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Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad offer movement and acting coaching for feature films, operas, and theatrical productions. Their work merges the author’s text, the character’s physical life, and the plot’s circumstances into a deeply striking interpretation.

From rehearsals and pre-production through shooting to dubbing and editing, be it animal, alien, period, or character roles, their unique talent for breathing life into characters and assisting with the incorporation of special character costumes is internationally recognized in the film, theater, and music industry.

FEATURE FILMS: COLLABORATION WITH THE DIRECTOR AND CAST
The acting and movement specialist’s purpose is to collaborate with the Director to make the Director’s job easier, to fully grasp the Director’s vision, and understand the creative need. This is achieved by preparing the actors, making them more available, more flexible, actors who are clear about their interpretations of their characters, who are calm, easy to direct, and ready to adapt to changing directorial requirements. This includes both work on the part itself and for the general development of the actor, such as elimination of mannerisms and bad habits to acquiring better posture, movement coordination, and improved voice production.

HISTORICAL AND ICONIC CHARACTERS

When a script is about a historical or iconic character, it is vital to integrate every detail of the biography of the particular person: the period, the place, the beliefs, and the social and political climate of the time in which the character lives. In the film “W.,” Jean-Louis prepared Josh Brolin for his role as George W. Bush. They worked together on embodying George W’s aging process from the age of twenty to sixty. Besides integrating the character physicality, Josh had to find a way of mapping the aging process within George W’s particular life’s history. By using Jean-Louis’ coaching, Josh was able to discover and use in every detail the authentic human resources in his body and breath to give life to George W. Bush.

Leonardo DiCaprio worked extensively with Jean-Louis for his award winning performance as J. Edgar Hoover. Details of the psychological, physical, and emotional journey of J. Edgar Hoover had to be discovered and integrated from within.  In J. EDGAR, DiCaprio ages from his twenties to his seventies, a daunting challenge for a thirty seven year old actor. The result was a stunning interpretation of the historical figure that garnered DiCaprio worldwide recognition for his acclaimed performance.

PERIOD MOVEMENT

In the feature film THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE, Jean-Louis trained Academy Award winner Hilary Swank to move and embody, in a believable way, Countess Valois De La Motte, carrying out her plans at Versailles during 1785. As a specialist in 17th & 18th century period movement (French & English), Jean-Louis focused on assisting Hilary and the other leading actors penetrate the period manners as deeply as they penetrate their acting roles.

ANIMAL MOVEMENT AND MORPHOLOGY

Jean-Louis Rodrigue was invited by Ang Lee to consult on the tiger movement and behavior in THE LIFE OF PI, and to work with screenwriter David Magee on the integration of movement elements in the script.  Prior to Lee’s invitation, Jean-Louis had spent months researching tiger movement at the Los Angeles Zoo for Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the previous director assigned to the project.  There, Jean-Louis studied the relationship between tigers and their keepers, and absorbed all kinds of fascinating details regarding tiger behavior, movement, and morphology.

Working closely with Director Simon Wells and the Stan Winston Studio, Jean-Louis collaborated in creating the threatening movements of the Hunter and Spy Morlocks for Dreamworks’ feature film, THE TIME MACHINE. The heavy and elaborate creature costumes prevented the actors from moving in a believable way. Jean-Louis’ acting and movement coaching solved the movement problems and literally helped the Winston designers in improving the creature costumes. This work was essential in bringing to life the highly efficient and aggressive hunter quality of the Morlock creatures.

MUSIC – VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL
There are many causes for the problems musicians encounter in performance. Jean-Louis and Kristof’s coaching offers original and far reaching solutions through personal training sessions, and specific project coaching. Sessions include practical work on the specific musical piece, vocally and/or with the instrument. Jean-Louis teaches at the UCLA Department of Music as well as being on the faculty at the Verbier Festival and Academy in Switzerland with Kristof. Jean-Louis has taught for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, the New World Symphony, and the American Center for Music Theatre Training.

The services offered include solutions to the following problems:

• Misuse/Overuse Syndrome – Differentiating between misuse and overuse of the voice and improving the functioning of the musician in performance.
• Injuries and Pain – Addressing performance related medical problems. Dealing with stress and strain. Recovering balance and strength in the entire body.
• Breathing – Acquiring a sense of unity between breath, body, the instrument, and the music. The results are a deeper and clearer sound, an energized quality of performance and increased pleasure for the musician.
• Stage Fright – Understanding the causes of stage fright and eliminating its presence in performance.

PROJECTS AND CLIENTS

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jean-Louis Rodrigue                                 Kristof Konrad
310-209-9023                                             310-443-4483
Jeanlouisr1@yahoo.com                        knorthpole@yahoo.com

PHOTO CREDITS
“J.Edgar”
Courtesy of Warner Bros., Copyright 2012

“The Affair of the Necklace”
Murray Close, Courtesy of Warner Bros., Copyright 2001

“Life of Pi”
Courtesy of 20th Century Fox, Copyright 2012

“The Time Machine”
Andrew Cooper, Courtesy of Dreamworks, Copyright 2002