Ciné Cascade supports film, series, television, advertising and music video productions in the design and execution of automotive stunts, integrating artistic, technical and budgetary considerations from the earliest stages.
Every project is unique, and an initial script analysis makes it possible to accurately assess requirements and provide a tailored estimate. Drawing on its experience, workshops and fleet of technical vehicles, the team is able to adapt to each project’s needs, whether for straightforward action scenes or more complex mechanical sequences.
The nature of the stunt: the starting point of any estimate
Car chase, head-on or side-on collision, simple or cork-screw rollover, multi-vehicle pile-up, motorcycle fall, vehicle jump: each specialty within mechanical stunts calls for a distinct level of preparation, a specific number of dedicated vehicles and its own safety protocol.
Three lines in a script can represent two days of shooting or three weeks of preparation. A technical reading of the script is the essential starting point of any serious budgetary assessment.
Vehicle preparation: the most underestimated cost
A stunt vehicle is not a car available the day before the shoot. It is prepared, modified and secured in advance in the workshops: roll cage, chassis reinforcement, airbag and ABS disconnection, brake system adaptation, remote control installation if the scene requires it.
Workshop time, specific parts and the level of modification required are non-negotiable budget items. Ciné Cascade’s technical self-sufficiency (in-house workshops, dedicated vehicle fleet, integrated mechanical engineers )makes it possible to control this cost without external subcontracting.
The crew and shooting days
A mechanical stunt coordination mobilises a coordinator, stunt performers, precision drivers and workshop technicians. Depending on the scale of the sequences, the team expands: additional doubles, on-set mechanical engineers, dedicated safety coordinator.
The number of shooting days is directly linked to the number of anticipated takes, location availability, weather constraints and the organisation of prior rehearsals.
Cast preparation: a parameter not to be overlooked
When the role demands it, actor at the wheel, driving scene in real conditions, on-screen credibility , Ciné Cascade incorporates a precision driving training programme calibrated directly to the shoot’s requirements.
This upstream work is not a luxury: it is what makes the scene achievable. Jean-Claude Lagniez notably trained Scott Eastwood in 48 hours for Antonio Negret’s film Overdrive, enabling the actor to drive on screen as much as possible within safety limits.
Rehearsals with the cast also allow the action choreography to be validated with the camera and production teams before the shoot day, significantly reducing the number of takes and time on set.
Logistics and location scouting
Technical scouts determine the feasibility of the stunt, the necessary permits, perimeter security and coordination with law enforcement if public roads are involved.
Ciné Cascade operates in France and internationally (Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Americas) with the same equipment and safety protocols. The transportation of equipment and crew is factored into the budgetary analysis from the first scout.
Insurance and professional liability
This parameter is non-negotiable. Ciné Cascade holds an insurance policy covering Professional Civil Liability for all its operations, in France and internationally. Every production is required to verify the insurance coverage of its stunt providers before the first day of shooting.
Practical stunts or visual effects: reframing the question
Misconception: VFX is always cheaper than a practical stunt. Reality: a fully computer-generated chase sequence can end up costing more and feel unconvincing on screen.
The right question is not “practical or VFX?” but what combination of practical and digital delivers the best result for this budget? Ciné Cascade can contribute to this thinking from development, before post-production options have even been decided.
What productions ask us most often
Can we work with Ciné Cascade from the development stage?
Yes, and that is the ideal moment. Working upstream makes it possible to anticipate constraints, identify sequences that carry budgetary risk and propose creative alternatives.
Can the budget be adjusted to fit production constraints?
Within certain limits. Safety is non-negotiable. The number of vehicles, the complexity of the choreography and the duration of rehearsals are variables open to discussion, provided the safety of the crew is not compromised.
Full coordination or one-off involvement?
For productions with multiple action sequences, coordinating across the entire shoot is generally more cost-efficient. Ciné Cascade systematically evaluates both options.
Are you developing a project with automotive action sequences?
stunts@cinecascade.com · +33 6 08 72 74 55 · WhatsApp international: +33 6 11 50 09 54
