A crime thriller filled with gang wars, drugs, swindling, ruthless gang bosses and a mouthful of cursing, Director Jean Luc Herbulot’s film ‘Dealer’ had its UK Premiere in the 22^nd Raindance Film Festival 2014. I had the privilege of sitting with the French Indie Film Director in the posh Terrace Bar & Grill in Le Meridien Hotel. Joined in with Jean Luc Herbulot were Dan Bronchinson, the lead actor and Salem Kali who was in the supporting role. I first started with Director Jean Luc Herbulot.

The London Tree: Hi Jean Luc. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please tell me a bit about yourself and how does it feel to be a part of the Raindance Film Festival?

Jean Luc Herbulot: , I was born in Africa and came to France in 2001. I didn’t want to be a filmmaker because I was more into drawing, writing and making music. The movie just came in the way and as I was trying out different things, I ended up directing this film. It’s an immense joy for me to be part of the Raindance Film Festival because when I made the movie, which was made in a commando way, I never thought about being in film festivals. After releasing the film in Fantasia Film Festival in Canada, and here in Raindance in London we are going to be in Germany, and then in Japan. We hope the movie will go further and that’s a joy and a surprise.

The London Tree: How did you come up with the story of ‘Dealer’?

Jean Luc Herbulot: The story of ‘Dealer’ came in three ways. I had an idea of making a fast paced film, but I did not have the key facts about the main character’s background. I met Dan and we went on a vacation together and discussed about his past. I loved some stories he told me and I told him that his ideas gave me more ideas, and told him that I want you to act in the film. Dan agreed and he said that he can also help in production so I said ok let’s go. After that I met Samy Baaroun, the co-writer for ‘Dealer’, and he brought in more ideas and that is how it became ‘Dealer’.

The London Tree: Are Independent films more true to real life or the mainstream films?

Jean Luc Herbulot: I wanted the movie to be more realistic and wanted the people to relate themselves to it. What interests me as a filmmaker and a film viewer are commercial movies which have a strong subject and go to everybody. There is no in-between in filmmaking, either you have independent films, which are very personal, or you have blockbusters which are for the masses. There are directors like Michael Mann and David Fincher who succeed in making movies which are commercial but smart enough. Those are the kind of films that I want to make but doing that is very difficult. For ‘Dealer’ I wanted it to be a bit commercial even though we didn’t have the financial power to do so. To make it a strong movie I put in a lot of action sequences which to me makes ‘Dealer’ both a commercial and an indie film.

The London Tree: Why choose the name ‘Dealer’ for the film?

Jean Luc Herbulot: The word ‘Dealer’ is a term that is understood internationally. Plus, it’s a short name and not too long. When you make a movie like that in France with such a title, the people would think that it is about something happening in the suburbs and could relate themselves to it. I wanted it to be a street movie made in Paris, concerning a man in his forties who is a drug dealer, mixed with blues and rock n roll sound tracks which we are not used to watching in movies in France. It was all a part of killing the clichés.

After finishing my conversation with Director Jean Luc Herbulot, I had a very brief conversation with the Lead Actor Dan Bronchinson.

The London Tree: Hi Dan, for this movie and the role that you took did you take any acting classes or did you just went in and acted?

Dan Bronchinson: I took some acting classes but very few. I was taught by a very great person named Pascal Ruben. I learned a lot from her and she helped me get into the character of Dan in the film.

The London Tree: I’ve noticed that the main character’s name ‘Dan’ is similar to yours. Is there any connection between you and the film’s main character?

Dan Bronchinson: Yes there is a connection between me and the film’s main character because that was me twenty years ago.

The London Tree: tell me about the experience that you had working under the Direction of Jean Luc Herbulot?

Dan Bronchinson: this is my first time working in a feature film with Jean Luc Herbulot. The experience in working under his direction was fantastic and I must say it was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had.

Salem Kali, having a supporting role with Dan Bronchinson came next. His role in the film was a very unique one so he talked a bit about his role and had something to say about the Independent films.

The London Tree: Tell us a bit about your role in the film.

Salem Kali: My character is about Karma, when you do something you have to face its consequences either in a good or a bad way. I also think that my character is a comical one which brings some lightness in the movie.

The London Tree: How would you differentiate between the mainstream films and the independent films?

Salem Kali: the difference between doing a mainstream and an independent film is that you have freedom to do anything you want. You do it the way you have it in mind and more important than that you choose the subject you want to talk about. The mainstream films are made for gaining maximum audiences keeping in mind the average viewer, but doing an independent film lets you choose the subject that touches you without worrying about reaching a large number of audiences. When we did ‘Dealer’, we had a hundred percent fun doing it, and we put all our passion into it; which I think we couldn’t have been able to do if we were making a mainstream film.

It was an immense pleasure and an honour to sit among such a great indie film director and actors and talk with them about the film they worked in together. I wished I could talk more with them but unfortunately that was all the time I had. Director Jean Luc Herbulot would be making two more films related to ‘Dealer’, which he said would be a trilogy, but not really sequels but standalones. All the luck to Director Jean Luc Herbulot.

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