William talks about his capsules aboard the Wahsipekuk Seminary
In three questions, find out how William felt about the creation of his "C'est par l'eau que nous reviendrons" series.
- What did you set out to represent in your capsules?
I always knew I didn't know what I wanted to say.
I was on a sailboat with 17 people I didn't know. I was neither a member of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk community, nor a member of the crew. I was like an impostor with big suitcases and an inconspicuous camera. Yet I was welcomed with open arms. As if I were both the 13th member of the community and the 6th member of the crew. I shared the sailboat's privilege of being a passenger in this story that was unfolding in front of me, in the middle of everything. I wanted to document in an authentic, unpretentious way, leaving room for images.
So it was through him that I decided to tell the story of the voyage. I was his eyes and ears.
The capsules are told to you by the boat.
These are the stories that have trodden the deck planks and echoed in the sails. Stories of sharing, memory and laughter. Stories that have only beginnings and no end.
One of the many landscapes William encountered, here the dunes of Tadoussac.
- What are the challenges of shooting aboard a space like the sailboat?
While the sailboat provided an incubator for a multitude of special moments, it also came with its own set of challenges. From the confined space to the sound of the engine, to the swell; I quickly realized that I was better off turning them into creative constraints than obstacles. Even when we could sail thanks to the wind, it was the same wind that plunged headlong into my microphone (hoisting the sail created ambiguous emotions for me every time).
So I juggled between: sometimes giving priority to sound, sometimes to image, sometimes even to the moment (which meant packing my companion into his suitcase). In the end, I came out of it full of learning and delighted to have been able to set foot on this magnificent sailboat.
- Did this project inspire or motivate you for other projects?
I've been lucky enough to be part of the travel experience and to make a series out of it. It's hard to ask for more, and even harder not to want more.
I'm deeply convinced that documentary filmmaking is one of the most beautiful things there is, especially when it can be of service to such projects. I hope I'll have the privilege of living through an experience like this again.
I'd like to thank Alice, Andréa, Ariane, Caroline, Félix, Françoise, Gaïa, Julie, Lancelot, Mariano, Michel-Mattéo, Nicolas, Simon-Gabriel, and Williams. Special thanks to Édith (for translation and teaching), Daniel (for far too many things), Karine (for graphics and occasional calls), Michel and Auguste (for support throughout the process).
Many thanks to the ÉcoMaris team for the opportunity.
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