I experienced a real shock! This TV serial project on the Arte website takes place in the Aubiers, a Bordeaux neighborhood where many persons live in extremely difficult conditions.
A place where I don't usually go. I met the production crew and some of the actors. The shock was to discover this fascinating project, and this group of youths who all work hard, unpaid, around the producer, Lydia. With extraordinary enthusiasm, love for their neighborhood and total friendship.
In the afternoon, we were invited to lunch by the mother of one of them, I found myself on the fifteenth floor of one of the towers, sharing an African style meal, all seated around the dish, with genuine exchanges, impressive human warmth, solidarity, bursts of laughter, a real verve... all things that it's pretty hard to find "elsewhere" today.
Bertrand Auneau
Sponsor of the K-Prod project: a web-TV serial broadcast on Arte, produced and performed by the inhabitants of a number of difficult neighborhoods of the Bordeaux suburbs.
Bertrand Auneau, director of a Veolia Propreté agency specialized in services to communities in Gironde, has just completed a remarkable experience thanks to his commitment as the sponsor of a project backed by the Veolia Environment Foundation. With the young actors of K-Prod, he found enthusiasm, determination and human warmth which will take him a long time to forget.
What is your recollection of your first meeting with K-Prod?
In your opinion, what are the reasons why they started this adventure?
Life in Aubiers is far from easy!Some of the youths already have a rather chaotic past. One of them was just released from prison when I met them... Above all, I feel that they have a tremendous need to escape from their daily habits, something that is not always easy.
And besides, they really need to prove to themselves, and to their families, their neighbors and everyone else, that they are not delinquents. That everything has not fallen apart. You can see that they really want to get out of that situation. One of them told me: "You can't imagine, when you've served time, how difficult it is to get back to normal. You have to be really strong psychologically". This project transports them to another life, it's a lifebuoy which they hang on to with energy and enthusiasm, while learning new skills.
At the same time, and this is also very important, this web-TV series, which mainly takes place in the suburbs of Bordeaux, is recreating a new dynamism in their neighborhood. The project is supported by all the inhabitants, who are extremely proud of it.
Together, we met people who greeted them with a joyful high-five. This brings back hope. And you have to admit that some of these youths already have the right "looks" and genuine artistic talent.
What do you derive personally from this sponsorship?
When I meet people like that, I can only be enthusiastic! Rarely have I come across such generosity.
The crew of K-Prod, through its dynamism and the quality of its project, really makes you want to get involved. Personally, it is extremely enriching, and besides, in such a project, we rediscover all the values honored by our company.
