Where did the idea for the film come from?

When I was 17 years old, I had to write a short story for a French homework assignment in high school. I came up with a story about man who slowly starts to rise from the ground. I am an actress. That’s what I do for a living. But it’s not always easy to get work, so at one point I decided not to wait around by the telephone anymore. I went on to make a short film. I recalled that story I did in high school, rewrote it as a script and that’s when I came up with the punch line that’s at the end of the film. It was not in the original story, but I guess I saw it through the eyes of an adult and realized this was a good story I wanted to tell. We applied for a grant, but it took three years before I got the money.

How many years was it since you first wrote that short story?

I am 36 year old and I began to film Little Inconvenience a year and a half ago.

So it’s been 15 years.

As an actress you probably work so much with text, but you made a film with practically no dialog in it.

It was not a conscious decision, it just happened. I do a lot of television work and yes, I always work with large amount of text. But when I see a film, I like to see a great visual. That’s what differentiates that medium for me. There is more to it than just text. It’s all in the image.

Why is it only the little girl that can talk to these people?

I don’t know really. I find that I am always shy with kids, because I have the impression that they know something else, something more. They have a pure vision that adults no longer have. They have this lucidity about them. They see things as they really are. They do not stress over things that we adults stress over. They are not burdened with financial problems or the big questions of what they should do with their lives. Instead, they are able to see and experience the beauty and magic of life.

What do you think happens to us after life?

Sometimes, I think our soul stays with the people we love. I really don’t know. But I’d like to believe that there is no end. It’s reassuring.

Is this your first short film?

No, it’s my third. I did two others about 10 years ago.They were about dating. The very first film I made had no budget, but I did it with a very good friend of mine who was a DP and the film won quite a few awards.

What are the qualities of a good short film?

If you manage to get the audience involved in a story, to fall in love or at least get attached and identify with your characters, then you’ve succeeded in making a good film. And there has to be a punch line. It’s quite challenging to have an idea and present it clearly in a short period of time, but if people continue to think about your film afterwards, you can consider it a success. Sometimes, I think it’s much harder to tell a story in five minutes than in two hours. Some people believe that a short film is just a practice before a feature, but I think a short film is an art form all on its own.

What advice do you have for a young filmmaker who is about to make their first short film?

Well, I am more an actress than a director, but I think everyone has something to say. And you can’t compare one short film to another because they are all very personal.

What did you learn from making your first short film?

Never hesitate to ask people for help, because you can’t really do it alone. Asking for help is not a sign of failure. At the end, it only benefits your film. Just be open. Be open to people’s opinion, but at the same time stay true to yourself.

What message do you want the audience to take away from your film?

It’s difficult to say without giving away the ending. Life is beautiful and sweet. Sometimes, if you are able to look at things differently you can find beauty in the most unexpected places. The negative can turn into a positive. And one more thing: Don’t ever forget about your inner child.