24
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LMGI COMPASS
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Summer 2020
Stevie: DOES FRANCE OR THE CITY OF PARIS OFFER ANY
INCENTIVES TO HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKERS?
AK:
Yes, there is an incentive for international productions
coming to France. It is called the TRIP (Tax Rebate for
International Production). Basically, to be eligible, projects
must pass a cultural test, which assesses European cultural
elements in the story, as well as French and European
locations, characters, sources, landmarks, creators, crew
and French technical hubs. There is a necessary minimum
of five days of shoot in France. The amount allocated
comprises 30 percent of the eligible expenditures incurred
in France, and caps at 30 million euros per project.
Stevie: WHAT ARE YOUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE?
AK:
A notebook with a pen, my laptop with all my archives
inside and a Canon DSLR camera. Obviously, I also use a
smartphone with all the helpful apps like Sun Seeker for
example. And I have my car that also becomes my mobile
office.
Stevie: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE JOB?
AK:
What I love about the job are challenges. You have to
anticipate and fix problems before they even happen. I love
the mixture between the creative and the logistic sides. I love
the fact that it takes you places you never imagined you'd get
to see and you meet people you would probably never have
met in other circumstances. Every movie is different, every
day is different, every challenge is different. I would say that
with this job every day is a big day and some days are even
bigger than the others.
Stevie: WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR
YOUNGER SELF OR SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN THIS
PROFESSION?
AK:
For someone just starting out, I would first advise
them to try to meet and work with many different
location managers. It will always be more rewarding to
discover different working methods. This will allow them
to keep only what he/she considers to be the best of
what they have seen and learned which, in the future,
will make them an even better location manager. Like I
said before, this is a job of challenges, therefore when
they will face difficulties, my other advice would be:
"Always keep calm and trust yourself!"
Stevie: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE LMGI & HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER?
AK:
I first heard about the LMGI in 2018 from a colleague
and then won (with SLM Ben Piltz) the 2018 LMGI Award
for Best Period Film for Dunkirk. I then discovered all that
the Guild was doing to promote our job and to create a
worldwide network of location professionals. I joined the
Guild in 2019.
IN MY CITY: PARIS
