Music video in France
Music videos run on short notice, small budgets and big ideas: a rooftop at dawn, a street at 3am, a villa on the coast. We are a production service company in Paris and Cannes that makes those shots legal, crewed and on schedule, fast.
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Speed is the brief
And speed has rules hereLabels and artists usually call two weeks out, sometimes less. The director has references, the artist has a window between two shows, and nobody has a permit. The question is not whether we can shoot it but which version of the idea clears in your window.
We answer that in the first call. As a production service company, we budget the shoot, find the locations, file the permits, book a bilingual crew and kit, and run the set. Zacharie produces on the ground; Élie clears the locations that need talking into it.
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Guerrilla or permitted
Where the line sitsShoot typeWhat it needsIndicative lead
Small crew, light kit, public spaceHandheld, no lights on stands, no road controlA simplified declaration in Paris (other communes have their own procedures), on a shorter clock than a full permitShorter than a full permit
Standard street shootLights, track, extras, parkingFull permit from the city film office or the communeParis about 15 working days; elsewhere 2 to 4 weeks
Night, traffic, uniforms, prop weaponsAnything that looks like police or crimeCity film office plus the Police PrefecturePlan for the full Paris lead, confirmed per project
RooftopPrivate buildingOwner and building manager agreement, safety plan, insurance; a permit if kit or crew affects the street belowDepends on the owner
DroneAny aerial shotDGAC and prefecture, always separate from the ground permit3 to 6 weeks
The fake police car is the expensive shot
In France, anything that looks like law enforcement on screen (uniforms, a police car, a prop gun, an arrest) needs the Police Prefecture's agreement in Paris, and police notification elsewhere, even when the rest of the shoot qualifies for a quick declaration. A passer-by who sees a prop gun calls the police; an unannounced shoot can end there. If the treatment has it, tell us on day one: it sets the lead time for the whole video.
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How we run a music video shoot in France
Two weeks, typicalDay 1Treatment in. We return the locations, the permit path for each and what will not clear in your window.
Days 2 to 4Recces with photos and video, rooftop and private-location agreements, crew holds.
Days 3 to 5Permits filed in parallel (where the lead time allows a two-week turnaround); drone filed separately if needed.
Week 2Crew and kit locked, call sheet, night plan with the Prefecture if required.
ShootProduction manager on set, location returns, rushes uploaded the same night.
Paris is the usual setting, but the Riviera gives you villas, corniche roads and sea light from our Cannes base, and Lyon and the Alps or the Atlantic coast give you scale at lower cost. For a full film delivered end to end, our sister company Prod is Prod handles executive production.
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Production log
Related productions2024Visa Latin AmericaParis é InfiniteParis campaign directed by Pedro Andrade: city locations, fast moves between setups.Wrapped
How fast can we shoot a music video in Paris?
A small crew with light kit in public space can qualify for a simplified declaration on a shorter clock. A standard permit from the city film office takes about 15 working days. Night work, traffic, uniforms or prop weapons involve the Police Prefecture as well. All lead times are indicative and confirmed per project.
Can we shoot guerrilla style in Paris?
Handheld, small and unobtrusive filming in public space is close to what the simplified declaration covers, so declare it. Lights on stands, tracks, extras, road use or anything that looks like police needs a full permit. Shooting unpermitted on a controlled location usually ends with the shoot being stopped.
Can we film on a Paris rooftop?
Yes, with the agreement of the building owner and manager, a safety plan and insurance. If kit, crew or vehicles affect the street below, a city permit is needed as well. We know which rooftops say yes to filming.
Can we film at night in Paris?
Yes. Night shoots go through the city film office, and the Police Prefecture is involved for night work, traffic, uniforms and prop weapons. Plan for the full standard lead time and tell us about any police-looking element at the start.
Can we fly a drone for the video?
Drone shots need authorisation from the civil aviation authority and the prefecture, always separate from the ground permit, with an indicative lead of 3 to 6 weeks. Central Paris is heavily restricted. See our drone permit guide.
Shooting a music video in France?
Send the treatment, the dates, the locations and the size of your crew. We tell you fast what clears and what does not.
Or email [email protected]. We reply within 3 hours.