First Assistant Director Stéphane GLUCK (ESRA 1986) was the guest of the ESRA Thursdays on March 3, 2022 at the Jean RENOIR amphitheater. After the screening of Luc BESSON's Valérian et la cité des mille planètes, students met Stéphane GLUCK.
Stéphane GLUCK began his career as a cameraman, then second assistant director and finally first assistant.
His job as first assistant director consists in coordinating the artistic organization of the film: actors, costumes, decoration, extras. He ensures that all these trades are harmonized, and that everyone is in the right place at the right time. The first stage of his work is a feasibility study. He reads the script, then sequence by sequence, he lists the actors, silhouettes, extras, sets, costumes, props, special effects, mechanical effects, weather effects, cars, explosions and so on. Then the preparation begins, estimating the shooting time required for each sequence, and drawing up an initial work plan. Depending on the director, the job is very different. Good stress management and organizational skills are essential. Above him, the production manager coordinates the overall organization and manages the film's money.
Stéphane GLUCK spoke at length about his encounter with Luc BESSON during the filming of the first Taxi. Particularly his cinematographer's eye and musical ear, he learned a lot from him. The students asked many questions about his experience as first assistant on the set of Valérian et la cité des mille planètes. The film entailed major decorating constraints in terms of set-up time, as well as costume and visual effects constraints.
