shoot in France FAQs.

Daily Hours: The standard work day is 8 hours. Beyond that, overtime rates apply (+25% to +100% depending on total hours and night work). As standard practice, our budgets are built on 10-hour days.
Meals: A 1-hour mandatory lunch break is required.
Workweek: The standard week runs from Monday through Saturday. Sunday work is permitted at double rate (+100%).
Turnaround: A mandatory 11 consecutive hours of daily rest between shifts.

Legal Framework & Minimums: Compensation is governed by national collective bargaining agreements (Commercials, Film/Fiction, Technical Services) mandating minimum wages per role and specific remuneration rules.
International Budget Matrices: We build your budgets according to your standard formats (AICP, APA, or Movie Magic), ensuring seamless reading and comparison for your executive producers.
Payroll & Social Management: Café Croissant handles all contracts, payroll, and social contributions.

Anticipating administrative procedures is key to a successful pre-production:

Paris: Allow 3 to 6 weeks minimum depending on complexity (street closures, stunts, national monuments). The Prefecture and the City of Paris enforce very strict processes and fees.
Major cities (Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, etc.): Lead times are typically more flexible, around 3 to 4 weeks.
Natural areas: We work directly with forestry and coastal agencies, as well as all regional and national parks. A 4-week lead time is generally required to secure permits.

Equipment: France is home to top-tier rental houses (RVZ, Panavision, TSF, Vantage). Camera, lighting, and grip equipment are readily available locally.
Drone Regulations: Operating a drone in France requires DGAC-certified pilots and prior clearance from the prefecture (at least 5 business days in advance).
RF Frequencies: The use of wireless audio and video transmitters requires strict compliance with officially authorized frequency bands in France.

The Rebate: Up to a 30% tax rebate (up to 40% with the VFX bonus) on eligible expenses incurred in France by a foreign production.
Contract: The foreign producer must be under contract with a French executive production company to manage the shoot in France.
Eligibility: A minimum expenditure of €250,000 OR 50% of the total budget spent in France. A minimum of 5 shooting days in France is also required. Only documentary and fiction projects qualify.
Free Assessment: We offer a free evaluation of your project's eligibility.

Spring (April — June): Soft light. Long days (Sunrise ~06:30 / Sunset ~21:30 in June).
Summer (July — August): Maximum sunlight (Sunrise ~06:00 / Sunset ~22:00). Ideal for exteriors.
Autumn (September — November): Low, golden light (Sunrise ~07:30 / Sunset ~19:00 in October).
Winter (December — March): Short days (Sunrise ~08:30 / Sunset ~17:00). Ideal for night settings or mountain snow.

Weather patterns vary significantly from one region to another—we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.