Well I just have to tell you that we very nearly had our moment of fame and excitement here in Normandy. The French film director Luc Besson has started filming a new movie starring among others Robert de Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer.
He was looking for a house that could be used as home to the main characters. Besson wanted two buildings not too far from each other and guess what?! His team came and looked at my house and guest cottage!!! They hummed and haaa-d and took pictures and considered angles etc, and although they finally decided they had better options, it still caused a little flurry of excitement here.
They are currently filming west of us in Normandy, maybe they chose one of these pretty homes.
I understand that if our house had been chosen, they would have emptied it, stored our furniture, refurnished and redecorated and put us up at a hotel. After the filming I think you get to keep what paint work you want and request for the rest to be restored as was!
I understand that if our house had been chosen, they would have emptied it, stored our furniture, refurnished and redecorated and put us up at a hotel. After the filming I think you get to keep what paint work you want and request for the rest to be restored as was!
Just wondered, have you ever turned your home over to a film crew? I've heard good and bad experiences. Would you consider it, Tell me please, I'd love to know ....
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Sharon that is exciting, would I open my house up to a movie crew, certainly if Robert de Niro was in the film !
ReplyDeleteSooooo exciting. Your house totally belongs in a movie!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow excited you must have been! Sorry to hear you didnt get selected. They certainly got it wrong! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was still living on New Haven the last installment of Indiana Jones was partly filmed on Yale's old campus. All of Chapel Street was dressed in 1950's garb and it was like walking back in time. The cars, the storefronts all like a time warp. We loved it, even though it disrupted life for a while. Not sure how I'd feel about giving up my home though....... But maybe they'd put you up in a fabulous spa hotel? Now that would make it worth your while!
ReplyDeleteWonderful!! your house deserve it, it is so beautiful and authentic! They got totally wrong! Cheers...
ReplyDeleteI can imagine your gorgeous home in a movie! But I have known people who have allowed film crews to use their home and it is very disruptive - I don't know if it would be worth it.
ReplyDeleteexciting.!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been so exciting and to think that they even considered your home is high praise.
ReplyDeleteMy friends beautiful apartment was used in a movie shoot. Their home was left clean and freshly painted to repair any wall scrapes that had occurred .
Nothing like a film crew to shake things up! I live in an area where many films are shot. Our topography and architecture lends itself well to many formats. I have heard mixed reviews and it seems to center primarily on your contract. Your own attorney needs to format your stipulations etc. (not the studio hack) Once tapped by the film industry the possibility that they will stop again is rather increased. (according to the locals) I would not do it, I am just not comfortable with it.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you. The nearest I ever got to that, was last year I rented my house for 3 months to a film company who were filming near to us, making the film 'La Guerre des Boutons' to accommodate the sound technicians.We do let our home for holiday rental during July & August but even that was an experience. They held several parties at our place, as it is isolated & they certainly know how to party. The catering van arrived in the afternoon & took over the whole grounds. So maybe as your home looks so beautiful it might be for the best.
ReplyDeleteWe had a commercial filmed at our home. It was an exterior shot so they did not need to come inside other than to change window treatments and it only involved 1 day of filming. We had so much fun! The crew was extremely kind and polite, they paid us the day of filming, cleaned up everything when they were done and even let us eat from the craft services truck. I would do it again in a second!
ReplyDeleteI worked for several years on the Toronto International Film Festival and as well with location managers coordinating filming at several locations. Once you are 'the list' {which your home now is} you will have more requests.
ReplyDeleteWhen they do request use of your property don't be shy to push the guidelines that meet the needs of your family. It can be very profitable is you push and set it up properly - and of course if the film has a healthy budget.
Good lord, no. I belong to the peasant class-no one would look at my house. But the area where I live is sometimes the scene of certain actions. I can see why they looked at yours; it is most beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Clooney and Holly Hunter, among others, came to my area for "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" years ago and we all went NUTS... especially all the women concerning George! George was great...couldn't have been any nicer and we all got autographs! The Cohen Brothers who directed the movie transformed our downtown area to resemble the 30's and actually improved it with awnings over store fronts, painting, etc. that remained intact after they left. Of course, some things were taken down that needed to be... There were some complaints that downtown store owners lost revenue during their time there, but overall, I think the town made money. I didn't hear any reports of problems on this movie, but that's not to say I haven't heard about nightmarish problems with other actors and crews filming fairly close by with other films... this really had to do with them actually living in the houses during filming...one actor I know got pretty rowdy, but it was no surprise! :)) It just depends on the individual's respect for property. It's just a risk that you take...not sure I would do it, but it would be exciting to be considered! Have fun! Can't wait to see what you decide! I love both Michelle and Robert! AWESOME!!
ReplyDeleteGot so excited about this that I didn't read your post very carefully. I see they didn't choose you...can't understand why not :) It will still be fun to see it being filmed!
ReplyDeletehow exciting.....the show "Homeland" is filmed partially in Charlotte, and the main character's home was a neighbor's condo.....while filming lasted 2-3 weeks...the prep time was an interesting process, and clean up was amazingly completed in hours....I would do this in a flash!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Are you going to watch any of the filming? Love your blog, by the way.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!
ReplyDeleteWe knew of a family who were put up in a hotel while a film crew used their home...the repainted their kitchen and did up the garden for the movie!
Having had experience with both filming and shooting for an Interior magazine - I would say now NO! Not again! What a fuss, mess, moving objects, furniture from A to Z, turning the house and place up-side-down! It took me weeks to get everything back in order.
ReplyDeleteAs much as it can be exiting, flattering etc....I would not consider again, except if very, very well paid :)
Wishing you good luck! k
That would have been amazing! Your home is so incredibly beautiful! I have never rented my house for a flim but had many photoshoots done in the house for catalogs, fashion , Oprah... Actually, as i am still enjoying the wonderful sea and sunshine of saint tropez, my husband is getting the house ready back in Connecticut for a catalog shoot...I think Anthopology or the Comapany store... bothy my husband and my sons are hopping for a Victoria secret catalog :)
ReplyDeleteOh, how exciting! It would have been such fun to see your home at the movies! It might cause some disruption, but I think it would be a bit of a thrill to have your house play a starring role in a film - one of those once in a life time experiences.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week, Sharon. Say hi to Robert and Michelle for me! XO
il m'est arrivé la même chose que toi pour mon loft à Lyon ,mais je ne regrette rien car quand c'est ta maison principale c'est la vraie galère,ils sont chez eux pendant tout le tournage et tu ne peux même pas accéder à tes affaires car tu ne sais même pas où ils sont..rires...
ReplyDeleteUn grand merci pour tes mots pour l'anniversaire de Manon.
Amicalement,
Manon
The closest I have ever come is when my husband and I almost bought a 120-yr old homehome in Wilmington, NC where a film had just been shot. Later I would discover (while actually watching the film and shouting out "We almost bought that house!) that it was A Walk to Remember. All I know is that they destroyed the home. The kitchen would have to have been gutted because it had been created for better angles, etc. They had painted right over old wallpaper and that had started to bubble. It was not a pretty thing. I think maybe the owners did not ask for it to be put back, or either they were paid handsomely and did not bother to ask. Either way, I wish we had bought the house now, b/c I went back about 6 years later for a Historical Tour and OMG is it beautiful! :(
ReplyDeleteWell, having your house rented by a film-crew can go several ways, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteThe very large and beautiful mansion at Ashland plantation in Mississippi was used as the set for several succesful movies over the years.....until the movie "Fletch Lives" was filmed there in 1990 or so. During the filming of a fire-scene(of which the owners were unaware), the fire got out of control (to put it mildly) and burned through two floors of that 1842 house. The film crew had brought sufficent extinguishers for perhaps a gas-grill (at most) and hadn't considered the possbility of an accident. The production company was sued unsuccessfully, and the house remains unrestored following the fire.
One the other hand?.....a longtime friend of mine comes from an old plantation family, the various and many members of which couldn't really afford to restore their rapidly crumbling mansion. Somehow or another, Hollywood became aware of the place during the sixties, and it was used as the set for a number of the then-fashionable "Southern Gothic" movies. I think something around ten movies were shot there, and the family simply kept plowing the money back into the house.....which was eventually completely restored. There's no way this could have happened if Hollywood hadn't come knocking on the door. It's still used as a set on a regular basis, by the way....which goes a long way towards explaining why most Americans seem to think that all Southern mansions look just alike. As my friend's mother says, though, "It's nice to finally have a house that isn't famous for being a wreck".
No one in the very large, extended family lives full-time in the house....or, these days, even remarkably near it. So, it's divided up into about thirty time-shares among the many realtives and is used for their weddings, vacations, family-re-unions, etcetera. When it's needed for a film-shoot, someone happily gives up his/her "share" for that year and gets to keep half the location-fee....which, as you might guess, is more than enough to rent a cottage elsewhere for vacation.
Oddly enough (or at least that's how it feels to me) this 220 year old house was featured in "Colonial Homes" magazine about ten years ago. The previous owners left a copy of the magazine for me. Poking through it, all I could consider was that they had nicer furniture and kept the joint a whole lot cleaner than I do, which was a bit disheartening to admit.
Level best as Ever,
david Terry
Sharon, as a regular reader of your blog, you're home and garden is already famous...:) This is one of the popular State in the US for movie locations and films. No, nada, ziltch, non...film scout ever stopped by my house as a possible location. I maybe tempted if an offer comes my way, but my dogs won't like it. And what the dogs want, the dogs have...lol. True enough!
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon, your house is so beautiful. You will see one day the filmteam will be again at your door! Have a nice evening, Geli
ReplyDeleteMy husband says that many, many years ago, a branch of his family lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The family legend is that the family ‘mansion’ was rented for Yul Brenner for the duration of filming a movie.
ReplyDeleteThe story goes that, after Mr. Brenner became a bit tipsy one night, he rode a horse up the grand staircase while shooting at a large chandelier. It was the last time the family rented out their home. :)
A long time ago in the US, we let a television show use our house ( exterior) and driveway for an episode .. it was kind of annoying because we were stuck in or out of the house into the night, we could not turn lights on in any of the rooms that faced the street, they took over.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is fun, it is also annoying :)
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ReplyDeleteThat is so neat!!! ....for me, no, I wouldn't let a movie be shot in my house.. (I am really anal about my things) but I ALWAYS thought it would be neat to have an HGTV chef use my Kitchen!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon: I can't believe they didn't pick your home. I will certainly be looking forward to the movie as your countryside is so beautiful. It must be an epic picture. I've never even been close to a movie but, if that's true as to what happens, it doesn't sound too bad..Happy Monday..Judy
ReplyDeleteNot my house - but yes my store. In l989 scenes from the movie "The Incident" was filmed at my store with Walter Mauthaw, Harry Morgan, Susan Blakely. The building (1905) was Roger's Bar then so they wanted scenes in front of the old Victorian Bar.
ReplyDeleteActually we were asked, but opted not to do it. Now if Michele and Robert were to be the stars, well...........we might consider that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteomg. i cannot imagine that ever happening to us since we live in a sleeeeeeeepy town where nothing is goin' on!
ReplyDeletedeniro! holy crap.
just saw haven in paris on your sidebar. we have booked an apartment through them for paris next month!
best to you.
michele
and i'm following! hope you're following back.
ReplyDeletemichele
We would've been there to greet them! Fellow New Yorkers!
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous!
Oh how very very exciting..just to be considered ( I think) is an honor. I will look for the film...
ReplyDeleteJess
I would..but make sure you read the fine print! Sounds like fun.
ReplyDeleteI would have picked your house; i think it is just beautiful. How every french home should be.....how exciting for you. Take care Amanda xx
ReplyDeleteIt would have been oh so exciting! However, I have heard through the grapevine, people who know people in Pasadena, that sometimes it isn't as wonderful as it sounds....animals need to be relocated...your favorite items not necessarily handled so well, etc...mainly hard on you...though I heard they do pay well....
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I love your home....
Nancy
Tres cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy for U! Who could expect so big surprise... amazing! I wish to U good luck and a lot of good news too !! :D
ReplyDeleteI was in the final scene of THE WAY WE WERE!!
ReplyDeleteOh, sooo close! Our home and barn were being considered for an upcoming filming for a new HGTV makeover series. We were so excited, got as far as the executive producer and her team coming to the house. But, alas, no deal. Did make for some fun daydreaming...
ReplyDeleteHave clients who turned production company down- not enough $$ + have your attorney go over "their agreement" with fine tooth comb + there have been good experiences & bad ones. From S. CA xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteOpening up your home to a film crew definitely comes with big risks. It is an invasive process even if all goes well, that includes lots of equipment, paint crews, carpenters, furniture movers, set designers and stylists, accidents and problems. Remember that most of those people are just there to get a job done, and are not necessarily as respectful of your property as they should be. After all, in their minds anything can be fixed with enough money (which there budget has plenty of - money can make people careless). I've seen first hand what the unintentional damage even small film crews can do, working of commercials - not only to the structure (moving furniture alone can scar floors, walls and door) but to grounds and gardens as well (tracks, trailers, carts, tractors can destroy a lawn in minutes especially when there is rain). I've even seen underground pipes and septic systems broken by film crews. Of course it can all be fixed, reseeded, replanted... but with a beautiful property like yours, with established plantings and perennial gardens, I wouldn't let a film crew come within ten miles if it was my home.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a lovely compliment to have your home considered, and exciting to think two such amazing actors would be strolling through your rooms and grounds, but would it be worth the risk to you personal space. I think not...
Ditto Linda above... My best friend lived very close to the studios in the Toluca Lake area of LA and did hundreds of commercials and movies. Mostly the CASH was the thing but over time, the damages just got more and more severe. Her furnishings were damaged or taken, floors, walls, shutters, yards destroyed and never repaired to original. Her buildings, fences, even trees were added onto in the worst ways, painted, really ruined and never returned to original. It might seem like a dream come true but in reality, a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a property that you own for just that purpose...a different story. She found that over time, much more was done in-studio with green screens and remote properties not used as often. She sold and hasn't looked back.
Find out where it is though and become an extra! Fun, great food and get paid...if you can stand the waiting around...for days...xoxo, Chris
My family's farmhouse in TN was used as the grandparent's home in Walking Tall back in the 70's. It is still something that people in town talk about. They were respectful with the property and didn't do any damage. (It was used in 1, 2 and 3). We still find stuff in the woods around there every now and then. A busted up still where they shot a scene is one of our favorites! ha
ReplyDeleteThe home was built in the 1840's so it can be fragile. Not sure they would do it today, but it was a great experience then!
Holly
McCall Manor
ps-my dream is to one day live in France, I keep checking out the houses you put on here that are for sale!!! keep 'em coming!!
I just saw this home on someone else's blog and they said it was there home??
ReplyDeleteLast week, we had a film crew filming in our little village. Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill....and our town shall never be the same...like the kiss we never want to wash away. Our hearts all grew a little larger and our teens were rushing down to capture the attentions of the stars.
ReplyDeleteIt was fantastic. Traffic was crazy.
pve
Ashley leaves Tuesday to visit Dianna on the set. Wish they had chosen your French Country Home so then she could visit you too! What a small world.....
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog by accident when researching what to do when a film crew destroys your beautiful home. In fact I am still in a hotel, going on a month now. Yes it is very exciting when big stars are in your home as they just were in mine. Well, here is my two cents...don't. Not now, not ever. If it can be broken they will break it, if it can be lost, they will lose it. All the money in the world is not worth the stress.
ReplyDelete