Mineur, Jean

(March 12, 1902, Valenciennes, Nord, France - October 19, 1985, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France)

   Born into a modest family, he worked as a truck driver and accountant before being hired as a reporter (he was a specialist of aerial photography for Le Progrès du Nord). During his years in journalism (1920-1927), he discovered advertising. He gave up his journalis­tic career to shoot commercials in the 1930s. The animated character who introduced his shorts (a little miner) became a familiar figure with French audiences. In 1971, he created in partnership with Pathé, Havas, and Publicis the company Médiavision, for which such directors as Claude Chabrol, Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Edouard Molinaro, Pascal Thomas, Gérard Pirès, Georges Lautner, Claude Miller, and Bertrand Tavernier filmed commercials. Autobiography: 1981 Balzac 00 01 (Editions Plon).

 Filmography

1945 ◘ Marseille, premier Port de France (documentary; short)

1946 ◘ Hommes et Bêtes (documentary; short)

1948 ◘ Troisième Cheminée à gauche (also producer)

        ◘ Marrakech, Capitale du Sud (documentary; short)

        ◘ Mellah de Marrakech (documentary; short)

        ◘ Sous les Palmes de Marrakech (documentary; short)