We had to wait a few weeks to be entitled to the outcome of the intrigue surrounding special constable Marc Fichaud in Indefensible. But the wait was worth it, since when we returned from the holidays, we were treated to a one-hour special show full of twists and turns and emotions!
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Hugo, how did you get this role in Indefensible?
Last summer, I received an urgent email from my agent. The actor who was to play a special constable in Indefensible had to withdraw at the last minute. I had 24 hours to accept the role, which I did. Two days later, I started filming.
What did you know about the character?
It was explained to me that Marc Fichaud slowly enters the plot… so slowly that we have the impression at first that he is an extra, because he doesn’t have much to do with it. say during the first scenes. Moreover, during my very first day of filming, I met a first assistant director with whom I was working on District 31.
How did he react?
When he saw that I was acting as an extra, he felt a little uneasy. He thought it was a shame that an actor he had worked with only landed a silent role. I didn’t explain to him that my character was going to grow. On the contrary, I left doubts lingering, since this misunderstanding served to establish an uneasy aura on the set around Marc Fichaud. (laughs)
Even though you started filming quite quickly, did you have time to learn about the job of special constable?
Of course. After my first day of filming, I spent a few hours at the courthouse, chatting with special constables. They explained to me that they are often mistaken for security guards, but that they are real police officers… with the difference that they only work in courthouses. I also spoke with the producer and screenwriter ofIndefensibleIzabel Chevrier. She was the one who revealed to me that my character’s plot culminated with a one-hour show in January.
Did you know from the start that your character was going to carry out a hostage situation?
Yes, I knew about it. The morning of filming the hostage situation, I said to my wife: “I have butterflies in my stomach,” I was so excited to go and play this. As an actor, I wondered why Marc Fichaud would go so far as to take people hostage. We know that he suffers from migraines and that he is experiencing difficulties in his relationship. Little by little, he feels rage building within him, because his position as special constable leads him to see guilty people leaving the courthouse freely and that makes him angry.
Have you looked at images of hostage situations on the Web to give you an idea of Marc Fichaud’s state of mind at that time?
Yes, I watched images, interviews. What came up most often was the assailant’s disconnected look, so I focused on that. It must also be said that I was extremely well supported for these scenes, with acting partners like Sébastien Delorme and Maxim Roy. With them, I felt confident, so I was able to go into darker areas, to bring out the human side of Marc Fichaud.
What do you mean?
Far be it from me to excuse the violence of my character. On the other hand, during the one-hour specialIndefensiblewe can better understand how a human, after all ordinary, can go to these areas of violence. A big question remains, after watching the special: “Could this tragedy have been avoided?” Marc sent distress signals in the weeks preceding the tragedy. He told his bosses that he was working too much, that he was not doing well, but no one listened to his cry of alarm.
In closing, the only thing that’s a shame about this plot is that it didn’t last long enough!
I totally agree with you. I would also have liked Marc to stay longer in this daily life, but at the same time, I’m really grateful to have played this character. For many Quebecers, I am still the friendly father of Feeling. Let’s say that my role in Indefensible expands my casting and allows me to show another side of the roles that I can play.
