Big Little Lies a big get for Montreal
TORONTO — After taking this year’s Oscars by storm, with Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival,” Quebec’s screen industry is in the Hollywood spotlight once again, this time for “Big Little Lies.”
Oscar-nominated Quebec director Jean-Marc Vallee helmed the HBO series that has 16 Emmy Award nominations, including one for himself, one for Montreal cinematographer Yves Belanger and several for other local crew members, from picture editors to sound mixers and costume designers.
The main Emmys are Sept. 17, but many of the Montreal nominees will be vying for hardware this weekend at the two-night Creative Arts Emmy Awards in L.A.
“It gives a shine on Montreal and even maybe Canada, because those people from the U.S. or from France, now they think to come to Montreal to work because it’s less expensive,” said Louis Gignac, who is co-nominated for best sound mixing on “Big Little Lies.”
Of particular significance is HBO allowing post-production on “Big Little Lies” to happen in Montreal, said Gignac. It’s a rarity if not a first for the network.
“It was a big deal for (HBO),” said Gignac, who also worked with Vallee on “The Young Victoria,” “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Cafe de Flore.” “They don’t know us, they don’t know if we know what they need. So it was a big gamble, and Jean-Marc just took it on his shoulders and promised them that we know what we’re doing.”
“Big Little Lies” has Vallee’s signature stamp with a soulful soundtrack and powerful visuals as it depicts a murder mystery in a tony California community. The cast includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz.
Vallee was initially only supposed to direct the first few episodes, but “after a week or two (HBO) realized his way of shooting is so special that he had to do the whole thing,” said Belanger, who has known Vallee since 1991.
Belanger used a hand-held camera for most of the shots.