HPI on TF1: Why Season 4 Has Stopped Filming

After the United States, which in recent months has been hit by the longest screenwriters’ strike in the history of American culture, a strike is also brewing in France. Indeed, three unions of audiovisual technicians have decided to disrupt filming from this Wednesday, November 15, including the fourth season of HPI, the hit TF1 series hosted by Audrey Fleurot.

But HPI Far from being the only one concerned: this mobilization led to the closure of the filming crew of the Sixties series (Darryl Dixon, Deter, Astrid and Raphael, etc.) and the subsequent production of television programs such as e.g. The best chef (M6), France has incredible talent (M6), or Questions for the champion (France 3).

They are asking for a 20% salary increase

Directors of photography, lighting, costume, hair and makeup, editors, sound engineers: all are asking for a 20% pay rise. “There has been an increase in wages, but it has not always been against inflation. We have been sounding the alarm for years. Today, dissatisfaction is growing”Explains Laurent Blois, general delegate of SPIAC-CGT (Confederation of Audiovisual and Film Industry Professionals-CGT), one of the unions calling for the strike, The interview was conducted by our colleague of Telerama.

“In 2023 alone, we have already implemented two wage increases, totaling between 2.5 and 3.5%, according to technicians.Nuance Stéphane Le Bars, general delegate of the USPA (Union Syndicale de la Production Audiovisuelle), the main union of audiovisual producers, also interviewed by Télérama. We are listening to the requests of the technicians, but the financial equation does not allow us to respond positively at this time.”, regrets. Reason ? Manufacturing companies currently have to deal with inflation, rising transportation and energy costs, and the desire for chain savings. In this regard, Stéphane Le Bars emphasizes that it is also necessary “Make sure they understand what’s going on and that they’ll go away”.

A new action day is planned for next week

The first meeting between the unions took place this Wednesday in Paris without any significant progress on the matter. “They have nothing to offer”, condemns Laurent Blois. Before adding: “The increase in the quality of our programs is due to our technicians, but we have the impression that we are giving more and more and considering less and less”. However, the USPA agreed to accelerate the initial schedule and begin negotiations at a new meeting on December 5, instead of early next year.

At a general meeting held yesterday, Thursday, November 16, the Audiovisual Technicians Union decided to renew the strike today, Friday, November 17, and called for a new day of action next week. Meanwhile, there were more than 500 According to our colleague Le ParisienThey gathered in front of the USPA headquarters this Wednesday.