Your Happy Hour - Shoot for the Stars

Episode Date: July 4, 2025

Welcome back to Your Happy Hour with Friday Feels!In this episode, we chat to Oriane Hermange, a dynamic entrepreneur and film director in France who is developing the Shoot The Moon academy for creatives to feel at home in an industry that is cut-throat and interesting to navigate across cultures, countries and continents. We chat on the challenges faced by filmmakers and the importance of empowerment, networking and the openness to experiential living in finding your career path and building entrepreneurial projects.What are you shooting for through your lens of life?Friday Feels is all about having those honest conversations, the power of community for personal growth and taking those actionable steps towards being our authentic selves.Thanks for tuning in! Keep it raw and real out there xYHH is produced by swartkat.co - captured via riverside.fm & shared via rss.com.

It's the Friday feels and we're back with your first sip of the weekend. You're now tuned in to this week's episode of your happy hour. I'm your host Nicole Carmine and it's amazing to have you here joining me this week as we uncover the truths about being a human and a working professional. What are you up to this Friday? Well whatever it is, this moment is just for you. Hello everybody, welcome back to yet another episode of Your Happy Hour and you're finding yourself in the Friday feels space brought to you by SWATCUT Studios, a SWATCUT co-venture.

And last week we wrapped up on the theme for last month which was In the Mirrors of the World. And so this week we are starting what will be our final episodes of the season. And we're taking a bow out of season two with some special episodes featuring three humans that are very close to my heart for various reasons. And then stay tuned for what we have in store after this as we are heading into a new stage

of our own field's journey too. But for today, our topic is called Shoot for the Stars and I have a very dear friend and dynamic entrepreneur joining me. A very big welcome to you, Ohiaan, to the Your Happy Hour podcast. It's really, really special to have you join me here today. And I know you've walked an incredible journey, so I can't wait to unpack that. And there's a lot of exciting stuff happening in your world, which is the one of film and cinematic experiences. So yeah, very, very welcome to the space. Thank you, Nicole.

Thank you. I'm very, very happy to be here too. Thank you for having me today. And I can't wait to chat further during this episode. We decided on this topic of shoot for the stars because in many ways it's very relevant to your world. You know, shoot being film shoots and stars being celebrities and the things that you do and you know also as we talk in English the expression of shooting for the stars is really going for gold you know really going big and I feel like that's that's very much your personality is you know you dream big and you do big things which is amazing. Do you want to maybe

just take us through a little bit of your journey of how you got to be doing what you're doing today? How did this all end up? I know you've traveled a lot too and yeah maybe what this topic means to you. Okay that's a good question. So where to start? Well I've had like I would say many many different lives. I explored different options when I was younger. I was really seeking my path. Like what was my goal like in with the career. So I tried many things from teaching French as a French language because I'm French, I worked in the tourism industry, I also studied translation, I did professional dancing, I studied music, I really explored and I also, yeah, lived abroad and explored how it is to live in different cultures.

And then there's another chapter, which is more like the film chapter. When I was 28, I decided I wanted to become a film director. And I studied at a film school and then came to Paris, where I live now, and started my career as a film director. I had several experiences on set or on post-production and I directed and wrote two shorts that were quite successful. And through all these years I've been observing the industry, like the film industry, how it works, how do you enter the film industry, what are the codes. And I couldn't find the answer, nor in the trainings, workshops, schools I've been attending

or nor via people who would share their experiences with me very transparently. So I learned a lot on the field and it took me years to understand how this industry works. And eventually I decided that I would like to give some of the keys to talents who are struggling with their career because it's a journey and it takes time to either be a film director, a screenwriter or also a creative in this industry. If you don't have the tools or a method, you can feel frustrated, you can get unmotivated or you can also just want to give up or feel depressed and there are so many talents out there who deserve to be heard. I mean whose voices need to be given a chance. So that's why I decided to create my own company called Shootute de Mune Academy and this is an academy that helps

professionals from the film industry to reach their career goal and to also join a community that will share some values in common which are not that common in the industry because it's a very fierce and competitive industry and it's not always easy to be, you know, in a safe place surrounded by people who not on, not, don't feel competitive with you but wants to, want to share with you their tips, their secrets and also their struggles. And I call it Shoot the Moon Academy. I had in mine also shoot for the stars, shoot the stars. But I decided not to go with shoot the stars or for the stars, because in the French language, being a star specifically means

being a celebrity, but it's mostly a term that we use for actors. So I didn't want to only, I didn't want to address actors, the actors, I mean the actors, but all the talents from the industry. And to me, it's just, it's not just about being a celebrity, it's more about having the right to shine. And also there's a poet, so it comes from actually this line that says that if you shoot for the moon, on the worst case scenario you will land on a star. And this is the philosophy I've been applying since I was a kid to my decisions. And I think it's an interesting vision because then you try to be bold and you take risks. But by seeing bigger, at least you will reach some step. That's a philosophy. Some people prefer to aim for the stars and then maybe eventually later they will go and shoot the moon and both philosophies are, I mean, they're

both valuable and interesting. But yeah, my philosophy is the first one. I've heard that quote before and it's really beautiful. I think it's kind of comforting because it really gives you that sense that you'll always land in a shiny place and that you'll be able to show yourself to the world. And I think that's what I really love about what you're doing is that there are so many voices.

I'm also very passionate about empowering artists and I see the things, I mean, I'm also very passionate about empowering artists and I see the things, I mean, I don't work in the film industry, but I kind of see things from the side and I can appreciate that things are hard and it's hard to get in there. So just to backtrack a little bit, like, how did you decide you wanted to be in film? What was kind of like that inspiration for you? Like, this is what I want to do? Well it's not very conventional. I did like coaching training, that's a very specific French

thing, it's called bilan de competence. It means more like skills assessment or skills and career assessment, I would translate it like that. And so you question your career, your past decision choices, there is also psychological parts and through how this process then you have a better understanding of who you are, what you want, what you need and from that you can make a decision of what would be the best career for you. As I said, I was trying many things and at some point I was 27 and I realized I can't go on like that. I can't just try something and then give up and start again and do that

forever. I really need to ask myself the right questions and I needed someone to help me with that. So that's how I realized because filmmaking for me represents lots of things I love. So it's a combination. It's a combination. There's music, of course, but there are different forms of art. There's photography, there's movements, there's sound. There's also periods when you work on your own. You're independent, but you also work with a team.

You can work with different teams, you're independent, but you also work with a team, you can work with different teams or the same team, and you can work on various projects. And I wanted a job where I would never get bored or I would never feel like, oh, this is it, like this is repetitive. And yeah, I love this challenge and it's also about writing because I'm also a writer. I've always loved writing, I wrote novels and poems and literature. So yeah, that made sense and I knew why I wanted to do that and that's why I never gave up, because I had the solid foundations. Yeah, I knew why I made this decision.

And so I think this is important and this is why it helped me also keep doing that. Even when I wanted to give up or when I was questioning myself, like, this is something I. questioning myself. This is something I... Yeah, this is the basics I come back to when I have doubts. Because when you start a career, as a filmmaker you have doubts throughout your career. I don't think there's any filmmaker who... It's not possible not to have doubt. You can have doubts for different reasons but of course you doubt. Yeah, no, I think it's

a hard industry and I think you're very brave but I love that because I think a lot of people stumble into careers and then later on it's like you don't really know what you're doing and how you ended up there. I mean we all kind of go through that in life. But when you have a solid foundation, it really does help a lot. Some of the coaching I do, I help people move from nine to five to entrepreneurship. And then you have to know that you really are passionate about that thing that you are going to be kind of pushing all your energy into.

So I think it's, I know a lot of these kind of tests get done, I know at least in South Africa, when you're 18 and you're at school and you go for these tests and they tell you what you can do with your life. And generally it's like, you can be anything you wanna be. So it's not really helping anybody, but maybe it's because we haven't developed

so much at that point, yes. And you really believe in experiential living too, like you had, Maybe you need to go live a bit of life, you know, take the gap year or do the traveling and find yourself and then know, okay, this is what I like to do. But yet, yet still, it's not easy. So when you have had those moments of, you know, doubts and difficulty, what have you felt is like that thing besides the basics that you decided like what has been like your motivation and maybe it's a mantra or something someone said to you that you've been holding on to? I would say there are several things there's this coaching

I did. I used to even had notes, it's a written document. So I would say like the two, three first years when I wanted to quit, I always referred to it. I checked that. Like when I did this film school program, it was very intense. It was not easy with also in terms of relationships for me to connect with the other people in my group. And I felt isolated and it's, yeah, I remember one day I wanted to quit.

But then I remembered, no, no, I have to go to the end. And I'm very happy I made that decision. happy I made that decision. And then when I in one of my past lives which was the life where I was dancing tango, Argentinian tango at like I would say a semi-professional level and I wanted to be a professional and I lived in Argentina for that purpose and I had a, he was a musician and he played music, tango music. And one day I was like, it was very hard for me, it was like, oh, am I going to succeed? And he said something very true that I always remind is if it were that easy to fulfill or achieve a dream, everybody would do that. And I don't know, it was so efficient, so efficient and I often think about that sentence.

Actually he doesn't know, he lives in another country and I don't know what he's become. But yeah, he made a difference and sometimes, yeah, a sentence like that made a difference. And then it made me realize that, yeah, this is very difficult, though that's why it's not easy to pursue a dream. I don't like the word dream but to pursue a vision or a goal and I can understand why people give up or why they choose not to do that, take that path because they don't want to be hurt. And so yeah, that takes lots of courage I would say. So there's that. And then when I question myself, I try to, there was also something which was economical. I had to take a loan for those studies and for the first year because I had no support, no financial support, no family, you know,

support, no financial support, no family could be supporting financially or anything. I had five years to refund it and actually ended refunding it this year. As I was always paying every month this loan, I was thinking, I cannot give up. I've invested, you know, it's like I've invested in myself, so I cannot fail my own investment, my own commitment. So of course I wish I didn't have to take that loan, but on some other part it made me also make my this commitment to me. So, yeah, I think this is also a game changer when you invest, I would say, even symbolically, but financially on you. Yeah, big time, big time. And I think the value of that is very underrated because, you know, it's almost like, yeah, here's the bank giving you that energy and you get to use that energy

that they've given you and go and create your own in the world and it's a beautiful loop, it's a beautiful feedback system that elevates you into that space. So I think it's not to be dismissed that that is also something that keeps us accountable. And yeah, I think it's just wonderful that you had this friend along the way and the different ways of motivating you. And recently I've been thinking a lot about that is I think we as humans, we're very scared of accountability. We want it, but we want freedom, but freedom comes with accountability. We want to pursue our dreams, but it does come with responsibilities. So I am grateful that you stuck it out because you've created such amazing things in the world and I

know recently you went to LA. Your film was premiering there and you had a trip to America. So how was that and how has it been being back in France after that and how different are these industries in different places? Yeah, that's correct. Yeah, so my latest short called Should I Stay or Should I Go? was selected in the official competition of an Oscar-qualifying film festival called Cinequest. It was in the Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay area, in a place called San Jose, and it was an amazing experience. And then I went to LA to explore how the film industry worked there. And yeah, there was a before and an after. I surround myself with many international people. I have lots of American friends, but it was the first time for me that I went to the US. And what I loved there is that people were so positive and enthusiastic.

And I didn't feel that competition, that feeling of fierce competition that I could feel here, that I felt here in France. People were genuinely enthusiastic and happy for you if you have a success. And I would say it's cultureable because the US is a nation that was built on the self-made man myth and it has a solid entrepreneurship culture. And so failing, succeeding are things that are admired, not envied. Like if you succeed, it's not that it is envied, it's more it is valued. Whereas here it can bring, I would say lots of jealousy or a feeling of, you know, feeling

inferior or it gives you... it's a mirror that reflects where are you at with your life. And so I'm not saying it doesn't happen in the US and I'm not trying to give like an idealized portrait, but yeah, I would say this is exciting because if you talk about project, no matter how ambitious it is, people will be supportive. And so you feel like there's no limits, like sky is the limit. And here people would be more, as they would say, realistic, but it's also pessimistic. They would immediately be like, oh, questioning like your intentions, the realities, the durability. And so you have to justify yourself and it's very, you feel very free being there. But of course, there are pros and cons between both industries.

I would say in the US the funding system is very different and it has pros and cons. It means you fight to find money for your films when it's an independent film and you depend a lot on the big studios. But at the same time, people are more also empowered because if they want to make those films, they will be the producers, they will seek money. So they're not in a passive situation, where most offers here in France feel passive because they're always waiting for someone's response, someone to bet on them. And, but at the same time, the positive thing we have here in our French system

is that we, many projects aren't bet on because of the profit, the profit that can be made. It's more about, you know about the artistic form in itself. And also, yeah, it's more of a peace of mind for many artists not to also have this producer side. So it's such a big industry there that for everyone they have this sense of industry. Whereas here, we would say that for the TV industry, streaming platform industry, but for the film like cinema industry, films that go to movie theaters, people don't really have that sense of this is an industry, this is a business industry. And so that's also why I've created Chute de Mune Academy, because I think it's important

to know that no matter how it's funded, it's an industry. And so you have to, you're doing business, so you have to understand the codes of this business, even if the business is a piece of art. I don't know if I answered the question or if I drifted. It doesn't matter. Yes, you did. And I agree, you know, Well, first of all, yes, I do believe that. I think everyone is an entrepreneur. We always speak about that. You kind of forget that when you're an artist, you also have to do your finances. You have to understand everything.

And it's interesting to me because I felt exactly what you're talking about. You know, I was obviously in America for a year before coming to France directly. And I was so grateful for that because America gave me the... I could say, I want to do this in America was like, let's support you. You know, how do you want to do it? How can we help you? The American dream is still very alive. And then coming to France, it's a whole different experience. People are so excited that you're an artist because it's part of the culture. It's kind of like woven into the country in a different way. So it's these

different experiences. And it's, you know, I guess what you're feeling in terms of uplifting people here is what I'm feeling about South Africa, because people have so much talent there, especially in the film industry too. And it's just not being owned in the same way as in France and in America. So they'll get there. They'll get there absolutely. And it's definitely a good hotspot for filming. But it's really awesome that you've had that experience now and that you can create a platform

for people to feel empowered and to feel supported. I think that's the main thing is when you're going on your journey in anything in life, it's just being able to know you have a network around you. So I'm curious, like in a year from now, where do you kind of see yourself and what are you planning? What can we celebrate with you in the future?

Well, I'm going step by step, but of course, I would love that Should the Moon be, Should the Moon Academy be more, be solid and, and, and exist in where the industry is known. I like to become like the first solution, the first place to go if you want to build your career in the film industry. So I have this ambition, I would say high ambitions and yeah my goal also on a personal level is to be able to manage both careers. This career is an entrepreneur with Shodemoon Academy and also the career of filmmaking. So I am currently writing a short and a feature

and I love those projects to exist. And if it's not those, others, but yeah, I'd love to make a third project, not in 10 years, because between my first and second short, a few years passed and then you feel you need this touch with the you know with the field you need to be directing so that's the thing when you direct you don't direct often because yeah projects take so long to being developed so so yeah i'd love to have both ambitions achieved. Amazing. Well, very excited for you really. I admire what you're doing and it's been wonderful to get to know you here in France and feel inspired by the things that you've been sharing. So, however, Friday Fields can support Shoot the Moon and everything that's coming for

you. And when that next film is ready, then please do share it with us and we'll share it with the community. And on that, I want to say thank you quickly to our partners who are our showcases of our content and our conversations out there to Riversidefm and rss.com. It wouldn't be possible to have these conversations without you. So for whoever is a live streamer, podcaster, content creator or keen just to have meetings in a more efficient way, you can check them out.

And they've graciously given our audience a discount. So hit us up on the DMs on socials at fridayfields.co and we will send you the discount code. On that, I quickly wanna do a very quick slide into what we call also the people, places and spaces. So these are like individuals or marketplaces online or cafes that we found that have the feels and so this week shout out goes to an individual called Antoine Martin Antoine Martin and for those who are English and he is the

sound engineer but also the creator of crispy records and One of our recent projects that I will be telling people more about is called Be Live and we're going to be shooting some awesome footage in his recording studio in Crois-Ysourcen. But he's just an incredible human, down to earth and super kind. And so thank you for your feels and thank you for allowing us to use your space and create cool music in the world and empower artists as well. So that's a shout out for the week. And then Orianne, we do this thing called The Gems, which is also just a little bit of what's been happening in your week. This has been an interesting week of change for me. I

definitely have a lot of bittersweet feelings as I'm selling my home in Cape Town in South Africa. And so closing a bit of a chapter as I'm selling my home in Cape Town in South Africa. And so closing a bit of a chapter as I kind of bring life into Paris fully. So that's definitely been on my mind a lot, but just so much gratitude for everyone that's helped me along with that. And yeah, it feels good to be in a lighter energy and, you know, sometimes it's hard when you have extensions in the world of your energy in different places so it's been a good lesson of letting go for me so that's been a bittersweet gem for me this week

what's yours been? Well here it was very hot we had very high temperatures but actually this made me go to the movies because I hadn't been in a while and I loved it. I watched three great movies and the one I really loved was the one I saw yesterday called The Materialists from film director Selin Song who directed Past Lives which was quite a success. So it's her second feature and I highly recommend anyone to go and see that movie. It was very interesting movie addressing the topic of love on using a philosophical way of addressing it and very, very beautiful film. So, yeah, if you want to see a film that questions love, go and see it. I actually forgot that was coming out this week and I've been dying to see it. So

I'm absolutely in love with Dakota Johnson. I think she's beautiful. Yeah, she's amazing in the film. Everyone is, all the actors and how they're directed is great. Yeah. Amazing. Okay. I'm adding it to the list. And talking about lists, I do have one more question for you. And that is something we call the stack and that is like your reading list.

Maybe it's a book you've read once and want to recommend, or maybe it's something that's been on your pile and you just haven't got to it. But we want to ask you what is in your stack that you can recommend to the audience as a book to read? I would say I was checking my library. I would say I will not talk of books that are on my list because I can't say much about them. I haven't read them. But since we're talking about about them, I haven't read them. But since we're talking about film making, I would highly recommend the book The Natural Technique from Jill Chamberlain. She's a writer and a script doctor and she wrote that book that explains a screenwriting technique. She has her own analysis of screenwriting. And this is very interesting. It helped me shape some of my projects. And it's very interesting, her vision on screenwriting.

So for people who are interested in screenwriting, I highly recommend this book, The Nutshell Technique. Oh, amazing. Well, we'll definitely be adding it to the stack. I feel like I need to read that one as well. So thank you so much. And for those who want to navigate to the website, you'll find all the books that get recommended on the podcast on there. And yeah, I just wonder for everyone listening out there, what are you feeling?

What are you thinking about shooting for the stars, shooting for the moon and landing in the stars? What are your dreams? What are your passions? Are you finding it hard to pursue them? And if you're in the film industry or yearning to be in the film industry, definitely reach out to O'Hare and we'll be tagging in all the socials and I'm sure you'd love to connect and be open to people exploring the academy. And yeah, just thank you for coming on today and we just wish you so so much

success with us and so excited. Thank you, thank you Nicole it was a pleasure talking to you today. If you haven't just yet follow Friday Feels on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn. You can share with us all your feels this week by tagging us at fridayfeels.co and you can also find the website at that handle. And now as you ease into this weekend, take a moment celebrate who you've become, what you've overcome and what is yet to come as you do the crazy and cool things that you do as the authentic you. You know the truth about life and work is that it's hard but the beauty is this global working experience that you're in

while we are in it together. So keep connecting, empowering and inspiring this week. And of course, keep it raw and real. Until next time.