COVID19
We were all waiting for the end of the lockdown and the return to shootings. Now that's over in France, what's the situation for the production industry? What is possible to do or not? How to maintain the quality of the creation? We have listed the essential questions you are asking yourself in these first "back to normal" days.
RELOCATE
With travel restrictions, quarantine and lockdown measures, re-locating the shootings to France is a pragmatic, economic and health necessity. It is also an eco-responsible and moral commitment. The Association of Communication Consultancy Agencies (AACC) and the Alliance of Advertising Film Producers (APFP) are calling for this strong movement to relocate shooting in France, which is essential to guarantee the safety of all. This relocation will also allow the safeguarding and creation of many jobs, a revival of our industry and the economic sector on a national scale.
VALUATE
Frenzy has always been committed to representing and supporting French creation. If our roster of directors, photographers, and creatives testify to this DNA, it is also confirmed in our production choices: 77% of our film productions and 100% of our photoshoots took place in France in 2019. We have built strong networks and trustworthy relationships with technicians and service providers throughout the country over the last ten years. It is, more than ever, the time to rely on this local expertise and talents.
SECURE
Today, the path to the set is possible again. Frenzy Paris and Frenzy Picture are already operational to support you in your film, print, or digital campaign projects with a single idea in mind: to maintain the creative quality while guaranteeing the safety of all.
PRODUCTION AFTER LOCKDOWN
QUESTIONS / ANSWERS
Are shootings allowed in France and where? Filming is once again possible in the Paris area from May 11th. Film and photo-shootings are allowed in studios, in private and public places, but also in the street. As before, a request for authorization must be submitted.
However, certain places remain closed to shooting for the moment: gardens, sports facilities, cemeteries, the banks of the Seine, or buildings managed by the City. The exhaustive list of the restricted locations here: https://bit.ly/2YPZiLU
As for the other French regions, they are in the process of setting up the shooting conditions.
What are the main restrictions in the Paris region? What are the main restrictions in the Paris region? The Paris City Council asks to respect a maximum of 50 people simultaneously present at the shooting location and to close the shooting to the public. The number of technicians and actors on the sets must be adapted to the rules of physical distance
What is the sanitary protocol to be respected on a shooting? What is the sanitary protocol to be respected on a shooting? A protocol negotiated between the advertising film producers' union (APFP), the agencies' union (AACC) and the technicians' unions were made public last week. It describes all the measures to be taken by producers and agencies/clients on a film shoot: https://bit.ly/2YU2rKH (French).
This protocol is currently being validated by the authorities and remains a solid basis. The main principles remain the same as for other industries: implementation of barrier gestures, physical distancing, remote working, provision of safety equipment...
The main rules to be taken into consideration:
- Casting, ppm, fittings will be done by videoconference
- The camera must be at least 2m away from the actors/models
- Filming is limited in people, the set must be open in priority to key positions
Can I bring foreign talents (director, photographer, muse, glam team...) to France? Restrictive measures have been put in place by the government for any person wishing to enter French territory with the exception of Schengen countries and Great Britain. As travel advice falls under the competence of the Member States, you should consult the competent national authority in your country (e.g. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to find out whether it has issued an official warning to travelers regarding the area you plan to visit. Travel advice is constantly updated according to changing circumstances.
Can I consider shooting abroad? Similarly, foreign governments - whether or not they are part of the Schengen area - have introduced similar (or even more restrictive) measures at their borders, which currently makes shooting abroad almost impossible. However, these measures are likely to change in the near future and are subject to recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which are constantly updated as the situation evolves.
Is remote control a reliable solution? There are different remote control techniques, but the idea remains the same and has proven to be successful: the camera is connected by cable or wirelessly to a computer with an internet connexion. The signal is then transmitted almost live to the parties involved in the project (agency, client, producer). Depending on the internet connexion and according to the tests we have done, the delay is only 6 to 12 fps. It is, therefore, an alternative solution that guarantees the progress of a project in complete security, allowing our European and International directors to work with us right now remotely.
What about insurance? To this day, no guarantee covers the consequences of COVID-19 in terms of unavailability or revocation of the shooting authorization. The French Insurance Federation has begun work to design an insurance scheme to protect companies against the economic consequences of an epidemic. It has committed to handing over the results of its work to the government before the summer.