The artists behind The Artist speak up

“I Feel Like I'm Water-Skiing Behind The Movie”

The stars and director of The Artist recently sat down to chat about the film’s success and the troubles of shooting a movie with few words.

Jean Dujardin

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the film's two main actors, Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, and its director, Michel Hazanavicius, opened up.

It was clear they are enjoying the films meteoric success, including the Golden Globe for best film (comedic or musical), and a statue for Jean for best actor. The French actor and comedian also walked away with a Screen Actors Guild award for best male actor.

However, it has all been a little intense.

"I feel like I'm water-skiing behind the movie. It's like the film is going faster than we are, and we're just following behind and trying to hold on," said Jean, a French native.

To be sure, they are liking it.

"Because we love the movie, we're not going to let go," chimed the Argentinian Berenice.

The Artist, which a follows the difficulties of a silent-movie star as the era of movies with sound begins, is largely void of words. This created difficulties.

Michel noted he was always aware he would have to make up for the lack of words.

"It's kind of a promise you make to the audience at the very beginning," said the French director, who has done numerous works with Jean. "And you say, 'OK, I won't use words.'"

He found a way around the problem.

"So that means, the positive face of that sentence is, 'I will use images.'"

Dujardin had a few shining words to say about Michel.

"If you see any other films that Michel's done, some people make films — and he does cinema," he said. "That means everything: the light, the decor, the set. It's a fantasy for actors. It's a dream."

Image courtesy of Ian Wilson/WENN.com