by If you had told me that one day I’d be acting alongside Thierry Lhermitte and Michel Courtemanche, I would have laughed you out of the room! If, on top of that, I’d been told that I would be sharing the screen with American actors Rick Hoffman (of Suits fame) and Zibby Allen (Virgin River), as well as Gaston Lepage, and that this incredible ensemble would be working and mingling together in both languages—right here in Quebec—I’d be beyond thrilled!
Well, that’s exactly what’s been going on for the last few weeks as we’ve been filming with an incredible team, surrounded by the lush and vibrant greenery of Beauce and Estrie.
The film in question is WEDA, a family comedy written, directed and produced by Sylvain Viau. Following the international success of his children’s animated television series Walter and Walter & Tandoori’s Christmas (a collaborative production with Société Radio-Canada), Sylvain decided to make a feature-length version, where reality, animation and ecology meld.
Surprisingly, this is going to be a silent movie, and marks the return of Michel Courtemanche! I must confess that he was the reason I signed onto the project, and I can now confirm that my intuition didn’t lead me astray: it’s impossible for actors, let alone anyone, to hold back their laughter while he performs!
Another big star of the production is French actor Thierry Lhermitte (Les bronzés, Le père Noël est une ordure, Le dîner de cons), playing a wealthy businessman and avid golfer whose not-so-noble schemes risk exposure and bad press. I’m playing the slightly off-kilter editor-in-chief of a local newspaper covering current events…and maybe more.
And our American stars? They’re committed to creating a comedy that stands out. Rick Hoffman is generous on set. He’s keen to find the little details that will refine our scenes. Comedian Zibby Allen has been my partner in crime since the first day we met on set. We have a lot of fun together, and I can’t imagine this film without her. Zibby fell in love with the script and agreed to spend a large part of her summer in Quebec, which she is discovering with great curiosity. I almost believe she’ll be speaking French by the time the film comes out!
I won’t reveal anything else, but I can’t wait to share this with you. WEDA is scheduled for theatrical release in 2025, so there’s plenty of time to get excited!
