‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Monsieur Spade’ Lead the Charge For France-Focused Shoots

variety.com:

Ben Croll A competitive tax rebate, combined with public and private initiatives to revitalize the local infrastructure, has substantially boosted the number of international productions shooting in France.

Last revamped in 2020, Gaul’s Tax Rebate for International Production scheme now supplements a 30% across-the-board rebate with an additional 10% — applicable on all eligible expenses — for productions that spend $2.2 million with local VFX and post houses.

And once the tax incentive put France back on the map, the country’s flourishing production ecosystem has kept projects on site longer than ever before. “The preconceived idea that France was too expensive clearly has changed,” says line producer John Bernard of Peninsula Film. “Projects with strong French DNA have very much embraced the whole process, basing themselves in France from beginning to end, using local crews and amenities.

We’ve grown our crews, facilities and availability, and trained new craftsmen and set builders, [altogether] putting much on the table for producers to benefit from.” Returning titles such as Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” (which is currently shooting Season 4), limited series such as AMC’s Clive Owen-led “Monsieur Spade” and mammoth biographical dramas including Apple TV+’s “The New Look” and “Franklin” all seized on Franco-centric narrative elements to take full advantage of the country’s production infrastructure.