04. 03. 2024
electriclime° are delighted to welcome filmmaker Ronan Gali to their director roster for representation in APAC and MENA.
Gali is a French film director based in Paris, with a strong background in the commercial space, having started as an art director in major advertising agencies such as BBDO and Saatchi.
He then travelled back to France as a director, with his work focusing on immersive experiences and strong storytelling themes.
His emotive and stunning work has seen him link up with some of the biggest beauty brands in the world, such as Dior, L’Oreal and Lancome.
Check out our chat with him below.
How did you get started in the industry?
Following my studies in communication, I initiated my artistic path through extensive travels, immersing myself in the richness and diverse cultures of the world. I began my career as an art director in major advertising agencies such as BBDO and Saatchi, which laid the foundation for my creative work. After a few years, I naturally shifted towards filmmaking, which, for me, was the best way to express myself fully.
What’s your favourite part of the filmmaking process?
It sounds maybe obvious but bringing an idea from a piece of paper to life with a team of talented individuals. Working together in an environment as intense as a film set provides me with endless inspiration. Every person is important. I believe there is something magical about being among a group of people sharing a common goal—to bring a creative vision to life.
What do you find most challenging/difficult about the filmmaking process?
Pitch process, It sometimes requires several days of work beforehand. You can put your entire heart and soul into enriching a vision, an idea, explaining it as best as possible. However, for various and varied reasons, they often evaporate in the face of commercial constraints, client decisions, and the ideas / work are too frequently uncompensated for this crucial part. It can be quite frustrating at times, and you need to learn how to serve other people’s ideas as well. That is one of the toughest aspects of this profession. That tends to change slowly in some countries., and that’s a very positive development. I believe it should be given more consideration in the near future.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I believe I’ve always had a natural curiosity. Inspiration is everywhere for me—I find it in everything that surrounds me. Whether it’s from something I come across online, at an exhibition, through reading, or in everyday life interactions, it often results in flashes of insight, sparking profound reflections and the germination of ideas within me. Whether it’s visual, auditory, or any other form, I make an effort to capture these early ideas in a small notebook. However, the process doesn’t stop there; I then need to develop and give creative structure to these initial sparks. Typically, I do this in solitude, away from any kind of noise
Also, I often use Spotify to immerse myself in music and get lost in it. Music is a significant source of inspiration for me; I can easily visualize images through it. Occasionally, I even compose, as it helps me enter into a creative bubble.
When you receive a brief, what are the first elements you are looking for in order to be grabbed by a project?
There must be an element in the brief that sparks imagination and where I can feel an emotion or something. Somewhere I know I could bring something meaningful to the project. I’m trying to see how much of myself I can find in it; is there something in it that resonates with me? That’s kind of the first thing. Is there something I might not have even done yet? Right now, I’m looking to delve a bit more into the commercial space, into fashion, storytelling, or even car commercials, even though it may not really be in my reel. Although, I believe there are similarities between car ads and beauty in their emphasis on details. I’m trying to find something that challenges or touches me a bit, but it’s sometimes rare in the commercial field because people only give you what you’ve already done and are reluctant to take risks on something they can’t see in your reel. That’s where passion projects play a crucial role, so people can say, “Oh, he can also do that.”
Why are you looking forward to joining the electriclime° team?
electriclime° has been producing amazing works, be part of this electriclime° family presents a fantastic chance to broaden my vision. Being able to travel as a director and work in diverse environments is a significant source of inspiration. I really look forward to starting to collaborate on exciting projects together and growing alongside you.
Describe your filmmaking style…
I don’t like to define myself in a specific style, even though I know that my current visible work is mainly oriented towards beauty, elegance, sensitivity, emotion, and textures. I love what I do, but it’s so easy to box oneself into a category as a commercial director. I am interested in all forms of commercials, in all categories, and I believe it is important for a director to step out of their comfort zone. I’m trying to do things I’ve never done before with several exciting projects on the horizon and I can’t wait to share them.
Check out his work here.
LOCATION | PARIS
TIME | 17:37
48.8566° N, 2.3522° E
