«I kept collecting dreams» Interview with Hugo Comte

Hugo Comte's directorial debut, "Purring Metal," has emerged from the ethereal realm of dreams, a fabric woven with the threads of his subconscious visions. «It started from a dream I had,» reflects Hugo,« a hand holding cards in the foreground, with a knight painted on it, and five other girls in the background playing. Since then, I kept collecting dreams and ended up connecting them into a narrative.» This initial idea, blossomed in 2018, became the seed for a project that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional storytelling. In the film, six interconnected female experiences are revealed, converging into a unique portrait of Hugo's imaginary muse. The title, Purring Metal, carries a metaphorical weight, representing the duality that pervades the film. Hugo explains: «It’s about the duality of the movie, most of it is built on metaphorical duality symbol»

Having built a reputation as a renowned photographer, Comte seamlessly transitioned from capturing still images to creating moving ones. «I often think of my photos as moving images,» he shares, emphasising the contemplative atmosphere and deliberate pace that permeates the film. However, «when sound is added, that's when you feel the novelty and spice» of this artistic transition. This cinematic adventure, though distinct, remains connected to the broader body of Comte's work. It provides him with a unique platform to portray women and femininity without the constraints of fashion or political guidelines. «It's a true portrait of a muse, layered into six characters,» he states, defining it as «a raw and unfiltered extension of my photography.»

Drawing from his experience in the fashion world, Comte also discussed the practical challenges of directing. «Managing crisis situation when you have over 60 people on set and get the best creative outcome out of a very tight timeline» is the skill that proved most useful to Comte during this first directorial experience, allowing the production to thrive even in the face of inevitable setbacks that always occur during the process. His ability to extract the best creative results from such circumstances demonstrates an expert approach honed over years on set. However, the artistic challenges of translating his vision into a 20-minute film posed a different set of obstacles: it is true that many times the form does not align with the intentions of art, because matter is deaf and does not know how to respond. «It’s very clear to me what I want people to feel in front my photographs,» Comte elaborates, «but what they can feel in front of a 20 minute-film become so wide . The main challenge was probably to understand how to communicate these deep feelings within these 20 minutes», he reflects further, «and maybe understanding the way I wanted people to feel is not the way people actually like to feel in front of a movie.»

When asked where satisfaction lies for him in his creative process, Comte's response is succinct: «It feels right. Or it doesn't. That's all.» This blend of intuition and visceral connection guides his artistic judgment. Looking ahead, Comte expresses the desire to expand his directorial projects into more mainstream endeavours, following in the footsteps of Tom Ford who turned to cinema in his later years with much success. «Yes, definitely,» he affirms, sharing his excitement for «an epic science fiction show» he is currently writing. The future, he believes, offers «a multitude of subjects and themes that I would like to explore and address.» In contemplating the role of art and creativity in today's media production of fashion, Comte emphasises the untapped potential of «people that are truly driven by an outstanding originality, making their idea comes to life because they simply can’t handle to keep things for themselves.» The secret for every creative, according to the photographer, lies «how sincere you are, how sincere you have to be in order to survive.»

As for the future, Comte envisions a sustainable approach to his fashion photography career, capable of pushing beyond traditional creative boundaries. «Things will change a lot in the coming years,» he predicts, recognising the evolving landscape where «creativity won’t necessarily be what’s needed anymore , but different range if skills». And like all great creatives, his ambition extends beyond personal success, fuelled by the hope of contributing to a positive shift in the immensely larger and complex dynamics of the broader fashion industry.