Episode 2: Jeremi Durand
The Discussion
From your work like K I N G S to The Sun by Kaycyy it feels like there is no limit to your creativity. I was very much blown away by how much originality there is in your work. That being said I want to start off by asking what made you get into the art of photography and cinematography and how did you find your own style?
I think it all comes down to the fact that I’ve studied design, innovation design, and design research which helps me kind of understand what is going to happen in the world in 20 years from now. I actually went into studying design not actually thinking of becoming a designer, this was step into the old world where there was a lot of constraints which can make it difficult to find a creative response. This is how I learnt to approach projects and for briefs, I always think of bringing something new to the table because I would hate doing something has been already been done. I also realized as I’m getting older that I see my time as a very precious, so I don’t want to waste my time by doing something that would be meaningless. So I always try to find projects where I can express myself a bit because obviously you have clients and must cater to their interests as well. For example with the music video for The Sun & Okay! by KayCyy, both of the music videos are intertwined and I try to bring a unique element that would broadcast a metaphorical meaning with unique visual identity that was never done before. Ulitmately I do this for one reason is that to leave a trace of my work that is timeless which is not nesscarily for the general public but for my family and my kids to see.
The film and photography space has many great artists who pioneered and changed the way we view things. Who would you say has inspired you the most when it comes to being a director?
I draw inspiration from a lot of fields of work in particular for example I know a chef who was based in Chicago and he was extremely creative. The way he drew inspiration and looked at things from a different perspective was inspiring. I also draw inspiration from a lot of visual artists including painters and directors. In terms of directors, my biggest inspiration is the master Stanley Kubrick, it is not for everyone else reasons, I love his film they are beautiful but what I like about this work is the overall career and again the legacy he left behind. It is not the films he created but he never just stook to one thing and always tried something new by even trying out other genres. Every time he did that he reached a level and that film sort of became a classic. Other individuals include photographers like Tim Walker and other directors that I am close with.
Being a director seems fun but at the same time can seem stressful. What are the biggest challenges of being a director, and what are the type of limitations you face?
Some may say that they are a lot of directors out there and some may say they are a lot of artists out there. But there are very few that are trying to break boundaries that show some sort of innovation. When you have some sort of mastery in a skill you sort of become a person of interest. I like to say skill and not talent since it takes time for one to get there and it's not really just naturally there. So the greatest challenge of becoming a director is surrounding yourself with the best team and it is something that everyone should be doing in whatever field you are working in. These individuals would help challenge you and see things from different perspectives. But they also help reliably execute projects without having to worry about problems that may arise. Other challenges that arise include time constraints, sometimes you go some months without work and then suddenly you are bombarded with multiple projects that are expected to be completed soon.
What would you say has been the most exciting & enjoyable project you worked on?
I would say the two latest projects I worked on with KayCyy and Gesaffelstein were very exciting projects to work on. The project moved extremely quickly, a little too quick to enjoy but looking back I had one night to write the brief and then one week to do the preproduction and then we were shooting. However, despite this, it was the first time in a long time that the team was very close and put in a solid team effort. I also got the opportunity to work along with Kaname Onoyama who is an amazing DOP and just the overall team was amazing to work with. Another project that I enjoyed was Muse, it was shot in Poland and it was the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that things felt normal. The project was fun to work on since we had a bit more time for preparation and also a larger budget which meant we can do things like blow up cars.
How did the opportunity of working with KayCyy come about? What was it like when you heard about this and what was your reaction?
When I heard about the opportunity I was extremely excited since there was Gessafelstein and also the fact that one of his music videos Pursuit is one of my all-time favourites. So the day I heard about the opportunity I was actually in the middle of another production and I saw the timeline and was shocked by how quickly things were expected to move. For example, giving a treatment within one day but then I saw Gessafelstein's name and I was like I have to do this. I always wanted to work with US Rap artists as well, so when I learnt more about KayCyy, I thought it was a golden opportunity. Since I get to work with one of my all-time favourite artists in France and an upcoming talented US artist.
What are some words of advice that you would give to someone who is looking to become a director, creative director or just in professional photography?
The best advice is to not give advice but in this case, I don't mind giving some. I would say something that is obvious and is not respected enough is to be curious. Being curious means exploring and understanding everything to see what has been done before. Just because you came across a cool angle with a picture is not enough. What is enough to understand the process and to see what would make your voice stand out in order to do that you need to understand all the other voices. This will allow you to see what has been done before, what is being made right now, and possibly the art that we can expect tomorrow. This will help you develop a voice and to understand your craft and environment. Another piece of advice is to not limit yourself to one field only, I am the perfect example of an individual who has been making music, studied design, was an actor for 2 years and was a creative director. All these experiences have made me the director that I am today which help me recognize and see things from a different perspective. Lastly, another piece of advice is to surround yourself around people who are stronger than you and never be afraid of asking for help. Sometimes individuals are too afraid to reach out because the person is too famous but it's wrong you should always reach out. The worst case is they say no but there is also the opportunity where they would reply with some valuable advice. To sum it all you will never be the cleverest person in the room.
What is the future of Jeremi Durand and what is some exciting news that we can share!
I'm currently working on a trilogy of films of an artist that is famous in France but I think the next move will make him famous everywhere. I am also looking to expand into commercials and release two photo series, which is in all that parallel me in writing my first feature film. It is a long process and I'm currently working with a scriptwriting residency. You're not going to see the light of it until next year or the year after it but hopefully soon.