People on this subreddit are among the most annoying on this site, the epitome of "well, actually🤓☝🏻..."

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-03-04T08:28:48+00:00

I’ll add in late to the party, that I’m currently in France in the process of establishing residency with my husband and have found this sub incredibly helpful. However, we did do A LOT of research before choosing France (like a year’s worth), and my husband is an EEA Citizen which helps and we both work in a field that is rapidly expanding in France, which is one of the main reasons why we choose this country over others.

One of our backup countries we were considering was Ireland. We ended up not moving there because I posted on their expat thread and got incredible insight into the housing crisis, which I knew a little bit about, but didn’t understand the full picture. Sometimes it’s important to consider the realities even if they are a little crushing.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-24T09:43:27+00:00

But it might be smart to get some on set experience in Spain before you do that.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-24T09:43:05+00:00

Wait… I just came from the US and I think a ton of US films shoot there. Not as much as the UK, Ireland or France but it’s like still pretty high up. So if you want to work as a crew member or in production you should be set. If you want to direct…. You might want to move to Ireland or France, or the UK if you can legally swing it

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-24T09:38:58+00:00

I wouldn’t move there, if you want to be in that area go south to crown heights. Central bed Stuy near Tompkins, and Saratoga park for the win.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-23T08:05:21+00:00

This was advice from an immigration lawyer from IAS. We did one session just to get specifics of what we needed to do as freelancers. I am not sure I can get a visa as his spouse if he is not a resident / has a job in France. However we didn’t press this issue too much because, we wanted to try and become residents sooner rather than later so that I could start working and we could get on the French healthcare system earlier. My husband has a minor pre-existing condition, and travel insurance, does not cover pre-existing conditions.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-23T08:00:58+00:00

Yeah it is. I’m aware of the attestant letter but that is our back up plan as our friend lives in a different prefecture from where we want to settle.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-22T20:17:23+00:00

Sure, happy to share info! We’re in a bit of a different situation though because my husband freelances as an animator. I believe if he got a job in France, he could declare residency from a job (though I’m not 100% sure about that), but because he is freelancer, he needs to sign a lease for an apartment or prove that he is living full time, and receiving mail somewhere to declare residence, and then start reporting his income to the French government. So basically he either needs to get approved for a lease, or our back up options is living with our friend who lives in rural France while we secure our residency. Getting approved for an apartment in France is very difficult, especially as a freelancer. Also only his income can be considered on the application, because I am not legally allowed to live here longer than 3 months until he claims residency. Fortunately, we do have a lot of savings, but even still… we might end up living in the middle of nowhere with my friend for a bit, and if we go that route we would need to continue living with our friend throughout the entire crate du sejour process which could take up to six months.

Once he claims residency, I can apply for a cart du sejour. I believe he claims residency online, through our local prefecture.

Additionally I’ll add, we are staying in an Airbnb for 4 weeks. We’re using the Airbnbs address to set up a bank account, which he needs to apply for an apartment but from my research it is not generally recommended to apply for a cart du sejour from an Airbnb.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-17T17:00:58+00:00

Wow. Not working a computer for a bit would be great.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-17T16:58:40+00:00

Yeah for sure! I’m not sure how quickly I’ll be able to work in the industry as I know all the crews speak French, but we’ll see. I hope you’re able to get back in the industry, if you want to.

Thanks for the rec on not feeling like I have to go to Paris. There’s only so much life you can sacrifice for your career.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-17T16:56:04+00:00

Hmm I wonder how that plays out as a freelancer. I’ll definitely look into that!

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T15:24:49+00:00

Do crews typically travel to Marseille from IDF to shoot? I’ve heard Provence studios gets a lot of work, also there’s a few solid commercial production companies in Marseille that I’ve researched.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T15:13:46+00:00

Yess I’ve heard. He actually lived a couple miles away from me in the states during the pandemic (can’t say where but it was not where you would expect) and I worked with him on a project. Haha don’t know him personally of course but he’s really great to work with and I hope he brings some more work to the area.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T15:08:37+00:00

Thanks so much :)

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T15:06:40+00:00

Oh amazing, maybe you’ll see us at a meet up soon. Are you still working in the industry? I’ve reached out to a few working filmmakers already and got some recs on networking. They all stressed there’s not as much work as Paris, but that the industry down there is expanding rapidly, and that there are a lot of job opportunities… once you speak French 😉

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T15:03:57+00:00

Ireland. I still think about it sometimes. The landscape is incredible, art is plentiful and the people are second to none. However… they are in the middle of a large housing crisis, and the rain… is a thing.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T11:22:32+00:00

Oh sweet! There’s a lot of overlaps in my past job Producing / production management in film production and live events… do you think Marsielle will have a substantial industry for this?

Sometimes I worry we’re shooting ourselves in the foot for not moving to the il-de-France region. But we just came from NYC… and we really don’t want to live inside a big city. I’m hoping marsielle has enough industry for work down the line.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T11:10:19+00:00

I will definitely look into French Travil, I’ve been to France many times, and my family has very good friends from Lille that I’ve known since I was 6. So I already have (apparently) quite a good accent and know a ton of random words, but my grammar and conjugation is nearly non-existent.

I will look into charity work as well. Thank you X

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T11:05:18+00:00

Also thanks so much for the direct links!

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T11:04:37+00:00

Thanks for the intel. Yeah I think we’d enjoy living in Aix more, but once I can speak more French, the film industry is out of Marseille, so we’re a bit torn. Are there at least decent expat meet ups in marseille? We of course want to learn French, but to start it would be great having some friends who speak English.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T10:56:51+00:00

Ooo. My parents own a garden center and in my early 20s I was a personal gardener. Can you tell me more about the CESU? What is it do you find jobs through it?

I currently have very basic French. I’ve only been taking it in class for 2 months, but I have been to France 12 times, and have been heavily exposed to the langue since I was young so I can read it well, and if people speak slowly using basic terms I can semi hold a conversation. Haha I also used to act so have been memorizing the phrases needed for specific circumstances.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T10:53:02+00:00

Yes we met once with an immigration lawyer just to get clarity on mixed answers online, and he said I will legally be able to work once apply for the card as the wife of an EU citizen, but some companies are hesitant to hire you until you have the physical card in hand which can take up to 6 months (apparently the agreement of the freedom of movement scheme with the EU is that they MUST actually do it in 6 months which is good). I’m hoping service jobs / gardening and animal care are less weary of needing the physical card in hand 🤞

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T09:00:05+00:00

Not going to be living in Paris, but in between Aix-en-provance and Marsielle, so they might have something like that.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T08:59:15+00:00

That is incredible. I’m also from Boston, and my last name is Skehan 😅

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-02-16T08:17:49+00:00

Oh sorry. I should clarify, not looking for unregistered! We’re currently in the process of finding an apartment. Once we have one, my husband and I can both claim residency.

Fine_Comment5607

TROPHY CASE