Behind The Masks - an extraordinary film behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil when it all began in Montreal! 1994. First look at Saltimbanco & Alegria (to become Cirque's longest running show!)
The recent news (2021) about Cirque du Soleil filing for bankruptcy, has me feeling incredibly sad & nostalgic. Took me back to Cirque's beginnings - the time when it was creating, building & rehearsing its shows from a new warehouse in Montreal where they had just consolidated under 1 roof its several workshops & rehearsal spaces scattered across the city.
My documentary team was the 1st to film a 'behind the scenes' doc about Cirque - the design & building of secret sets, the costumes, the rehearsing & choreography, the extraordinary athleticism, creativity & ingenuity - all a multilingual collaboration (a lesson for world leaders to be sure!).
Soon after our film was broadcast ( & nominated for a Canadian Screen Award : )) Cirque du Soleil formed its own production company and did its own promotional documentaries/videos, closing access to external crews.
It was only years later that external crews were allowed to film again in the inner sanctum.
What an experience for us all to meet the artists & athletes behind the masks. So, dug up from my archives, is the incredible beginnings of Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco & Alegria! 1994.
Congratulations to the stellar documentary team who captured this precious moment in time!