« Hello traveller! Is this yours? »
That day, as the light was gradually fading and I was wandering through the woods, fighting brambles caught in my cloak, I hadn't really paid much attention to the surroundings. My eyes, too busy trying to see where I was stepping, had paradoxically missed the very discreet footprints that could be seen here and there, so their author had completely escaped my vigilance.
Standing next to a tree that I had passed a short time before, he was holding a small glass container sealed with a cork in his hand, staring at it. Of tall stature, with an amused look on his face, he seemed to be dressed in rags, although I remember a certain nobility emanating from him. His shabby cloak and worn boots were a clear indication that he was the sort of man who tirelessly roamed the moors. Watching him, I came to wonder if he wasn't one of those men known as Westerners. Keen observers, passing on their age-old knowledge orally from generation to generation, they knew the wilderness like no-one else, and were just as capable of hiding in plain sight as they were of tracking their target for miles based on the observation of clues that would escape ordinary mortals.
« Could it be king leaf? » he asked, confirming my idea.
Realising that I hadn't answered his previous question, I smiled at him.
« You've got a good eye! Not only had I not noticed your presence or the loss of my vial, but you also recognised the ingredient it contained... You seem to be a connoisseur. After a short pause, hesitating, I asked him: are you a Westerner?
- Your politeness does you credit! he said with a slight chuckle. Some people call us Rangers and I've decided to adopt this appellation, as it keeps the distrustful away and gives me plenty of time to talk to those who know who we really are. he added, looking friendly as he handed me the bottle that had fallen from my belt. »
He then enquired about the ingredients I had collected so far. Intrigued by my work, he kindly offered to show me the properties of certain local plants whose virtues were unknown to me. So we set off, taking advantage of our wanderings to get to know each other better. The conversation was so interesting that night caught up with us as we explored the surrounding area. It was high time we retreated to an inn.
The flickering light of the flames dancing on the dark wooden beams lining the ceiling revealed a vast room with a soft, inviting atmosphere, where the fire crackled merrily in an ancient stone fireplace. Suspended lanterns cast moving shadows on the walls, which were covered in tapestries worn by the passing of time, albeit richly patterned. The tavern-keeper was busy between the solid wooden tables scattered around, moving from one to another to serve the travellers who had stopped there for the evening.
It was on one of these, not far from the hearth, that we settled down, smelling the perfume of the stew that must have been simmering somewhere and listening to the bursts of laughter and the sounds of conversation around us. It wasn't long before we were all joining in, chatting happily about our respective adventures. Anyone passing by would have seen two companions, carried by the warmth of the fire and shared memories, their intonations rising at times, before falling back to a complicit murmur. We stayed there for a long time.
Before finally saying goodbye and heading for our own rooms, we exchanged a few last words. This gave me the opportunity to invite this new friend to come and visit my workshop if his footsteps happened to lead him near my home, so that I could share my knowledge with him, as he had done with me earlier that day.
As you'll have gathered from this short introduction, this column is an opportunity to look back at a very special project! Produced on the initiative of Benjamin Tantot, who wanted to get back into this type of production, it's a docu- fiction that explores the origins of the Dragons' Factory and my daily life as a creator.
Over the course of a weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting this talented photographer and video-maker from Normandy, who was able to follow me around my workshop, into the forest or among the ruins...
As well as the chance to work with someone so fascinating, I have fond memories of a wonderful encounter. Between the fun of good mates and the wonder of discovering the magic of certain shots, it was a most memorable experience, made possible by the kindness of my host and the invaluable assistance of Delkinn, who helped me write part of the voice-over. I'll let you discover this report!
THE DOCU-FICTION
And if you're still hungry for more, take a look at the making-of featurette - it even seems to contain a little blooper reel!
THE MAKING OF
To discover the full extent of Benjamin's talent, check out his Youtube channel, "Derrière la Caméra"!
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