JOHANN ZARCO - The daring of a champion

22/02/1953, born in Suresnes, a town near Paris (France), I am the third of four boys and at school, if I am excellent in sports and drawing, I am quickly bored at the back of the class. These two activities would be decisive for my future.
In 1968, I was fifteen years old, the events inevitably influenced me and I left school in 1970 to work. In the meantime I did a preparatory year at the Arts Déco in Paris, but the motorbike racing virus was stronger and I put the brushes away.
1971, Côte Lapize, first race in secret from my parents, a 4th time followed by a fall are enough to convince me that racing is for me. An admirer of exceptional men, I dreamed of having a destiny, the Contiental Circus is there. I have only one obsession, to be part of it and to become the best "private pilot", like Jack Findlay, the hero of the film "Continental Circus". Strangely enough, it's not the handsome, god-fearing Agostini champion that attracts me, but the lonely, independent privateer.
Very early on I thought that motorcycling was an art of living and that these riders were the last romantics. To live their passion, they accepted to put their life in danger. So it happened that I was the best "privateer in the world", that I beat champions, but ephemeral exploits did not nourish much at that time.
1984, I hang up the leather. I leave the race with no money but alive.
1985, another life begins on the movie sets. Thanks to Patrick Grandperret and PW Glenn, directors, I take my first steps in feature films as a trainee director, "Les Enragés" with Fanny Ardant and François Cluset.
In 1986, I set up a special effects company but I was less interested in DIY than in photography, which I practised as an amateur. Finally, when circumstances led me to the set of Léos Carax's "Mauvais Sang", with Juliette Binoche, Michel Piccoli and Denis Lavant, I did not miss my appointment.
I was promoted to set photographer, the shoots followed and so did the appearances in the magazines. The portrait becomes my favourite field.
1991, "Les Nuits Fauves" by Cyril Collard, the cult film of the AIDS years. An exhibition of 50 prints at the Fnac circulates in all its shops for 2 years.
2013, the 60's arrived, no more time to lose, Marie and Robert help me to line up a motorbike on the classic races. The smile of speed returns and with it the path to the podiums. Unbelievable, the dream continues! But this time with another challenge, that of making a film that tells the story of the past in the present.
Running to film and filming to run. I created Strada Productions and began the adventure of "Once upon a time the Continental Circus".
2015, The film produced thanks to a subscription of 1000 people is finally released. It lasts three hours, including one hour of unpublished archives from the INA. It was a success in terms of publicity but not financially. An ex-pilot making a film had never happened before. It's my world title!
2017. I'm starting a new film about the incredible and exciting journey of the champion Johann Zarco.