Can Toulouse become the future city of cinema?
The Pink City projects itself into the 7th art. Talented emerging artists, studios and production companies. The question of Toulouse’s potential as a future city of cinema arises.
On the outskirts of Toulouse, students in their final year of ESMA-ETPA are putting the finishing touches to their end-of-study projects. Future 3D animation specialists know it, in a few days, they will present their short films in front of a jury made up of big names in cinema.
Most will then leave for major international production houses. “When you see a blockbuster in the cinema. There is at least one of our former students who worked on it”, welcomes Corinne Fransen, director of the ESMA-ETPA school.
Read also :
VIDEO. Toulouse: commentary on the make-up artist Romain Houlès creates monsters for the cinema
Booming animation cinema
A few years in Toulouse, the compounds and professions since around the cinema are multiplying. Jean-François Tosti is witness to this growth for the 7th art. Particularly in its sector, that of animation. The co-founder of TAT production is involved in many projects: “We benefit from the fruit of the work we have been carrying out for more than 20 years, but today we are really seeing a huge increase in demand”, continues Jean-François Tosti.
The production company TAT is currently producing the next Asterix, which will be released on the famous Netflix platform. In their premises, they also develop new films or cartoons. To grow, the co-founder of TAT will have to swell his workforce: “We are in the process of making a plan to develop. We could go from 150 to 300 employees.
TAT isn’t the only successful production company. This year, the company XBO in the City even failed to win the precious prize for best animated film at the Césars. “La Traversée”, the film by Florence Miailhe and the Toulouse company XBO was selected for the prestigious ceremony. Jean-François Tosti is not surprised: “in Toulouse, animated cinema is beginning to germinate and assert itself”. Every year, animation professionals rejoice in Toulouse on the occasion of the Cartoon Forum. This event brings together different companies from all over Europe.
Untapped potential
In the Pink City, but also in Haute-Garonne, if animation is on the rise, this is not yet the case for traditional cinema. Several initiatives attempt to democratize local film production. This is the case of the Grand Set in Colomiers. Over the past few years, this studio has developed a life-size airplane decor.
This tool makes it possible to host numerous national film shoots. “The goal is to be able to shoot different feature films, such as disaster films. The arrival of this new studio has given impetus and great potential”, confirms Laurent Foulquier, Site Director. The Grand set teams were then able to work with several directors. ” Its an asset. People come to film in our plane and then come to shoot in the region”, meeting Laurent Foulquier.
The Haut-Garonne initiative “Toulouse on Air”
Toulouse is the world capital of aeronautics. To be able to shine also in cinema and aviation, the Toulouse on air initiative was adopted. By offering exceptional sets (such as the Grand Set studio), this system provides solutions for directors and promotes Toulouse. Airport, security gates, or fuselage many places of decorations are available. Several productions have already focused on these places. We find for example the film “The course of life” with Agnès Jaoui, Jonathan Zaccaï and Géraldine Nakache or the series “Meutre à…”.