Disturbing news for the world of cinema.
In Saint-Ouen, the studios of the Transpalux group, which also own those in Bry-sur-Marne, are doomed to disappear next June, the date on which their lease ends.
These studios located near the capital are important for cinema professionals.
A tool so essential that some of them have circulated a petition since December 30, which brings together nearly 3,400 signatures.
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She attributes this closure to land pressure. Indeed, the area in which the Saint-Ouen studios are located, the ZAC des Docks, has been the subject of a redevelopment project since 2007 to build housing and municipal projects. The walls of the studios belong to the Ile-de-France public land establishment, Epfif, which has asked the studio to vacate the premises by next June. But this pressure is also directed, according to her, towards the studios of Bry-sur-Marne, which also belong to the Transpalux group, whose walls are this time held by the company Nexity.
"If the Bry-sur-Marne studios were also to disappear, it would be a disaster"
, breathes the one who fears the loss of such an offer so close to the capital, which has already met the needs of nearly 500 advertising films, about fifty feature films and about fifteen series.
The Transpasets studios in Saint-Ouen consist of 3 floors spread over a total area of 5300m2: one of 1000m2, another of 500 and then a third of 300m2.
Credits: Studios Transpasets
Many professionals involved
This announcement touched many film professionals, like several actors and directors like Emmanuelle Bercot, who notably shot the film
In his lifetime
with Catherine Deneuve, released last November, within these walls.
But the petition is at the origin of actor and director Nicolas Bedos.
Indeed, he published it on social networks on December 30 and brings together nearly 3,400 signatures to date.
Nicolas Bedos among other things produced in these studios the interior scenes of
La Belle Époque
with Fanny Ardent and Daniel Auteuil
,
a film which won three césars including that for best set.
He came back to film
Masquerade
, which is due out in theaters this year with Pierre Niney and Isabelle Adjani.
The studios consist of several rooms where many trades work, such as decorators and costume designers. Credits: Studio Transpasets
“
To deal with this pressure on land, we appealed to the town hall, to stars like Nicolas Bedos with whom we launched the petition but also to
international actors like Johnny Depp
, who a priori would agree to the sign and relay.
We know that we have little luck, but at least we will have tried everything ”
, hopes Caroline Diaz who reminds us that these studios do not only hire actors, but a whole range of professions, such as productions, decorators, designers. artisans, costumers ...
"These studios bring the city to life, but also the professions that we work with on a regular basis, such as caterers for example
," she explains.
"The city of Saint-Ouen is keen to help French cinema"
Abdel Ziane, elected in charge of regional development in the Plaine commune at the town hall of Saint-Ouen.
“This area was once a former industrial area with waste oil and old premises
,” explains Abdel Ziane to
Figaro
, the elected representative in charge of the development of the Plaine commune at the town hall of Saint-Ouen.
"
This area,
called the ZAC des Docks
, covers 100,000 hectares, which concerns a quarter of the territory of the municipality"
, explains Tony Richard, project director at Séquano Aménagement, the company in charge of the demolition. studios.
He recalls that the industrial wasteland was taken over in 2007 and that it is currently entering the last phase of its redevelopment.
"This reconquest of the land mainly concerns housing, but there will also be a college, a primary school and nurseries, as well as many green spaces near the edges of the Seine",
specifies Abdel Ziane.
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But the town hall remains open to dialogue and could postpone future work by a few months.
“I was warned that last December 17 by a filming project manager, when the Transpalux company has had a precarious lease for years. On the other hand, I am open to dialogue. I heard that
Maïwenn's film
was late and I am inclined to extend their deadline from 3 to 4 months if necessary. This would still shift a large part of the work. But today, they have to define their needs, ”
clarifies the elected representative, who recalls the city's close links with French cinema, which last year created a cinema mission to facilitate filming in the town. .
“The city of Saint-Ouen is keen to help the cinema.
Each year, we still welcome 150 to 200 feature films in the city.
I'm thinking recently of the
Arsène Lupine series (on Netflix,
Editor
's note )
, for example, which came to shoot a few scenes with us
”.
