Filming in France — Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a shoot in France? Below are the questions we hear most from international producers, journalists, and brands. If your question isn't here, contact us directly — we respond within the day.

  • We work across: news and current affairs (daily shoots for broadcasters), documentaries (long-form access journalism and travel), branded content (campaigns for global brands), features and drama (location and logistics support), and live events (sports, cultural, political).

    Past clients include PBS, BBC, CBC/Radio-Canada, National Geographic, the Washington Post, Delta Air Lines, the NBA, Chanel, and Apple TV.

  • A fixer is typically brought in for shorter-term, on-the-ground support — access, translation, logistics, and local knowledge. A line producer manages the full production budget and schedule from pre-production through delivery.

    At FAB FIXERS, we can operate in either capacity, or both simultaneously on smaller productions. We adapt to what your project actually needs.

  • We have experience gaining access to locations that require special authorisation — including the Notre-Dame-de-Paris construction site (for CBC News before its reopening) and interviews with heads of state and diplomatic personnel.

    Access to restricted sites requires early planning, the right institutional contacts, and — often — patience. Tell us what you're trying to achieve and we'll advise on what's realistic.

  • Yes. Virgile Demoustier is fully bilingual in French and English and can serve as your interpreter, fixer, and producer simultaneously.

    For larger productions requiring dedicated interpreters on multiple shoots, we can source additional bilingual crew.

  • Fill in our contact form or email virgile@fabfixers.com directly with a short brief: your shoot dates, locations, crew size, and what type of production it is.

    We'll respond within 24 hours with initial thoughts and a quote if relevant. For urgent requests, call or text Virgile at +33 6 22 99 43 50 (Whatsapp)

  • A fixer is your local expert on the ground — the person who makes possible all the things that you can't organise from abroad.

    At FAB FIXERS, that means:

    • location scouting and securing permits

    • sourcing camera operators, sound recordists, and translators,

    • arranging interviews and access to people and places,

    • managing logistics and transportation,

    • being on-set to solve problems before they become problems. Think of us as your local co-producer.

  • Almost always, yes. Filming on public streets, in parks, near monuments, or on any land owned by the city or French state requires a permit. The Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre plaza, and most recognisable Paris landmarks each have their own permitting process and fees. FAB FIXERS handles all of this — we know which authorities to contact, how long approval takes, and how to avoid costly delays. Permit timelines range from 48 hours to several weeks depending on location and scale, so contact us as early as possible.

  • As soon as possible.

    For news and current affairs, we can often mobilise within 24–48 hours. For documentary and branded content shoots, 2–4 weeks' notice allows us to secure the best locations and crew. For large-scale productions — feature films, multi-city campaigns — 6–12 weeks is ideal.

    That said, we pride ourselves on handling short-notice requests. Call us first; we'll tell you honestly what's possible.

  • Fixer day rates in France vary based on the complexity of the shoot, the crew size, and what services are needed.

    Full production coordination for documentary or branded content — including location management, permitting, and crew sourcing — is scoped and quoted per project.

    Contact us for a fast, transparent quote with no hidden fees.

  • All of France.

    We are headquartered in Paris but have coordinated productions across Normandy (D-Day beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel), the French Riviera (Cannes, Nice, Monaco), the Loire Valley, Provence, and the French Alps.

    We also cover Belgium from our Brussels hub, and have conducted shoots in Spain and Italy too. If you're planning a multi-location shoot, we can coordinate the entire route.