In Front of The Throne with Gene Lemuel and Milla Jovovich for Flaunt Magazine.
At Milla’s Hollywood villa legendary photographer Gene Lemuel captured portraits of Milla Jovovich for Flaunt magazine. I had the unique experience of being a witness.
I came into a room where I was greeted by Milla she was getting ready for her close up. I must say even without make up she is stunning. At that moment I thought it is right when they say “she really is put on this earth to punish men with her beauty.” After my visit with Milla, I was led to a room where a full wardrobe fit for an empress was laid out by celebrity fashion stylist Jessica Paster which consisted mostly of clothes by Gucci. While Jessica and her assistant were preparing the wardrobe Chris Brenner came in with his cute dog named Bubble. He was both keeping the crew in order and on the phone taking business calls. Next I went into a room where Phillip Carreon and Dawn Broussard were perfecting Milla’s makeup and hair. After the prep we all went downstairs. Milla was laying on an elaborate couch in a gorgeous feathered dress by Gucci she looked like an old Hollywood starlet. Gene started shooting capturing gorgeous frames of Milla the light was cascading , it was magical. While he was shooting, Milla’s very angelic and precious daughter Ever came in with her father Paul W.S. Anderson. A very curious Ever was looking at her mother in awe. Which explains all of Ever’s little chalk and paper drawings of her mother at the villa. Another person who was in awe of Milla was Gene Lemuel. He did not create chalk drawings of her but he did shoot captivating portraits of her .
The shoot moved out to the garden where Gene Lemuel set up Milla’s throne. The making of the empress.He directed Milla to raise the sword above her head. Milla is an expert swords woman it was amazing to see the light reflected off the sword. She was the empress on her throne this was powerful to watch. This was not the only climatic part of the shoot. As the real event came when the whole Flaunt crew (writer John Paul-Pryor, The beautiful president of Flaunt Erica Cornwall, editor/musician Matthew Bedard, and everyone’s favorite teddy bear Luis Barajas) arrived to see Milla in Kiki de Montaparnasse. Luis yelled out loud “your shooting with a legend, this guy is a legend” referring to Gene Lemuel. On that note the shoot ended.
Gene Lemuel was able to conjure many emotions out of Milla during the shoot. Yes it was epic and all captured on film with Gene Lemuel’s signature.
INTERVIEW
Walker / Flaunt : How does it feel now that everything is coming full circle and that you are shooting Milla now for the cover of Flaunt Magazine?
Gene Lemuel: I was very excited it was a long time coming and very challenging. Fully locked and loaded for sure. I only had an hour and forty minutes to shoot a double cover and 8-12 pages how would you feel? not that I knew I had an hour and forty minutes of shooting time. She’s my favorite brat to shoot. She knows I have a lot of love for her. The way I show that to her is how I capture her image. Also it is ironic that her film Resident Evil is #1 at the box office as well
W : What were your thoughts on Jessica Paster?
GL: It was my first time working with her I enjoyed her professionalism and spirit. She really came through and pulled everything the way I wanted for the shoot.
W : What about hair and makeup?
GL: Hair and makeup was super cool. Phillip was exceptional . I appreciated his diplomacy and his creativeness. Dawn the makeup artist was sweet, patient, and kept the makeup classy as I had requested.
W : Thoughts on working with Milla?
GL: one thing is I know Milla better than anyone in the industry. I was there from the get go with the lens. I can bring her true powerful emotions and essence in my frames . There is a bond no one can break between Milla and I.
W : Will there be any further projects?
GL: we spoke of a film project, but we will see what the future holds.
