Bounty/Banana’s Steven and Julien:“We Don’t Compromise on Fun”
Steven Briand and Julien Jourdain de Muizon - AKA Bounty/Banana - met the good old fashioned way: at art school. The pair attended Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs - or for those unfamiliar with French, the National School of Decorative Arts. The pair have most recently signed for representation with the Australian production company Playground.
Julien was one year above Steven, but both doing the same course, crossing paths but never working together. Steven, however, always remembered Julien for his outstanding art style, a “cool Naruto and military mix” as Steven describes.
When Steven was graduating from art school, he needed someone to star in his martial arts dance battle-style film across from a stop-motion creature. So naturally, he thought of Julien. They have been working together ever since.
Over the course of their early careers, they would both work individually on each other's projects, before signing as a pair on a TV Series called ‘Supa Supa.’ Steven and Julien are the definition of yin and yang because, as stated by Julien, Steven provides structure to his chaos and has the ability to give it drive and purpose.
“I’m the kind of person who wouldn’t feel comfortable doing certain things. When I met Julien he had this freedom of being able to say what he thinks without caring about the other people around him. This allowed me to realise that not everyone will understand you but those that matter will. He freed me from being too self conscious”, said Steven.
Steven went on to say that he trusts them as a pair to be able to come up with solutions, and that when alone he struggles to see through the trees but together everything is clearer.
“We complete each other. I always try to have in mind what I think Steven is going to think,” said Julien.
Both being mixed race, they have found a connection within being ‘the middle’ between their respective cultures. Steven described growing up as being able to see the absurdity of both cultures and the struggles that came with not being able to share that unique perspective with anyone else. That was until he met Julien and although their cultures are not the same, that feeling of being in the middle is. “We have this desire to explore and have fun because of the ways in which we have grown up,” Steven stated.
Steven and Juilen have worked with each other for the past 10 years of their lives, and have created a cinematic universe that is unique to them. They have worked on countless music videos, TV shows and TVC’s where they have combined their love for animation and live action. Their projects are always dripping in fantastic colour and take an audience on an adventure that they wouldn’t expect.
Recently, they directed a TVC for Post-Its and instead of the usual product demonstration of sticking a post-it note on a fridge, or a whiteboard with a serious business meeting happening in the background, they created a story about a man and his daughter having fun and being creative with the tools given to them.
The Australia market should be excited to have two unique directors joining their ranks. Nick Garner, producer at Playground said,
“Bounty Banana’s integration of VFX and Live Performance, means more than clients accessing a comprehensive knowledge base in pre, shoot & post - the inherent creative leanings offer some pretty special and dynamic outcomes. While every single project is different, because the guys bring so much to the table in terns of what they know and can achieve, they compete on a local basis. For agencies and clients who are into their style and schtick, it's an attractive proposition. And the work speaks for itself - nuanced, attention grabbing, well-told and of the moment. ”
For their 10 year anniversary, they produced a video called Intensity that showcased all their personality in the best way possible. It combines music, language, art, and live action to create something only Bounty/Banana could dream of.
“We started Intensity as a way of expressing who we have become as a duo”, said Julien. “It was after a few projects fell out of our control, and we needed a way in which to express this creativity”.
Steven said that during Intensity it cemented in their brains that they only want to work on projects that they have fun talking about.
“That’s when we know it’s meant for us. We don’t compromise on fun.”
The pair also touched on the importance of building a safe working environment in order to create the fun that they love so much. They both agreed that they want whomever they are working with to feel as if they can express themselves, as if they can combat the initial ideas put forward, and discuss in further detail rather than going with whatever is on the table in the first place.
“We don’t pretend to have all the good ideas. It’s all about teamwork for us,” said Steven.
It’s in a creative’s nature to be protective over their hearts, minds and most importantly their ideas. To find someone who you trust with your creative journey is rare but when you do, the magic that can be produced is extraordinary. Finding our creative partner is like finding any relationship in your life and can best be described by Steven and Julien themselves;
“Our girlfriends and wives joke that we are each other's second wives,” said Steven.
“Or first wife…” joked Julien.
