This post was updated Nov. 4 at 10:47 p.m.
“Right in the Eye” continues a legacy of innovation.
From the mind of pianist and composer Jean-François Alcoléa, “Right in the Eye” is a movie-concert that brings a new experience of the work of film pioneer Georges Méliès. Created in 2014 with over 700 performances to its name, the show – presented by the company Alcoléa & cie – features 12 of Méliès’ films that have become staples of the production. Starting its ninth tour in January, the show will make a stop in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.
“I wanted to show up this genius from another point of view, to create a narrative and journey with this kind of film,” Alcoléa said. “But it’s not just the film, it’s a whole show related to the sound.”
Alcoléa said “Right in the Eye” – as a show that is simultaneously about the visual and auditory elements – is built upon layers. The score, he said, was created with the idea of the films and music complementing each other, rather than simply soundtracking the movies. Although the live performances play a role in developing the films’ narratives, he said the score goes beyond representing the actions on the screen to reflecting the emotions they evoke.
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Alcoléa said when creating the score, he did not limit himself to a single music genre, as he intended to create a unique identity for each film. This way, he said, the show features components from jazz to neoclassical.
Thomas Desmartis – sound technician and performer of “Right in the Eye” – said it is crucial to find the balance between the music and the films. He said understanding that the music complements the movies comes with knowing how much attention should be given to the score and when that attention should be given. Desmartis said the musicians get the opportunity to showcase the music through the transitions between the movies, maintaining the smoothness of the show as a journey.
“The music that we do, … it’s here to be forgotten,” Desmartis said. “It needs to be in the right place and to not get the attention. … It’s all about finding that right balance between illustrating what’s going on on screen but not going too far.”
As for the creation process, Alcoléa said that of the over 30 shows he has created, “Right in the Eye” has required the most work. In preparation for the show’s creation, he said he watched around 400 of Méliès’ films, before narrowing it down to 12. He also met with some of Méliès’ family members – and had a six-hour conversation with his great-granddaughter – to better understand the context surrounding his work, Alcoléa said.
Mathieu Lucas, the light, sound and video technician for “Right in the Eye,” said Alcoléa manages to make the show his own, even when utilizing the preexisting films. As someone who has worked as a musician for other projects of Alcoléa, Lucas said he finds musical elements characteristic of the composer’s work throughout the show’s score, even when each accompanying performer complements the score differently according to their style.
“But that is music. That’s him. That’s the way he composes. That’s the way he plays. That’s the way he hears the music,” Lucas said. “It’s 300% him, and the other guys on stage just complement that, and they add their personality.”
Continuing the unique approach to Méliès, Desmartis said “Right in the Eye” features 50 instruments in the European version of the show, with around 25 of those instruments brought on tour in the United States. Alcoléa said this includes well-known instruments such as keyboards and drums, as well as more peculiar ones like a piano frame.
With some instruments used only once throughout the entire show, Alcoléa said each one is carefully chosen to create the correct sound that matches the feeling that needs to be evoked. Desmartis said that through Alcoléa’s vision, all objects can be turned into an instrument if they have the potential of creating the desired sound, which is why he would label some of these instruments “objects that are making sounds.”
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For the touring aspect, Desmartis said it is always exciting to visit the U.S., as Méliès’ influence in today’s cinema is always recognized in the country, especially in states like California. Lucas said he is excited to visit smaller states in the country – as in past tours, they had the opportunity in those places to play in theaters dating back to the creation of the films, resulting in a full-circle moment.
The experience as musicians, Alcoléa said, is different from any other performance, as the films play the role of the conductor. With this upcoming tour being the third time Desmartis joins “Right in the Eye,” he said the more comfortable he is with the fast-paced nature of the show, the more he can observe the films, finding new elements each night that further contribute to his performance.
Even though “Right in the Eye” has stayed almost the same over the last decade, Lucas said it remains dynamic. He said it is common for people to watch the show – which has compositions full of details – multiple times to focus on different aspects, creating a new spectacle each night. The audience engagement, Alcoléa said, is particularly uplifting for the band, as they get to build on the atmosphere created by the crowd, reconnecting with the work.
“It’s not just basic musicians, it’s also acting – acting with films, acting also with the audiences,” Alcoléa said. “We created not just music but also a whole space where we are all included together with the film.”
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