Elvis in Cannes 2022: Cult Appearance and Rock and Roll Energy Promised by Priscilla Presley Translator

When Buzz Luhrmann presents a film in Cannes, it is always an event. After Moulin Rouge! And the great Gatsby, Elvis definitely proves it. As usual, the music will be a big part of the Australian director’s sixth feature film. And even more than last time, as it will be a biographical film dedicated to the King.

His wife, Priscilla’s translator, Olivia Dejong, spoke to us about this highly anticipated project. Starting with his role with Austin Butler, who plays Elvis Presley, in the filming and his views on these mythical personalities.

AlloCiné: Did you meet a real Priscilla Presley to study her talk and listen to her story about the scenes you were going to play?

Olivia Dejong : Covid has complicated it all, so we haven’t crossed paths yet, but I can’t wait to be able to. But as I understand it, he saw the movie and liked it, and that’s all that matters to me. You are a very young actor.

What does the cast look like in an audience like Priscilla Presley?
As for me, I did the audit tape that I sent. And three months later they called me and told me I had a role. There is some madness, in hindsight, that this happened thanks to this one film. But also amazing (Laughs)

How did you react when you were first told about the project?
As with many projects, I received an e-mail telling me that I was going to shoot this movie and they invited me to audition and they told me I only had a few days to do it. So I started reading books, listening to music, then I went with a friend to make this tape. And the rest is history.

What memories do you have from the very first day of filming?
I attended one of the performances on the first day. But not in Priscilla’s leather. And that was after the pandemic. Seeing this play by Austin seemed to step into another world. There was all the hard work that everyone put into blowing up on stage, it was amazing. It was special and everyone seemed to pay a lot of attention to exactly that moment, which I think is rare. Everyone there fitted in very well with what was happening and it was a wonderful day.

Watching Austin Butler was magical

Can you tell us about your style in the movie?
Priscilla’s hair and makeup were amazing. There was no technology then, so all his choices were very intuitive and organic, which I find increasingly fascinating. Because he paved the way and started as a trend by himself, quite easily. He did not look at Instagram to choose what he wanted to do.

He said what he wanted and why. And the film shows some of his cult looks. I spent a lot of time in the make-up and hairdresser chair, arranging wigs and make-up. So I can not wait for the result. I do not know what the screen will look like, but from what I have seen, I feel that we are fine.

What did you know about Elvis’s life?
Not so much literally. I grew up listening to Elvis because my parents loved his music – I think a lot of people my age. But I did not know much about his life and that was the best part of my involvement in this film: I could learn more about him, his life, his contributions to the music industry, Priscilla … it really was. Intriguing.

What is the most amazing thing you have learned about Priscilla?
This is one of my favorite stories about him and he tells it in his book: An obsessed fan was waiting for them outside their house and he came out to confront him. She was ready to meet him when he was in danger of being demolished. I was very surprised, but I liked it because it showed its bite, the pure fire in it. But I remember reading and thinking: “But no !”

Can you tell us about your work with Austin, both in terms of your chemistry and his performance of these incredible music scenes?
We were all lucky that he was the captain in the film: he is passionate and hardworking, which makes him a great stage partner. We did not find it difficult to start because we were very happy to be there.

One of my first wonderful memories from filming was being able to attend one of his performances and being behind his disappearing character as he sang and danced. It was an amazing watch and the whole team was excited every time we were hosted at one of those shows. He worked hard for a very, very long time, for an incredible result. Watching him was magical.

This is the first time you have played a real character. What kind of challenge was this for you?
Attacking a real person is always a challenge. Because you hope to discover what you have not seen before. And we always get the impression that people are standing behind our shoulders when we take scenes. But I was in good hands and everyone was passionate about this project, both the team and the producer. They knew a lot. The base created an incredible gameplay and curiosity environment where there was room for error. Despite the challenges, this experience has been wonderful.

Now that you have done both, which do you prefer: the characters that existed or the ones that should be built from scratch?
I asked myself this question. Because both are challenging. It is exciting to build what exists, to be part of the legacy, as we did with Lightning. We were the troupe trying to recreate the magic. But no less interesting is building a character from scratch.I think I like both and do not want to choose one over the other. But I will be open to both opportunities in the future.

Is there anything in Priscilla personality that stood out to you? Who pushes you to be like him in certain situations?
From the beginning I was fascinated by how she expresses her femininity. She is a hyper-feminine girl and that is something I have not yet explored as a young woman. I immersed myself in this femininity, in this focus on detail, it fascinated me. How we present ourselves to the world, the psychology behind it. And that made it hard for me after we finished filming.

What can you tell us about what the film shows about Elvis and Priscilla’s relationship and marriage?
I can not say much about the film. But it includes Elvis’s life, so does his relationship with Priscilla from beginning to end. And I think of everything he has given up to be with him and support him. Because he knew what he meant to the people. I hope their relationship in the film will be realistic and it will be a breath of fresh air in the midst of the madness that was in his career.

What do you think was the pair created by the mythical Elvis and Priscilla?
If they crossed the era, it was also because there were no social networks. So a lot of what we saw about them was from magazines, newspapers or photos here and there. People have always been saddened to be so far away from a world that seems inaccessible. And I think that’s all about how popularity has changed in the social media era. Still, I think they were a wonderful couple and people encouraged their romance, no matter how difficult their relationship was.

Do you remember how you felt when you first heard Elvis’s music?
I have been listening to it since childhood and I think it is my favorite song “Blue Moon”. His music is really constant and it brings you back to the present moment.

Baz Luhrmann inspires a lot, he is constantly inspired by what is around him

Watching Buzz Luhrmann’s film is an energetic, very cinematic and quite insane experience. But how is filming going with him?
The base is unique in the way it works. He is constantly going, always curious. I really described it that way, I had to use one word. He is very curious and intuitive, not afraid of anything. He is very brave. And this was reflected in the gaming environment he created. He inspires many, constantly inspires what is around him. Surrounded by such energy is a real gift and you will miss it when it disappears.

Was it scary to work on such a big project?
of course ! Except for the story of Elvis and his life, up there with Tom Hanks. And base. So it was terrifying. But, again, all was well: Tom, Buzz, Austin. This improved the experience.

What does Baz Luhrmann mean to you? When did you first see one of his films?
Base is a legend because he is an Australian like me. We all gather around us. I first discovered his work in ninth grade. I took a media course in which we analyzed Romeo + Juliet and ballroom dancing. I want to find dissertations written on it. I think it’s funny. I may have seen these films before, but my first vivid recollection of his film dates back to the time when we analyzed them.

What made you want to be an actor?
I have been doing this for a long time. Since childhood. My parents are not in the industry so they did not push me to do that. I just liked what I saw on the screen and I wanted to be a part of it. I remember being obsessed with Pigeon Hogan’s Peter Pan film starring Jeremy Samper. In addition to the fact that I was in love with him at the age of 12, it inspired me. It obviously evolved over time and I took a more sexual approach, but that’s how it started.

Interview with Maximilian Pierrett in Paris, April 21, 2022