The crew of "Little Senegal" shot mostly in Harlem to capture some of New York flavor. PHOTO: Gabriel Sama.

The New York Look

Filmmakers come to New York City because they want the "New York look" in their projects, says Patrick Pleven, director of broadcasting at the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting.

But the few foreign companies that come to the city to film also do so because there is a lot of talent here, being one of the most important entertainment capitals of the world, says Pleven. They definitely do not come to film here because it is cheaper, he adds.

"There are not too many subjects that absolutely require shooting in New York," Pleven explains. The filmmakers who come are looking for a specific scenery, "like Central Park or the Village," he says.

A foreign movie company that wants to film in New York has to go through the same steps as a U.S. company. The most important thing film companies have to consider is getting an insurance policy. Also, if they want to shoot on city property they have to get a permit.

"We would love to have more production done here, but there are also things that conspire against it," says Pleven. Sometimes, when filming in the U.S., it is necessary to set up a production office, sign a contract with the union and get visas for the foreign crew.

These obligations might explain why there are so few foreign film productions in the Big Apple. Another reason for the dearth also may have to do with how other countries' film industries work. France subsidizes its film industry; but one condition to receive the subsidies is French people must be employed on the film. "If they were to shoot in the States hiring Americans, the subsidies won’t come," says Pleven.

But there are some who do come. Mexican TV shoots part of telenovelas, soap operas, in Gotham because they want to include all the famous spots in their productions. In the case of "Little Senegal," the story takes place in Harlem, so it definitely needed the "New York look."

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This is the second film Jean Bréhat is producing for Bouchareb. PHOTO: Angela Pimenta. Culture Clashes "Little Senegal" is a $1 million French production shot during 42 days in New York City, 39 of them in Harlem. Jean Bréhat, the film’s producer, has worked many times with Rachid Bouchareb, director of "Little Senegal." They filmed his first movie, "Bâton Rouge," in the U.S. They like working here, says Bréhat, although it took them some time to understand how an American film crew works. The main problem is that some jobs have the same names in both countries but are actually different, says Bréhat. For example, the location manager in France takes care of more things than in the U.S., but the first assistant director’s job is less important than here. Every movie he has done with Bouchareb, Bréhat says, is about the crossing of two cultures. "Little Senegal" represents the conflict between Africans and African-Americans, portraying the difficulties that Americans have relating to African culture. Bréhat says the movie will show how African-Americans "want the roots but don’t want the reality" that come with every African that migrates to New York City to Harlem’s Little Senegal.

Source: Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting/ Imdb.com.
* Coproductions