In January 1986, nineteen young actors, between 18 and 25 years of age, are selected out of 2300 candidates to study during two years at the Amandiers School of Theatre in Nanterre, under the direction of Pierre Romans and Patrice Chéreau. Already are they considered as the hopes of French cinema and theatre. In September 1986 Patrice Chéreau asks our company COM’UNIMAGE to film these 19 actors in their work with three French directors of the same generation: Patrice Chéreau himself, Jacques Doillon and André Téchiné. The result is the series “Once upon a time 19 actors” consisting of 4 films of 55 min. each, aiming at presenting these 19 actors in the preparation and the making of three movies and a play. They show the different stages which lead to the final product the study of the script, the preparation, the rehearsals, the shooting, and the final editing. At the same time, a series of interviews with the 19 actors will illustrate their progression in their work. The first film of the series shows the preparation and the making of Patrice Chéreau’s movie “Hotel de France”, an adaptation of “Platanov” a play by Tchekhov. Three other films will follow and will be completed by the beginning of 1988.