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Michel Hazanavicius lambasts French film industry Michel Hazanavicius lambasts French film industry
(5 months later)
Buttressed by state subsidies and partly sheltered from Hollywood predators, the French film industry has traditionally been regarded with envy by its European neighbours. Yet the Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius has painted an altogether different picture. The domestic industry, he claims, has been damaged by inflated salaries and a culture of complacency. Quantity not quality, he suggests, has become the order of the day.Buttressed by state subsidies and partly sheltered from Hollywood predators, the French film industry has traditionally been regarded with envy by its European neighbours. Yet the Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius has painted an altogether different picture. The domestic industry, he claims, has been damaged by inflated salaries and a culture of complacency. Quantity not quality, he suggests, has become the order of the day.
Hazanavicius, who won the best picture and director Oscar for his silent comedy The Artist in 2012, took to the pages of Le Monde to lambast what he sees as a well-meaning but outmoded system of French film production. "Today our responsibility is to denounce the failings of a once virtuous system that is being devoured by gangrene."Hazanavicius, who won the best picture and director Oscar for his silent comedy The Artist in 2012, took to the pages of Le Monde to lambast what he sees as a well-meaning but outmoded system of French film production. "Today our responsibility is to denounce the failings of a once virtuous system that is being devoured by gangrene."
The French film industry is reliant on around €700m in government subsidies, principally generated by a 10.72% tax on ticket sales, together with a commitment from TV broadcasters to channel 3% of their budgets to developing feature films. More than 200 French films were produced in 2012, compared with 159 in the UK.The French film industry is reliant on around €700m in government subsidies, principally generated by a 10.72% tax on ticket sales, together with a commitment from TV broadcasters to channel 3% of their budgets to developing feature films. More than 200 French films were produced in 2012, compared with 159 in the UK.
Hazanavicius's comments chime with other, recent criticisms that the system of financing has been abused. Last December, veteran French producer Vincent Maraval derided 2012 as "a disaster for French cinema" and called for an overhaul of the system and a cap on actors' wages. "Why is it that well-known French actors – whether it's Vincent Cassel, Jean Reno, Marion Cotillard, Gad Elmaleh, Guillaume Canet, Audrey Tautou, Léa Seydoux – make €500K to €2m for a French film, with a market limited to our borders, while, when they shoot an American film, aimed at the international market, they're happy with €50K to €200k?" Maraval asked.Hazanavicius's comments chime with other, recent criticisms that the system of financing has been abused. Last December, veteran French producer Vincent Maraval derided 2012 as "a disaster for French cinema" and called for an overhaul of the system and a cap on actors' wages. "Why is it that well-known French actors – whether it's Vincent Cassel, Jean Reno, Marion Cotillard, Gad Elmaleh, Guillaume Canet, Audrey Tautou, Léa Seydoux – make €500K to €2m for a French film, with a market limited to our borders, while, when they shoot an American film, aimed at the international market, they're happy with €50K to €200k?" Maraval asked.
He added, "At a time when François Hollande wants big industry bosses to cap their salaries, should the cinema world's top earners continue to earn more than they are worth, thanks to public money and an exceptional and unique finance system?"He added, "At a time when François Hollande wants big industry bosses to cap their salaries, should the cinema world's top earners continue to earn more than they are worth, thanks to public money and an exceptional and unique finance system?"
In his article for Le Monde, Hazanavicius appears to agree. "The fact that the people who make films … have no financial stake in the success of the films provokes behaviour which perverts the system," he claimed.In his article for Le Monde, Hazanavicius appears to agree. "The fact that the people who make films … have no financial stake in the success of the films provokes behaviour which perverts the system," he claimed.
But Hazanavicius directed the bulk of his criticism at the television companies responsible for a third of the industry's funding. He claimed that the result was a glut of bland and unambitious productions and went on to suggest that the great French directors of the past would now struggle to receive funding for their films. "The cement of our diversity is disappearing," he said.But Hazanavicius directed the bulk of his criticism at the television companies responsible for a third of the industry's funding. He claimed that the result was a glut of bland and unambitious productions and went on to suggest that the great French directors of the past would now struggle to receive funding for their films. "The cement of our diversity is disappearing," he said.
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