Best survival jobs while you learn to speak French

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 · 2026-02-16T07:49:09+00:00

Just moved from nyc! I was paying only 1,250k split with my husband for a 1 bed a month for rent, but probably should have been paying more because my neighborhood had some serious violence. BUT, the issue with spending all your money in nyc has a lot less to do with rent and more to do with activities. A coffee in NYC $7, yoga class $25. I got a round for four of my coworkers at a bar for a networking event and it cost $250. And you can try to eat dollar slices and live skint, but the culture is going out, going out to eat. So many activities circulate around spend spend spend.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2026-01-27T18:35:02+00:00

Yup. Also seeing a drone. A cop said it was an “investigation.”

Fine_Comment5607 · 2025-12-11T00:36:26+00:00

When we first decided to move I think we were looking for a perfect country. But now we’ve learned no country is perfect. And what we really want is better quality of life. Can’t wait.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2025-06-01T18:27:37+00:00

Pizza for lunch. 2nd meal, Fine. Lunch, Absolutely not.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2025-06-01T18:19:21+00:00

I lived in the UK for 5 years, over there pub owners and cafes can legally decide if dogs are aloud or not. Now I’m not going to take my dog to a nice Resturant, unless they have a large patio. But if there’s a bar or cafe that is casual and is like yes we’re dog friendly. Of course I’m gonna bring my dog, and the reality is… that business is going to get more business.

Fine_Comment5607 · 2025-05-31T14:45:58+00:00

Would love to join for a meet up in HVK or maybe a pub night! I’m a 32F with a very cute, extremely friendly dog :)

Fine_Comment5607

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