A delightful exclusive conversation with director and producer PHILIPPE MARTINEZ talking about his enchanting new film, A WEEK IN PARADISE.
PHILIPPE MARTINEZ knows the film and entertainment industry inside out. A former President of the famous Odeon Theater in Marseilles, one of the largest playhouses in Europe, on his move to the United States some 30 years ago, he then became Chairman of the Board of the distribution company Ulysses Entertainment. Thereafter, Philippe headed Betar Entertainment before moving on to launch and establish Betar Entertainment where he was not only producing but directing films. And now he is one of the founders of his latest endeavor, and the one for which I believe he is genuinely proud, MSR Media, and with good reason.
A founder of MSR Media, Philippe recently entered into a multi-film production deal with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in the Caribbean where he shoots four films a year in the island country of Saint Kitts and Nevis focusing on romcoms, romance, and Christmas movies. The production process is one where MSR conceives the story and then hires British writers to work with Philippe in his capacity as a producer and/or director. Always the businessman though, MSR does pitch a “synopsis” of the film concept to various media platforms where the film may be placed in order to gauge interest before filming. In addition to some terrific films and a beautiful location, Philippe and MSR are building the film community on the islands through training of the local people as actors and in the craft of filmmaking, building strong local crews and talent.
Obviously, there was great interest for A WEEK IN PARADISE as one look at this film and the beauty of Kitts and Nevis and you are on cloud nine. Shot in Nevis, A WEEK IN PARADISE is the story of Maggie, a successful film star whose world falls apart when the paparazzi reveals that her director husband is not only involved with someone else but they are about to have a baby together. Angry and broken-hearted, Maggie escapes to her cousin Fiona’s beautiful hotel in Nevis to think, grieve, and regroup. With the healing calm and beauty of Nevis, it doesn’t take long before Maggie begins to find herself and new love with the resort’s chef, Chef; that is until her husband shows up and the world comes crashing back in on her.
Directed by Philippe with script by Kate Wood, A WEEK IN PARADISE stars Malin Ackerman, Connie Nielsen, and Philip Winchester and as much as Maggie is swept up into the magic of Nevis, you will be too by the film.
I spoke with PHILIPPE MARTINEZ in this exclusive conversation where he discussed not only MSR and the production process of shooting in Kitts and Nevis with much of the post-production happening in the United Kingdom, but casting A WEEK IN PARADISE, working with cinematographer George Burt, the use of slo-motion montages and the emotional rationale for them, melding needledrops and score, and more.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 02/11/2022
