Portrait of Sophie Gateau by Dan Elhadad

Sophie Gateau is a multi-disciplinary Parisian artist who explores space and design from the perspective of an architect, art historian, graphic designer and filmmaker. Gateau began her filmmaking career creating visually stunning live action films for fashion runways and has since worked as a commercial and music video director, as well as a graphic artist on top-tier films including The Matrix Reloaded and Wong Kar Wai’s 2046. Visit her work at www.sophiegateau.com and www.paranoidus.com.

Who or what inspires you?
Everything! Cities, people, art, travels, music, everything from a medieval unicorn to a high-tech robot…

Your production company is called Paranoid. What makes you Paranoid?
Android.

What music excites you now? Do you like to listen to music while you work?
I listen to a lot of music while working, it lets me isolate and concentrate. The last albums I listened to were Animal Collective and Emily Jane White.

Sophie Gateau’s music video for Eglantine Gouzy ‘Boa’

You frequently travel between Paris and LA for work. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each city for you?
I’d say the difference between North America and Paris is about improvisation, there is more in Europe I think, which, depending of the situations, is better or not.

Charade fashion film for Melodie Wolf co-directed with Olivier Bobin

Your worst habit?
Speaking to my computer, I am a real geek.

Commissioned fashion films seems to be a new trend. Why do you think this?
Fashion world is very exciting in the sense that the more unconventional you go, the better it is. From the work I did with fashion designers, I learned that there is no limits to the creativity as long as you assume your choices and that visual exaggeration can create amazing films.

What (new projects) are you working on now?
I’m currently writing a short film that will incorporate contemporary music, dance and special effects. And I’m directing a series of very short commercials featuring French athletes.

Dream project?
A project with total freedom creatively and no constraints in terms of time delivery, with a team of people working in different fields, a multi-disciplinary project.

Read more about Sophie Gateau in Flux’s Who is Sophie Gateau

See Sophie Gateau’s installation at the Flux Super 8 exhibition, August 15 - September 5, 2009 at Scion Installation L.A. Space; 3521 Helms Ave. (at National); Culver City, CA; +1-310-815-8840