Into the entertaining Panic at 31broadcast this Monday, December 30, 2024 from 9:10 p.m. on TF1 and which he imagined with his partner Tom Villa, Arnaud Ducret plays the boss of the Passo Club, the nightclub created by his parents, who risks losing everything if he didn't make it big for his establishment's New Year's Eve party. Obviously, nothing is going to go as planned! Surrounded by a slew of guests, the ex-hero of the police comedy Market has a blast in this sketch TV movie which should serve as good training for fans of the big fiestas on December 31st. Télé-Loisirs met the actor.
Panic at 31: “Who better than Lionnel Astier and Michèle Bernier to play my parents?”Arnaud Ducret goes behind the scenes of the TF1 TV movie
Télé-Loisirs: Like any comedy, Panic at 31 is based on deep themes. This TV film thus addresses the parent-child relationship…
Arnaud Ducret: Yes, we wanted that, to approach it through this family business that is the nightclub. This speaks to me. I have always liked the generational relationship, the subject of transmission. And who better than Lionel Astier and Michel Bernier to play my parents?
How did you choose all the actors?
The character played by Lionnel Astier, we really wrote it for him and when he came to read, we were dying of laughter! I could hear his phrasing when we were writing. When he read it, it was exactly what we had imagined. And then there are cases where we didn't yet have the actor in mind. We therefore proposed the project to stakeholders. Sometimes, moreover, we realized that so-and-so would be better off in another character than the one we originally proposed. There were often real and pleasant surprises. Basically, it's knitting.
Exactly, why did you think of Michèle Bernier and Isabelle Nanty?
Isabelle is someone I really like. I met her when I was at Cours Florent, as a kid, during the end of year party. I told him “My name is Arnaud Ducret. One day, you will see, we will work together.” She replied to me, with all the kindness and kindness that she has, “I’m sure of it.” And there you have it! Isabelle, it was obvious to me. Michèle, we had never worked together. But it's the same, it was obvious.
At the end of Panic at 31there is a little blooper. We obviously see laughter there. Are you ever a victim of this?
Yes of course ! But we were also in a very tight work economy. And as I'm producing this program, I didn't want to exhaust the people I invited. So we were still very focused. People think that because I mess up a lot, I also mess up on set. Yes, I'm kidding. I love it because I like to work in a good mood. But on the other hand, I am very concentrated when it comes to attacking holds. Isabelle had more laughs than me!
The song Born to be Alivewhich we hear in Panic at 31is it part of your playlist for the 31st?
Yes ! Either way, it’s part of any playlist!
Panic at 31 : “It was carnage. I ended up in the emergency room!”Arnaud Ducret remembers his worst New Year's Eve!
Did you imagine from the start inviting Patrick Hernandez in the TV movie?
We wanted to represent the nightclub a bit. Who represents the nightclub better than Patrick Hernandez and Born to be Alive ? It's a card that everyone knows. We said to ourselves that it would be great to bring Patrick, who very kindly said yes to us. Not being an actor, he was a little anxious. When we screened Panic at 31he was particularly happy to have participated.
More generally, what does your evening of December 31 look like?
Friends, friends! But, to be honest, this is no more special celebration than the others. The 31st is not the biggest night of the year. But it's time to wish the best for the people we love in the coming year. So, I have quite a few friends around a table and some music.
Is the end of the year the time to take stock of the year or to hope for things for the next one?
For me, I don't wish for anything when the year arrives. In fact, I mostly have this thought after summer vacation. This is where I tell myself that we must attack the year. For me, the real return to school is here. That's when I tell myself that I'm going to go on a diet that won't last two weeks. But the end of the year is also an opportunity to talk to family on the phone.
Have you ever experienced a catastrophic December 31st?
So yes! I had a catastrophic December 31st. We had a costume party. I was dressed as the Joker. I had all white makeup on my face. I went out with a girl during the evening. I kissed him. She finished with all the makeup on her face. Horrible ! It was carnage! And then, because of the poor quality makeup, I had a huge allergy and ended up in the emergency room. I still remember it!
