Like his father, Thibault Tauran is fascinated by the American landscape. Both men find it inspiring. Both want to capture it on film.

But the two Frenchmen have two different ways of approaching the subject.

Phil Tauran records America’s loveliness, its icons and its loneliness in beautiful photographs.

Thibault, like so many of his generation, is fascinated by movies.

He’s so enthused by the medium he’s studying for a degree in cinema, with one year left in a three-year program at Montpelier University.

The curriculum includes studies in French and American cinema and a heavy dose of the technical aspects of filming, including  editing, camera operations, the use of tripods and lighting.

The work includes making short films.

To date Thibault has made a few documentaries, but now he’s completing his first fictional work. “Wild Horses” was inspired by a visit with his dad to Vantage, the eastern Washington city, which is home to a striking monument to wild horses.

“Eastern Washington is so beautiful. I was very inspired by the place,” Thibault said. “In France we don’t have places with no one around.”

He first took photos, then filmed some of his favorite spots. “At the beginning, the movie was just about the place,” he said. “And then I got the idea for the story.”

On the road

“Wild Horses” is a road-trip movie, with father and son playing the role of father and son. “They have a very complicated relationship,” Thibault said.

To take full advantage of the landscape, Thibault created what he calls an “apocalyptic movie.” Beyond the two Taurans, no one appears in any of the film’s scenes.

Thibault is the writer, director and photographer of the piece.

He’s also the lead actor, which he said he’s comfortable doing.

He’s worked as an extra in a feature film and in supporting roles in short films.

Phil’s credits are briefer: he played “a dead guy” in Thibault’s first movie, which he made when he was 14.

As a means of ensuring spontaneity from Phil, Thibault didn’t tell his father the story.

Phil laughs when told he looks very comfortable on camera. “No,” he said. “Not at all.”

In addition to the scenes in eastern Washington and Oregon, the 25-minute film also includes scenes shot in Sequim and Los Angeles, Calif.

When it’s done a week or so, Thibault will propose it to festivals — “if it’s good.”

Or he’ll simply provide it to his teachers at school.

Altogether the film is anticipated to cost about $1,000.

Thibault marvels at the capabilities that inexpensive new technology provides for budding auteurs. His Canon 5D and Canon 70 are capable of making films that can show in any venue, he said.

Phil is clearly proud of Thibault’s work.

“He thinks about it before, comes up with the story board. He has an artistic vision of how to make a movie.”

For more, including a few clips of Thibault’s work, see http://vimeo.com/user19690134.