Director Ariane Louis-Seize Talks About Her New Film “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person!”

Ariane Louis-Seize (Photo: Vivien-Gaumand)

Drafthouse Films’ latest release is a coming-of-age teen film.  With vampires, of course.  “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” is a dark comedy about Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a vampire who can’t kill, and Paul (Félix-Antoine Bérnard), the suicidal teen she bonds with. Québécois Director Ariane Louis-Seize (along with co-writer Christine Doyon) has crafted a debut feature with heart and blood.  Even though it’s not her first language, Louis-Seize was gracious enough to speak to us in English.  She talked briefly with us about “graduating” from making short films, writing from various points of view, and eating clowns.

Lowell Greenblatt: The film combines humor and pathos very well, which is tricky to achieve.  Can you talk about how you managed to strike that balance?

Ariane Louis-Seize:  First of all, thank you.  I’m a very instinctual writer,  so it wasn’t really calculated.  I always start [writing] characters.  For me, it’s important to know how they feel at every moment, and that I never lose track of that. I don’t have a particular method, but I just always have to understand my characters.  My script readers tell me what they think, which can help me readjust.  Usually, I go with my gut.  I love when a scene is funny until it’s not anymore in a subtle way.  I did a lot of rehearsal with two main actors [Sara Montpetit and Félix-Antoine Bérnard].  We worked on the rhythms of the characters.  Working with the truths of the characters is what makes the film.  Sad and awkward moments for the characters can be funny for the audience.  

LG: There’s a variety of characters in the film.  How do you sympathize with their viewpoints?  Besides wondering whether or not you’d eat a clown.

AL: I’ve always been interested in interpreting others through writing and acting.  I wanted to be an actor growing up.  It’s not like all the characters are me, but I can sympathize like an actor.  For example, Denise’s (Sasha’s vampire cousin played by Noémie O’Farrell) personality is far from mine, but I can put myself in her place. She's tough on the outside, but she has a soft spot.

LG: Right.  She spares J.P’s [Editor’s note: Sasha’s potential first kill that goes wrong.  Watch the movie!] life, even though she’s annoyed when he hangs around.

AL: Yes, and he says “You’d like me if you got to know me.”  And Denise knows he’s right.  I like working with contradictions.  Even Paul’s bullies have internal lives.

LG: What was it like transitioning from making short films to making your first feature with “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person?”

AL: It was hard [Laughs].  Not because it was a feature.  I was waiting to do a feature for a while.  I’m a morning person and there were a lot of night shoots.  It broke me for the first few days [Laughs]. I felt like I wasn’t functional at night, but then I was adjusted for the next 2 months.  For my next feature, I’ll definitely take better care of myself, so I can be more energized.

From Drafthouse Films.

LG: I hope your body clock has recovered by now.

AL: We also had 47 locations, but only 9 were confirmed when we started shooting.  It was a challenge, but everything is so precise in my head.  It’s hard to be unable to project yourself in a specific place.  I like to know what my playground is. But it was fun to finally create with my cast and crew.  After I made my last short film, I felt the experience was over too soon.  You create this energy between yourself and the crew, but you blink and it’s finished.  I liked creating on a bigger scale.  

LG: Night shoots are brutal for anyone, even if you are an actual vampire.

AL:  But for a night shoot, it worked for us.  We became actual vampires [Laughs].  It was neat.

LG: Can you talk about what’s next for you?

AL:  Yes, I’m developing a few things right now.  I just finished a new feature script.  It’s based on a play, about people who decide to disappear without telling anyone and the people they leave behind.  It’s a drama, but there are some colorful characters.

Interview edited for length and clarity.  “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” opens in NYC and LA theaters on June 21st, followed by a nationwide rollout.

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