As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Gouverneur, the enigmatic car maestro of Octane, I can’t help but be mesmerized by his tales of vintage automobiles and on-set escapades. His life seems like a whirlwind of pre-dawn call times, interminable setups, post-dusk wraps, and middle-of-the-night commutes in a car carrier loaded with other people’s precious collectibles – all while keeping period correctness at the forefront.
Last week, an unusual collection of 1950s European cars took up valuable parking spaces on Lexington Avenue and 75th Street in New York City. A sleek Jaguar XK120 and a shiny red Allard K2, both valued at six figures, were interspersed with a pastel Citroen H-Type work van. On the opposite side of the avenue, there were three Citroen Traction Avant sedans mirroring these cars. Nearby was the classic French bistro Orsay, its front boasting a mahogany exterior under a striped canopy adorned with Parisian Metro-style Art Nouveau lettering. The curb to the facade was bustling with the typical scene of an NYC film set – tables filled with soda cans and snack bags, production assistants guiding pedestrians, technicians holding up large reflectors to manage the light.
Filming is currently underway for “Marty Supreme,” a highly anticipated solo project by Josh Safdie, one-half of the renowned NYC sibling duo behind the intense Adam Sandler crime thriller “Uncut Gems” and the gritty Robert Pattinson film “Good Time.” The star-studded cast includes unexpected A-listers such as Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, and Tyler, the Creator in his first acting role. Details about the movie’s storyline have been kept tightly under wraps. Strange rumors have circulated, hinting at a 1950s-set story about a professional ping-pong player, while paparazzi have been going wild, snapping shots of Chalamet strolling around New York City in glasses and attire that bear a striking resemblance to cosplay Jean-Paul Sartre. However, unless the film takes place in an alternate universe, the flashy cars lined up on Orsay Street don’t evoke midcentury NYC vibes.
Jake Gouverneur, Vice President of Octane Film Cars, explained that we’re filming at three distinct spots within the city and one on Long Island to create an authentic 1950s Paris atmosphere. He emphasized, ‘It’s the vehicles that set the location.’ I found him donning a flak jacket, sporting a mustache, and wearing a red baseball cap.
The business acquires unique automobiles for filming purposes within the New York region, specifically for movies, TV shows, and advertisements. “Although there are larger competitors, we’re often associated with rare cars.” He himself transported four French vehicles for a seven-day shoot. British vehicles, on the other hand, were brought in by their respective owners. They could be found chatting nearby. “These cars hold significant value,” Gouverneur noted. “Their owners prefer to stay close to them as much as possible.
Octane has been involved in a variety of projects based in New York, such as the HBO Max reboot of Sex and the City titled And Just Like That, the Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel set in the mid-1900s, FX’s Cold War drama The Americans, and Searchlight’s Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, which also features Timothée Chalamet.
As stated by Gouverneur, the famous actors were within the eatery, filming scenes that appeared as ordinary street props to onlookers in their parked vehicles. Background performers wearing period attire – a slightly awkward brown suit, a longshoreman’s coat (fortunately, no berets), and not French baguettes – would stroll back and forth carrying briefcases, cigarettes, and shopping bags. Sometimes, these extras were required to operate one of the vehicles, which posed the biggest challenge for Gouverneur’s role, he noted.
I’ve been left pondering a lot lately – ‘How does this function?’ seems to be my constant question, along with ‘How does that operate?’ And don’t even get me started on the hunt for the elusive cup holder! Starting these old vehicles can be quite an adventure, but fortunately, they all managed to fire up as planned.
Occasionally, the requirements for vehicles can be quite particular. In other instances, like this project, they can be more flexible. The instructions given were, “1950s France. What fits?” Octane compiled a suitable selection, complete with images and specifications, which were all endorsed by the production team. Gouverneur’s firm is very strict about historical accuracy. However, whether that guidance is adhered to is another matter, as demonstrated by an Octane 1984 Lincoln limousine playing the role of its older 1950s counterpart in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, because the director required the cast to face each other on board, a seating arrangement that hadn’t yet gained popularity during the show’s true era.
As a car enthusiast, I’ve managed to amass quite an unusual collection over the years: from a time-worn 1910 Ford Model T to a quirky three-wheeled Messerschmidt microcar from the ’50s, not forgetting a visionary 1960s Oldsmobile concept car. But my passion doesn’t stop at automobiles. I can help you acquire anything you might need – be it a train, boat, moped, or even a vintage golf cart. In fact, I once arranged for a set designer to inspect a helicopter in Delaware. As for submarines, they’re still on my wishlist – keep your fingers crossed!
As a passionate enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my go-to place for vintage automobiles is a sprawling collection stored in garages just outside the bustling cityscape of New York. However, if we don’t already own a vehicle required for a project, we have an extensive network of classic car dealers, collectors, and repair shops at our disposal to help us source or rent them. In some instances, we might even need to acquire vehicles in multiples.
Discussing the unique difficulties of filming cars in car-unfriendly New York, Gouverneur joked, “What isn’t a challenge?” He listed off noise, people, selfies, subways, parking, and pigeons as some of the obstacles they face. A Volvo 240 sedan was even once stolen directly from set, and another shoot for a Mark Ruffalo movie saw a car dealership filled with vintage cars go up in flames (with suspicions of arson). However, he confirmed that there have been no accidental collisions involving any of the company’s vehicles. If any damage occurs to the vehicles while on set, it is the studio’s responsibility and the insurance covers any such incidents.
Does Gouverneur find his job challenging with early morning calls, lengthy preparations, late-night finishes, and midnight drives in a vehicle laden with others’ valuable memorabilia? “It’s somewhat like being a firefighter,” he explained, nonchalantly. “Mostly it’s a lot of routine, but you always need to be prepared for something catastrophic to occur at any instant.” He glanced towards the catering table and added, “And if you’re not vigilant, you can easily overindulge.
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2024-10-10 01:26