Paris bans action movie filming under new post-terror rules

PARIS — Fearing that actors could be mistaken for police — and chase scenes confused for the real thing — Paris is sharply restricting filming of action movies in the city that been the stage for some of film's most memorable high-octane sequences.

Filming outside scenes with police, army or security services was quietly banned after the attacks in the French capital that left 20 dead, including three gunmen.
"There's a problem with these action-type scenes, as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists," Sylvie Barnaud, the police official who grants outside filming permission in Paris, told The Associated Press. "Also, the actors could pose confusion for the general public — during this highly sensitive period."
She did not know how long the ban could last, but tensions remain high in Paris, with armed police and soldiers still posted outside sensitive sites, including synagogues, media offices and major shopping areas.
The telegenic city has long been a favored filming location, especially for chase scenes that feature some of the world's most recognizable landmarks.
Luc Besson's 2014 box-office hit "Lucy" with Scarlett Johansson features a police chase next to the Louvre — something impossible under the new rules.

 Download video