With Fanfare: Did Benjamin Lavergne Really Learn to Conduct an Orchestra?

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Thibault is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns he was adopted, he discovers the presence of his brother Jimmy, a school cafeteria worker who plays trombone in a marching band in the north of France. It seems that everything separates them, except the love of music. Discovering his brother’s exceptional musical abilities, Thibaut makes it his mission to stop the injustice of fate. Then Jimmy begins to dream of a different life…

It is impossible not to be disappointed by the emotion that this feature film evokes! En fanfare, a musical film set mainly in northern France, follows two brothers (Pierre Lottin and Benjamin Lavernay) who are at first complete opposites, two very lovable brothers and a mover.

En fanfare has all the ingredients of a feel-good film, dealing with difficult topics such as illness and social poverty. Emmanuel Kurkol achieves the perfect blend of humor and emotion.

While watching the film, you may be wondering: Is Benjamin Lavergne actually conducting this orchestra? And for Pierre Lottin, did he really learn to play the trombone?

Here’s what actors answered during our Club AlloCiné meeting on November 6:

“There is a bit of preparation though, as conducting an orchestra is quite a challenge.Benjamin Laverne points out. You need to look reliable on screen, also by professionals. If there are professional conductors or instrumentalists, don’t ask yourself the question of truth. To make them believe they are seeing a chef, not an actor competing to be a chef. So there was some work.

to make them believe they are seeing a chef and not an actor competing to be a chef

Emmanuel Courcol rather quickly introduced me to the film’s musical advisor, Antoine Dutailles, who I can never thank for anything. He was with me in every musical moment of the film. Giving directions, finding the right word, the fluidity, knowing how to resume immediately as if it were completely natural, I’m petrified… it was a big challenge! And even seminars with students and seemed a bit “relaxed”, it had to be credible. It was exciting. I watched many videos over and over again. I was working on finding the right gesture. And my boss told me: don’t forget to turn the page! Because I don’t read music.”

In turn, Pierre Lotin points out that he is a musician: “I have been playing the piano for a long time. I learned the trombone for 3 months. But after 3 months I didn’t know how to do it well. Sometimes time is doubled and sometimes not. When there are fans with everyone, it’s not duplicated because you really don’t understand what I’m doing. When I’m all alone, I’m a bit of a double.”

Emmanuel Kurkol provides additional details in the film’s press kit:Benjamin Lavernhe has a good ear, he is very talented, very musical, drummer and guitarist. He plays the piano well, he had it at home and he only had to work on pieces to create a perfect illusion.

Compiling the musical aspect of the planned film

He was trained for conducting for several months, and then on the set, by the very brilliant young conductor Antoine Dutaillis. Benjamin is very hardworking and He worked hard to be completely reliable when working on scores and Gestures with extreme precision. It’s like conducting an orchestra Driving a Formula 1 car, you have no room for error. During filming Excerpts from symphonic works he actually conducts, to the point that if he He made a mistake, the orchestra fell. Some musicians even told him : “We had someone less good than you!”…“

Regarding the film’s fanfare, the director explains:I was looking for actors first, but they had to be able to play music. Because professional actors were mixed with real brass band musicians and they were indistinguishable. No pun intended, I’m very attached to harmony on set.”

It should be noted that the musical aspect of the film is planned to be produced, presumably for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the film, which has just been released in theaters.