Installed on cushions scattered all over the floor of the impressive Satosphere of the SAT, the public, almost lying down, impatiently waits to see the dome light up for the presentation of Temporalthe very first Canadian fiction feature film projected in 360 degree format. It’s hard not to pique the curiosity of moviegoers and other spectators with such an announcement! The synopsis describes the story of an astronaut, but above all a father, who takes refuge in a slower space-time in the hope of seeing his only daughter age, in a real race against time after the announcement of a latent death. Are you going out? attended the press premiere of the film Tuesday evening.
The origin of the project: a cinematic immersion
A bit like the origin of the egg or the chicken, the project of Temporal was born in harmony with the idea of a fully immersive film. “The basic idea for the scenario came to us somewhat from the medium itself, therefore from the dome,” explains Dominic St-Amant, co-director with his colleague Jean-François Éthier. For the two accomplices, the idea of a film from the science fiction genre was therefore self-evident. “We must understand that, first of all, the domes around the world are planetariums which have a scientific vocation,” continues St-Amant. It has probably already colored our first brainstorms to have this connotation. »
From narration to music
Temporal is a film guided by the narration of actor David La Haye, who plays the main character. He speaks to his daughter Romy (which is also the name of the respective daughters of the two co-directors) played by Megan Lamontagne. This decision not to incorporate dialogue in the feature film was mainly technical, explains Dominic St-Amant. “You have to understand that shooting in centers is quite complicated. You have to hide under the camera. So, we can’t have a boom operator to capture the sound. Otherwise, we could have used lavalier microphones, but in cinema, they have to be really well hidden. Or otherwise, you have to redo all the dialogues in the studio. So, yes, originally, there was still a technical concept that made us go in this direction.” However, the director emphasizes that this is not a challenge he will seek to take up in his next projects.
The public therefore follows the story through a letter that the father decides to write to his daughter to explain his departure. Along with the reading of this message, the music also guides the narrative brilliantly. This superb soundtrack is by the Karkwa group. The music present in the film was also specially composed for this feature film. After several years of absence, the public is still delighted to hear the music of one of Quebec’s favorite groups again! “It’s almost a moment of synergy between Jean-François and me. We said we were making a film, and we said we needed music. Both of us almost said Karkwa at the same time. Seems like it was self-evident. » As the synopsis is mainly based on atmospheres, it was essential that the music immerse the audience in the story and allow them to experience the vagaries of emotions that shape the feature film. In this case, music is worth a thousand words.
The 360 degree challenges
Producing a film with the idea of showing it in a dome is no easy feat! Every detail must be carefully evaluated and the material to bring this little visual gem to life must be carefully calculated. To do this, the two directors used a small, super-light 360 camera to produce shots directly hung on the side of the motorcycle, for example, or even directly on the actors. In addition, a camera weighing about 25 pounds and having 8 different lenses, usually used for virtual reality, was installed on a huge drone. Finally, the last source used was a more standard type camera with a 240 degree lens.
An unequal scenario
The idea of a fully panoramic film is certainly very impressive: a totally immersive experience that immerses the viewer in the story, like an extra, omnipresent audience. Special mention for the scene in the meteorite which is breathtaking. However, something is wrong. Maybe it’s my neophyte side in this matter, but during the film, it seemed to me that the narrative was forced. With a synopsis reminiscent of the hit film Interstellar (up to the setting of the small country house), the scenario gave the impression of being pre-prepared.
-Far be it from me, however, to denigrate the images in the film, which were magnificent. The landscapes were obviously chosen with care, and the shots were simply breathtaking. This is what made the experience memorable. Unfortunately, the screenplay, strictly speaking, did not pay homage to the greatness of the whole, tackling themes already seen and giving the impression of shoving emotions down our throats. The enthusiasm for this type of format is however undeniable, and it works well. Perhaps it would fit better with a genre like the documentary? The question deserves to be asked.
The future of 360 degree format
However, this type of format is only in its infancy, and according to Dominic St-Amant, its future is promising. For 360-degree films to gain popularity, more theaters will need to be able to show them. But this is not a worry for the director of Temporal. “The SAT dome is used as an example almost everywhere in the world. It truly is one of the best domes in the world. Without the SAT, a project like this could not take place. So, I think that more and more rooms like this are likely to exist. »
Temporal internationally
For the future, Dominic St-Amant wishes to be able to broadcast Temporal all over the world. Easy to translate since it is entirely narrated, “we hope to be able to take it on a journey. We hope to be able to transmit this idea, to begin to have experiences of meaning, rather cinematographic, in mediums like domes. » Motivated by the desire to bring more immersive experiences like this to the public, the director hopes to be able to continue this momentum for a long time to come, in partnership with his colleague and friend Jean-François Éthier. “And then, we have a weakness for the medium of the dome, which is, unlike virtual reality, an individual experience, the dome is a collective experience. »
The film will be screened at the SAT until January 25, 2025.
Get your tickets right here.
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