On November 11, TF1 premiered a series featuring sisters Tam, Sylia, and Alexia, who turn to thievery to solve the mystery of their father’s death in a fire. Set in Paris against iconic landmarks, the production faced challenges due to the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, requiring a tight filming schedule and extensive security measures. Despite obstacles like unpredictable weather and logistical complexities, the team found joy in their creative process, led by director Alexandre Laurent.
On November 11, TF1 viewers were introduced to three dynamic sisters—Tam (Camille Lou), Sylia (Constance Labbé), and Alexia (Claire Romain)—who turn to a life of thievery in a quest to uncover the truth behind their father’s tragic death. He perished a decade ago in a fire that consumed his art gallery, prompting the sisters to delve into the mystery.
Exploring Paris: The Setting of Cat’s Eyes
This captivating series serves as a prequel to Tsukasa Hôjô’s beloved manga, Cat’s Eyes, and is set against the stunning backdrop of Paris in 2023. To bring the story to life, director Alexandre Laurent’s team filmed in some of the most iconic landmarks of the capital, including the Eiffel Tower, Monnaie de Paris, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre Museum.
However, the extensive six-month shoot was not without its challenges.
The Impact of the Paris 2024 Games
One of the most significant hurdles faced by the production team was the impending Paris 2024 Games. Producers Benjamin Dupont-Jubien and Mehdi Sabbar revealed that the global event presented a formidable obstacle to their filming schedule.
The original plan was to shoot in the spring, avoiding the cold and rainy weather. However, to ensure they could film in these iconic locations without interfering with the Games’ preparations, the team had to complete all shooting before March.
As Benjamin Dupont-Jubien noted, “We aimed to film in legendary spots, but we were unaware of the extensive planning required and the impact of the Paris 2024 Games on our schedule.”
Thankfully, the Paris prefecture provided invaluable support to the team. “While they couldn’t disclose everything due to security concerns, we faced some frustrating and complex moments,” he added.
While gaining access to Paris’s major monuments was a success, the team encountered additional challenges along the way.
“All of this comes at a high cost,” Dupont-Jubien explained. “Once we established our budget for location rentals, we were informed that we had to include security measures. This meant hiring guards due to the presence of extras and ensuring the safety of the actresses as they performed stunts on rooftops.”
Similar safety protocols were implemented for the technical crew. “We had to engage certified personnel capable of securing themselves to the monuments without causing damage, which meant we couldn’t just hire anyone. Additionally, we needed to protect the crew members who were following the actresses—whether it was the cameraman or the crew managing cables,” he elaborated.
Despite the unforeseen challenges, the experience ultimately brought great joy to the team.
Director Alexandre Laurent spent six months scaling and exploring the Eiffel Tower in every conceivable way. However, the unpredictable weather on filming days presented its own set of complications. A slight breeze and drizzle at ground level could escalate into strong gusts at 250 meters. With actors positioned precariously on metal beams, time was of the essence. Night shoots became necessary since the Eiffel Tower was open to tourists during the day, and the shooting dates were fixed.
In conclusion, Mehdi Sabbar expressed a positive sentiment: “These constraints were our biggest challenge, but they also brought us immense satisfaction.”