Philippe Arseneau
Quebec City
Genre: Sports
Filmography: Riders (2024)
Originally trained in 3D animation and image synthesis, Philippe Arseneau first explored the digital arts before discovering his true passion for filmmaking. After two years in the industry, he bought his first camera and dove headfirst into the world of independent cinema. Every evening after work, he would shoot, edit, and refine his craft, constantly pushing his creative limits. This relentless dedication allowed him to develop his skills as a self-taught filmmaker, fueled by the vibrant energy of the artists around him. Today, after five years as a freelance filmmaker, Philippe lives entirely from his craft, working on projects that challenge and inspire him.
Philippe has now been instrumental in developing and producing the Fibe TV1 series, Riders, where the vibrant board sport community of Quebec City is explored. Discover not just the sports themselves, but the stories, culture, and bonds that define the communities.
Reflecting on your filming experience in Quebec, what insights did you gain into the local community?
Doing this series helped me a lot about discovering a new community, since I’m originally from Baie Comeau and I still have a lot to learn and see in Quebec. When I would walk around the city, I could see people playing with their boards and it always fascinated me because I had never seen that before. Then, when I had the opportunity to do the show about board sports, it made me learn so much about the community and the comradery between everyone doing these sports and how they help each other. When you think about Quebec, this is not something you usually see, and I wanted to highlight that.
What advice would you give to fellow creators who are looking to work with TV1?
Remember that each step during the production is equally important, but the most important aspect is to be passionate about what you're filming and the subject of your series. Your series also must be captivating and interesting for the viewer. Those qualities will get you through many tough and long days if you really care about what you’re shooting.