Jean-Baptiste Maunier
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Maunier (born 22 December 1990), nicknamed JB or Jean-Bapt, is a French actor and singer famous for his role in the 2004 French film, Les Choristes
.
, in which he plays Pierre Morhange, a delinquent with an exceptional singing voice at the correctional school Fond de L'Étang. Christophe Barratier
, the director of Les Choristes, chose Maunier because "he had the right look" and a marvellous voice. He was also exceptionally appealing for the role.
Following the release of the film, Maunier and the choir took part in numerous concerts all over the world, including Japan and Canada. In February 2005, Maunier left the choir in order to devote more time to his studies and to his acting career.
In April and August 2005, he took part in a four-episode television series for France 2
directed by Hervé Baslé, Le Cri. In the series, Maunier plays the part of a young worker in a steelworks. The series was released in 2006.
Maunier appears in Le Grand Meaulnes
, a film directed by Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe, based on a novel of the same name by Alain-Fournier
. Maunier plays Francois Seurel in this film, which was first released in October 2006.
In Piccolo, Saxo et compagnie, released in December 2006, an animated film about musical instruments and notes on an adventure, Maunier lent his voice to the character Saxo.
In the summer of 2006, Maunier acted in Hellphone
, a full-length film directed by James Huth. In this film, Maunier plays the role of Sid, a fan of the rock group AC/DC who finds he has a mobile phone with surprising powers. The film was released in March 2007.
His most recent film is L'Auberge rouge, directed by Gérard Krawczyk
, an adaptation of the 1951 version. Maunier stars as Octave. It opened in theaters in France on 5 December 2007.
Jean-Baptiste has recently spent a year studying at New York's Lee Strasberg Institute to unleash his acting potentials. Staying in the US has also allowed him to polish and perfect his English. He has returned to France now, and has performed in the Enfoirés charity concert of 2010.
(middle school), Maunier was asked to make a choice between various activities. He chose singing and became a member of Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc
(full name is "La Chorale des Petits Enfants De Saint-Marc"). In the choir, he was tutored by the choirmaster, Nicolas Porte, and learned to develop his singing voice.
In Les Choristes
, the film that made him widely famous for his singing skills, both Maunier's solo and the chorus of "Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc" are featured on the original soundtrack.
In 2005, to keep a souvenir of his voice before it broke, Maunier decided to sing with Clemence Saint-Preux
and had released the single,Concerto pour deux voix, which was in turn an adaptation of Concerto pour une voix.
While Maunier's vocal career is on hold for now, since 2005 he has participated in Les Enfoirés
, an ensemble of notable singers and performers in France that periodically performs charity concerts.
Les Choristes
The Chorus is a 2004 French drama film directed by Christophe Barratier. Co-written by Barratier and Philippe Lopes-Curval, it is an adaptation of the 1945 film A Cage of Nightingales , which in turn was adapted by Noël-Noël and René Wheeler from a story by Wheeler and Georges Chaperot.Widely...
.
Early life
Maunier was born to Thierry Maunier, a cameraman, and Muriel Maunier. He has a younger brother, Benjamin. His father sang in a well-known church choir (Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint Raphael) which may have partly inspired Maunier in his own singing career. Maunier attended a private Catholic school in Lyon, France. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York between 2008–2009 to perfect his acting and English, returning to France to sing in the group Les Enfoires.Acting career
Maunier gained fame for his starring role in the 2004 French film Les ChoristesThe Chorus (2004 film)
The Chorus is a 2004 French drama film directed by Christophe Barratier. Co-written by Barratier and Philippe Lopes-Curval, it is an adaptation of the 1945 film A Cage of Nightingales , which in turn was adapted by Noël-Noël and René Wheeler from a story by Wheeler and Georges Chaperot.Widely...
, in which he plays Pierre Morhange, a delinquent with an exceptional singing voice at the correctional school Fond de L'Étang. Christophe Barratier
Christophe Barratier
Christophe Barratier , son of actress Eva Simonet and nephew of film director Jacques Perrin, is a French film producer, film director and screenwriter. He has directed three hugely successful features films The Chorus...
, the director of Les Choristes, chose Maunier because "he had the right look" and a marvellous voice. He was also exceptionally appealing for the role.
Following the release of the film, Maunier and the choir took part in numerous concerts all over the world, including Japan and Canada. In February 2005, Maunier left the choir in order to devote more time to his studies and to his acting career.
In April and August 2005, he took part in a four-episode television series for France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
directed by Hervé Baslé, Le Cri. In the series, Maunier plays the part of a young worker in a steelworks. The series was released in 2006.
Maunier appears in Le Grand Meaulnes
Le Grand Meaulnes
Le Grand Meaulnes is the only novel by French author Alain-Fournier. Fifteen-year-old François Seurel narrates the story of his relationship with seventeen-year-old Augustin Meaulnes as Meaulnes searches for his lost love. Impulsive, reckless and heroic, Meaulnes embodies the romantic ideal, the...
, a film directed by Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe, based on a novel of the same name by Alain-Fournier
Alain-Fournier
Alain-Fournier was the pseudonym of Henri Alban-Fournier , a French author and soldier. He was the author of a single novel, Le Grand Meaulnes , which has been twice filmed and is considered a classic of French literature.-Biography:Alain-Fournier was born in La Chapelle-d'Angillon, in the Cher...
. Maunier plays Francois Seurel in this film, which was first released in October 2006.
In Piccolo, Saxo et compagnie, released in December 2006, an animated film about musical instruments and notes on an adventure, Maunier lent his voice to the character Saxo.
In the summer of 2006, Maunier acted in Hellphone
Hellphone
Hellphone is a 2007 French comedy horror film, directed by James Huth and stars Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Jean Dujardin and Édouard Collin.-Plot summary:...
, a full-length film directed by James Huth. In this film, Maunier plays the role of Sid, a fan of the rock group AC/DC who finds he has a mobile phone with surprising powers. The film was released in March 2007.
His most recent film is L'Auberge rouge, directed by Gérard Krawczyk
Gérard Krawczyk
Gérard Krawczyk is a French film director. He is of Polish descent .-Filmography as director:* Homocide by Night * Je hais les acteurs Gérard Krawczyk (17 May 1953) is a French film director. He is of Polish descent (his grandparents were from Częstochowa).-Filmography as director:* Homocide by...
, an adaptation of the 1951 version. Maunier stars as Octave. It opened in theaters in France on 5 December 2007.
Jean-Baptiste has recently spent a year studying at New York's Lee Strasberg Institute to unleash his acting potentials. Staying in the US has also allowed him to polish and perfect his English. He has returned to France now, and has performed in the Enfoirés charity concert of 2010.
Singing career
Upon entering collègeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
(middle school), Maunier was asked to make a choice between various activities. He chose singing and became a member of Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc
Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc
Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc is a children's choir, founded in September 1986 by Nicolas Carries. It is a mixed unit composed of seventy-five to eighty school-aged children from ten to fifteen years old. All are provided education from the Saint-Marc college in Lyon.-Admittance:Children join...
(full name is "La Chorale des Petits Enfants De Saint-Marc"). In the choir, he was tutored by the choirmaster, Nicolas Porte, and learned to develop his singing voice.
In Les Choristes
The Chorus (2004 film)
The Chorus is a 2004 French drama film directed by Christophe Barratier. Co-written by Barratier and Philippe Lopes-Curval, it is an adaptation of the 1945 film A Cage of Nightingales , which in turn was adapted by Noël-Noël and René Wheeler from a story by Wheeler and Georges Chaperot.Widely...
, the film that made him widely famous for his singing skills, both Maunier's solo and the chorus of "Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc" are featured on the original soundtrack.
In 2005, to keep a souvenir of his voice before it broke, Maunier decided to sing with Clemence Saint-Preux
Clemence Saint-Preux
- Biography :The daughter of composer Saint Preux and a painter/author mother, Clémence, from a young age, grew up in an artistic world, therefore it was only natural that she would turn towards music and singing early in her life, also learning piano and guitar and taking lessons in dance and...
and had released the single,Concerto pour deux voix, which was in turn an adaptation of Concerto pour une voix.
While Maunier's vocal career is on hold for now, since 2005 he has participated in Les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés , is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur .-History:...
, an ensemble of notable singers and performers in France that periodically performs charity concerts.
Filmography
| Year | Movie/Television | Director | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Les Choristes Les Choristes The Chorus is a 2004 French drama film directed by Christophe Barratier. Co-written by Barratier and Philippe Lopes-Curval, it is an adaptation of the 1945 film A Cage of Nightingales , which in turn was adapted by Noël-Noël and René Wheeler from a story by Wheeler and Georges Chaperot.Widely... |
Christophe Barratier Christophe Barratier Christophe Barratier , son of actress Eva Simonet and nephew of film director Jacques Perrin, is a French film producer, film director and screenwriter. He has directed three hugely successful features films The Chorus... |
Pierre Morhange | |
| 2005 | Les Choristes en concert | Nicolas Porte | Soloist | Concert made into a DVD |
| 2006 | Le Cri | Hervé Baslé | Jeune Robert | Telefilm in four episodes |
| Le Grand Meaulnes | Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe | François Seurel | ||
| Piccolo, Saxo et Cie | Marco Villamizar Éric Gutierrez |
Saxo | Voice | |
| 2007 | Hellphone Hellphone Hellphone is a 2007 French comedy horror film, directed by James Huth and stars Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Jean Dujardin and Édouard Collin.-Plot summary:... |
James Huth | Sid | |
| L'Auberge rouge | Gérard Krawczyk Gérard Krawczyk Gérard Krawczyk is a French film director. He is of Polish descent .-Filmography as director:* Homocide by Night * Je hais les acteurs Gérard Krawczyk (17 May 1953) is a French film director. He is of Polish descent (his grandparents were from Częstochowa).-Filmography as director:* Homocide by... |
Octave | ||
| La Lettre | François Hanss | Guy Môquet Guy Môquet Guy Môquet was a young French Communist militant. During the German occupation of France during World War II, he was taken hostage by the Nazis and executed by firing squad in retaliation for attacks on Germans by the French Resistance... |
||
| 2010 | Louis la Chance | Philippe Leclerc | Louis | Voice |
| 2011 | Perfect Baby | – | – | Franco-Anglo-Chinese Production |