One of Us, a London based VFX studio, recently announced that they are all set to open its Paris outpost. The company has been looking to expand in the right way, and Paris presents the ideal opportunity. The creative possibilities, the VFX talent, and the projects underway in France make this a good prospect. As the film industry recovers from the impact of the pandemic, the studio is confident and ambitious about expanding its footprints in Paris.
Leading the creative team will be long-time collaborator Emmanuel (Manu) Pichereau, who will be joined by a mixture of One of Us veterans and the pick of his extensive French connections. Among Manu’s credits are Under The Skin, Anna Karenina, Everest, The Revenant, Netflix’s The Midnight Sky, and most recently The Matrix 4. People and projects have always driven the company’s growth, and the Paris venture begins with an iconic French staple in the shape of Asterix and Obelix: The Silk Road.
With France being the birthplace of cinema and film, a defining part of the national culture, the French have been responsible for many of cinema’s significant movements and moments, actors and directors. Hollywood often looks to Europe for inspiration and innovation. And as the wider European industry is undergoing a renaissance, with the new investment in production infrastructure, stage space, and new technologies, this is an exciting place to be.
Having had strong relationships with several Hollywood studios, One of Us has a history of working with European filmmakers, most recently on Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio and Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are. They also have strong connections with European VFX talent, cultivating relationships with the best schools and universities.
They are working with productions to ensure they make the most of the French tax incentives, which begin at 30 per cent and rise to 40 per cent, with the additional rebate targeted at and triggered by VFX spend, making Paris an alluring alternative.
According to the press release, this Paris studio will use a hybrid remote and office-based team, leveraging their London infrastructure. Over the past few months, One Of US has improved their connectivity, tripled the storage and extended the render farm, and with recent innovations in remote working technology, the capacity is more flexible than ever.