How was the service then?
“Very good. Apart from some initial disagreements with Singleton, who was a great director, but considered himself a great photographer. So he gave directions, decided on lighting and positions. Suddenly I handed him the camera and said, ‘Dear John, I It seems obvious that you want to take photographs. I’ll leave the assistants and the office to you. Good luck.” The Tupac who was real gentleman, laughed and said: “Come on, relax, John, let him work.” I haven’t had any problems since then.”
What was Tupac like in real life?
“Very polite and educated. He was a kind of 20th century dandy who didn’t like injustice. Unfortunately, however, he kept in bad company. I portrayed him in 1993. After the service I went to his home, where he had a real arsenal. He was very proud of it. In front of the entrance, on a large stone, he then had the word “outlaw“(outlaw, ed.). In short, man is always on the limit.”
Why is his image still relevant even though so many years have passed?
“Because there are legends that are destined to become myths. Characters like James Dean, Bruce Lee and Tupac himself managed to break the rules of the game.establishment after few years. Even if they die young, people will always see them as immortal beings who never age.”
Do you think Tupac knew he was in danger of dying?
“I don’t know. He, of course, knew that he was surrounded by many friends and many enemies and he would not be able to escape this reality.”
What would he have become if he had lived longer?
“He would become a formidable politician who would fight for the rights of blacks in America. He will also become an actor, perhaps one of the best in Hollywood.”
If he were alive, what would he think of our time?
“He was like, ‘Hey, what the fuck…!'”
Is there a figure like yours today?
“I love Jay-Z. But no one will ever have his mystique.”
How did you become a photographer?
“I was 18 years old and I realized that mathematics and electronics were not for me. At that time, I worked as a night porter in Montparnasse on weekends, and every evening I waited tables at the gay restaurant Chez Maria. Here I regularly met people like Grace Jones and Gerard Depardieu. I was very attracted to this. However, the real turning point was seeing the cover French mod Helmut Newton, when I was walking along the Boulevard Montparnasse. I said to myself, ‘What the hell, this is what I want to do with my life!'”