Orangefilms’ Le Clockwork is a new partner for producers looking to shoot across France

France’s Le Clockwork aims to streamline the provision of production services for feature films, TV series and reality series. It is being launched here in Berlin at the European Film Market by Orangefilms, the Paris-based advertising and TV commercials production services company.

Le Clockwork will build on Orangefilms’ 30-year legacy as a successful commercials production service business. The Paris-based company has been the French service production provider for titles including My Oxford Year for Netflix and Pablo Larrain’s Maria, which stars Angelina Jolie as opera diva Maria Callas.

The France part of Larrain’s film encompassed five days (the bulk of the 41-day shoot was in Budapest, Hungary), including exteriors of Callas’s Avenue Georges Mandel apartment.

Orangefilms partner and producer Janna Bégué was ready to head off on the traditional long French summer holiday in July 2023 when she received the call to service a five-day shoot in Paris — in October.

“We didn’t have much time so had to rely on our efficiency and contacts to get everything in place and on budget,” says Bégué.

Permits and permissions secured saw the Trocadéro, Place Vendôme and Bir Hakeim closed to the public, with filming on the Pont Alexandre III bridge and the Champs-Élysées.

With more than 15 years working on advertising shoots, Germany-­born Bégué aims to make Le Clockwork an international-facing, multi-­lingual operation “that brings peace of mind to filmmakers who want to shoot across France, in Paris or Monaco and aren’t aware how quick and easy we can make it”.

The company works with the CNC to help producers access France’s Tax Rebate on International Production (TRIP), which offers a 30% rebate on all eligible expenses, rising to 40% should the international production commit to post-production in France.

Le Clockwork is also repped by GPN Entertainment, a fresh division of global production services network, itself focusing on film and HETV operators.

Bégué, who is now president of Le Clockwork, works closely with Orangefilms’ founder Helmut Hutter. “We want to ensure international producers get tailored services quickly and efficiently,” says Bégué.

Contact: Janna Bégué, president

Find out more: leclockwork.com