowing furrows, blowing furrows?
The time went by scratching my face with a razor thin, and without anger or rancour, time has scratched my face with calm.
(I stopped fighting against time.
I´m exerting moments,
I think I won presence.)
(…)
And facing the time,
I think I won the time.
Since then he has been good to me,
people say that I have rejuvenated. ”
My translation of “Tempo” from Portuguese.
Sarah O.
Dear Ms. Fonda,
At my house, we love you and your wonderful blog! You are the most thoughtful blogger I’ve ever read, and I really appreciate that you take time to be so open with us members of the public when you’re already so busy and doing so much.
You’ve been a huge inspiration to me. I’ve been dealing with some health problems I’m very motivated to get back to full health. I’m in my late 40s and went back to grad school last fall (for the first time in 24 years) and so far, so good. I keep going strong when I can look to excellent role models like you. Thanks again for that. I take it a day at a time and just keep trying to enjoy everything I can about each day.
The thing I miss most about good health is being strong and in good shape. For sure, we’ll be streaming your workout that you’re doing soon. Thanks for being so helpful and positive and please don’t change a bit.
Sincerely,
Sarah O.
Stephen
How cool is this, to be invited to observe your day-to-day experiences as you film a movie in Paris! Thank you!
Susan King
Loved seeing the apartment buildings! They are so unique…all the different shapes…and the roofs are interesting too! You’re so generous with your pictures! I like your hair style for the movie! Great look for you! Thanks for giving some info about your character in the movie. She sounds like a neat woman who knows what she wants! I think you’ll like being that character for a while! I liked seeing the make up table! Little things like that are always fun to see!:)
Samantha P
Jane, do you know that the word ‘zydeco’ comes from the french for beans – ‘les haricots’!!
moon & lady baltimore ivy
Dear jane~in your photo of you as jeanne – you have so much of your father’s face in yours. Good that you have an appitite. EAT!! French onion soup will be excellent for your cold too. Glad to hear you’re cold will sibside very soon. I love roofs too~paris gives you an excellent change for this passion. Be well soon! Xoxm&lb
Bill
Jane, you rock! I love the behind the scenes look at this filming. Paris is beautiful; thanks for sharing. I sure hope we’ll have access to this film in the US. Feel better soon!
Love & Light,
Bill
susan wilcox
the roof pictures are great , but the one with tulea on your lap in mirror, is one of the best yet, creative
Lilly
I am sorry you were sick :'(
millie
Learning, learning, learning….merci, merci for the photos and narration…hope you don’t get tired of all the thank-yous! This France period would make a delightful book! Interesting that you are doing the shopping, etc. instead of someone else hired for that!
Bill
Jane-
Sorry to hear about the cold but…..you look amazing in that photo!! It really is exciting to be sharing your time on a movie set. It’s a childhood fantasy come true. As with your theatre blogs….you really let us inside. Have fun,get well….and can’t wait to see this film! It’s so nice to see you working in roles worthy of your talents.
XO Bill
Sheila
Jane, Your rooftop photos could merit an exhibition–maybe collect all you’ve taken over years and do something in Atlanta–at Emory to benefit your center there? You could write the blurbs suggesting the socio-economics of the under-roof inhabitants–maybe in conjunction w/ Emory’s Sociology Dept. Just a thought–but high quality photog.
So hope you conquer the cold before the wedding.
Your character looks fascinating–thanks for the photos! Get well soon, Sheila
Zanna
I was going to write something else, but …….really, your blogs and pictures (and especially your “asides”) are the best! I wish you were my next door neighbor.
frederique dhenein
we were very spoilt today!! Pierre Richard “en excellente forme” as french,I can say i like him very much, appreciate the picture with Tullea and his big hairy lover! the feeling atmosphere of this post is humor, love of life, great appetize Jane! french cook is not bad, that right! opposite to you, i dread the simple thought of death!! that terrorize me, i simply can ‘t bear it! breuh!!! not a subject to be to talk about, i just prefer glancing away, your sore throat will be cured , on a wimper time, healthy Jane! keep on having nice time In France! can’t wait to see the movie! so now you’re on the french time 21:17, so nice evening!!!
Timothy Dougherty
Wow , sounds like your part is wonderul, and the food , yes the food ,dark greens your right , you know.Pierre Richard born Pierre Richard Maurice Charles Léopold Defays , lucky you can call him Pierre. Sounds like a real interesting person, lives on a barge on the Seine in the middle of Paris and On 15 May,2010, Richard visited Kharkiv,Ukraine and also he has two sons, both musicians. Sounds like you would get along well.
In my script you have no love interest , but I could see one , been having some added diologue to my script , as I know who the person is in the script , the words just seem to come out of that person, it natural. Binging a visual artist and haveing and painter and earning degree and both Art and Media I see the design and production of the information. I worked my way through University in the university library and my X was a compairtive litature major and librarian. That is how I met Nic Cage’s father at the univeristy were hs was a compairtave Lit Dean of the department, I met Nicolas Cage a few times as well. When you study the Media and education and all the production stuff , I never put my Art and Media into a creative writing problem like a script , I have taken techcial writing courses .
There is a real visual Art in my mind and the words that teach. It sounds like your part is a teahing part, telling your feeling . You need some real good role’s here in the States, I hope that I cant write something that can showcase your vast understanding and pure real talent.
To give the words that move people , the expression to the self, that is Art.
lee
I know what you mean about the French food. Just left Paris this morning after two days of such wonderful eating. The portions are smaller and everything seems so much healthier. Stayed near the Madelaine and walked all day through Monmartre and les Jardins des Tuilleries. On to New York in two days.
dave weaver
I really like your roof pictures. They’re almost cartoon-like. You should do something to them in photoshop, make them look older and get them framed.
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