Julien Pichené, with AFP / Photo credit: Claire Serie / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
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10:46 a.m., November 17, 2023
Since Wednesday, the filming of around sixty productions has been stopped, due to the technicians’ strike. Series like “HPI”, “Marie-Antoinette” or shows like “Top Chef” or “Question pour un champion” are particularly concerned. Another day of mobilization is already planned for next week.
After Hollywood, France? Since Wednesday, the filming of several series, TV films and television shows has been disrupted by a technicians’ strike. The latter are demanding a 20% increase in their salaries. In all, around sixty productions are at a standstill.
“Audiovisual +20%, otherwise nothing on your screens”
This concerns in particular: HPIthe flagship series of TF1, the spin-off of The Walking Dead, Detera new series from France Télévisions, or even Marie Antoinette, broadcast on Canal+. But television shows are also affected, such as Top chef And France has an unbelievable talent, on M6, or Questions for a championon France 3.
Dozens of technicians, responsible for lights, cameras, management and even makeup, gathered on Wednesday in front of the USPA headquarters behind banners proclaiming for example “audiovisual +20%, or nothing on your screens”. Because “since 2007, due to the non-revaluation of minimum wages, employees have lost 20% of purchasing power in this sector”, according to them.
10,000 to 15,000 technicians concerned
“Not yet as publicized as the crisis of screenwriters and actors in the United States, the anger expressed among audiovisual production professionals reflects identical forms of dismay,” say the unions.
The unions regret that the producer representatives are not proposing anything. They are also planning another day of strike next week. In total, 10,000 to 15,000 technicians are affected.