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Bringing Your Own Crew vs Hiring Local Crew in France

  • Sep 2, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jan 21

When planning a commercial shoot in France, many UK and international agencies face the same decision: should you bring your trusted crew or hire local crew in France?

The right approach depends on your creative goals, budget, timelines, and crucially French legal and employment requirements.


International and local crew collaborating on a commercial shoot in France

Bringing Your Own Crew


  • Pros: Familiarity with your brand, established working relationships, consistent creative workflow.


  • Cons: Travel and accommodation costs, work visa considerations, and navigating French employment and social charge regulations.


Why Hire Local Crew in France for Commercial Shoots


Hiring local crew in France gives you access to highly skilled professionals, many with international commercial experience. Local crew understand French locations, regulations, suppliers, and regional workflows.

In cities like Marseille, Lyon, Paris, and across the Côte d’Azur, hiring locally is strongly encouraged and helps streamline logistics while supporting local production ecosystems.


Legal Note: Most French crew work under the intermittent du spectacle system. To hire them legally, you must contract through a French-registered company and pay social charges.


Hybrid Approach


Many productions bring a few key team members and hire the rest locally. This ensures creative continuity while benefiting from local expertise.


How And So Production Supports You


We support both approaches by handling permits, contracts, payroll, and logistics for international crew while connecting you with the best local crew in France for commercial productions. Our team ensures compliance with French labour laws so your shoot runs smoothly from prep to wrap.


Conclusion


Bringing your own crew is possible, but hiring local crew in France often makes greater practical and financial sense. Either way, the right local production partner ensures your shoot remains compliant, efficient, and creatively strong.


Need advice on crew for your next French shoot?



 
 
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