“The Landes have always known filming activity, because for fifteen years, the Department has had a production aid fund”, immediately recalls Karine Dumas, from the culture department.
But over the past four years, the activity has expanded, with the creation of BAT 40, the filming reception office, currently housed in the premises of the Pulséo incubator, in Dax. Its goal: “to facilitate the arrival of productions”, which inevitably explains an increase in filming in the Landes region.
Especially since the Department has also opened up to other formats than short films, by expanding its collection…
“The Landes have always known filming activity, because for fifteen years, the Department has had a production aid fund”, immediately recalls Karine Dumas, from the culture department.
But over the past four years, the activity has expanded, with the creation of BAT 40, the filming reception office, currently housed in the premises of the Pulséo incubator, in Dax. Its goal: “to facilitate the arrival of productions”, which inevitably explains an increase in filming in the Landes region.
Especially since the Department has also opened up to other formats than short films, by expanding its support fund to series, TV fiction, feature films, etc.
“Something other than the cliché: the Landes, the beach, the sun”
“As soon as the office opened, we recorded 191 days of filming in 2018”, recalls Marine Jorda, from BAT 40. Then, “2019 was a low year almost everywhere, it was a national trend, with a crisis cinema, but in 2020, despite the Covid-19, it started very strong. The Landes hosted 156 days of filming. “Then, taking advantage of a favorable health situation in the region, 2021 “became our best year, with 212 days of filming”.
Thus were shot last year: four feature films, including “Cetété-là” by director Éric Lartigau, known in particular for “La Famille Bélier”, four series, two singles, including the television film with Éric Cantona adapted from the history of Dacquois Sébastien Boueilh from the association Colosse aux pieds d’argile, and two short films.
And 2022 looks just as promising.
2. The interior of the Landes too
Admittedly, the coast remains “highly in demand” for filming, but “we also try to stand out”, notes Karine Dumas. “Many productions were oriented towards the ocean, the dune, the beach. With the BAT 40, we also wanted to highlight the interior of the territory, the forests. We also managed to attract productions for winter filming,” says Marine Jorda.
Outstanding example: the filming of the series “La Promise” with Olivier Marchal, broadcast on TF1. “The shooting took place over three months in the middle of winter, because the genre made it dark, but also because we had highlighted something other than the cliché: the Landes, the beach, the sun”, adds Marine Jorda. Dax, Saint-Sever, but also Lit-et-Mixe: the stages were varied.
It is also “one of the shoots that played the game the most in going into slightly more unknown territories”, continues Karine Dumas. “We now realize that we can go for specific thriller, science fiction, etc. genres. »
The series “La Promise”, with Olivier Marchal was broadcast in January 2021 on TF1. It was a resounding success with the audience.
BAT 40
3. What economic impact?
Filming generates direct employment: in 2021, 67 Landes technicians signed contracts with productions thanks to the work of the BAT 40, which lists the availability and know-how of intermittent workers. “We are increasingly able to influence productions and get them hired. Since they are in greater demand, their skills are confirmed on heavy fiction projects, such as feature films and series. We are making a lot of effort in this aspect,” says Marine Jorda.
And there are also the indirect benefits, beyond the development of the territory, with accommodation in particular. “The longer the shooting, the more the teams stay on weekends and consume on site”, points out Karine Dumas. Éric Cantona had apparently taken advantage of the moment to taste the Landes.
Éric Cantona and the Landais Sébastien Boueilh, whose character he interprets in “Colossus with feet of clay”, here during filming, in Angoumé.
Christophe Brachet / TF1
Overall, for one euro invested by the Department in aid, “we count around 3 euros of expenses” for a short film, for a series “it can go up to 6 euros”, even 9 for the filming of “La Promise” .
“It is typically the kind of series that we would like to see again on the territory, slips Karine Dumas. For us, the amount of expenses is minimal and the benefits are super important. »
During a shoot in 2020 for a series broadcast on France.tv Slash. The coast obviously remains very popular.
BAT 40