While on a post-graduation break out of the states I did an internship with Jethro Massey, a British filmmaker based in Paris. As Jethro was showing me a few tricks on Final Cut Pro, he handed me a small camera and told me to take one day to shoot something, and come back the day after with a short documentary.

Luckily I bumped into my old acquaintance Fernando Favier, aka Gymkhana, a music producer and visual artist from my hometown, who now lives in Paris.

Internationally known for his collaboration with rapper Mike Ladd, which led to the release of”Father Divine” on the label RoiR, Gymkhana also collaborated with artists such as Vj Milosh, writer Vincent Ravalec, and singer/ song writer Arthur H.

I followed Fernando in the streets of Parisian neighborhood Belleville, from morning to evening, asking him about his life and work. According to Wikipedia, “Belleville is a colorful, multi-ethnic neighborhood and also home to one of the city’s two Chinatowns; the other is located in the XIIIe (13th) arrondissement. (…) The iconic French singer Édith Piaf grew up there and, according to legend, was born under a lamppost on the steps of the Rue de Belleville.(…) Many artists now live and work in Belleville and studios are scattered throughout this neighborhood. Some abandoned factories have been transformed into art squats, where several alternative artists and musicians, such as the band Les Rita Mitsouko began their careers.”

Below is the end –result of my homework, my first ever documentary shot in one day….Gymkhana discusses his electro– accoustic influences together with his desires to reside in a popular Parisian neighborhood that has inspired French artists for generations. The documentary is in French, english subtitles will come later!!