The day after a drunken party, the lifeless body of a young girl is found in the hangar of the local rowing club. Everything seems to accuse the guy with whom she left the evening, nevertheless presumed innocent “until his guilt has been established”. On the day of the reenactment, he spins and takes everyone hostage, including Vanessa Tancelin, a somewhat hotheaded commander of the Strasbourg judicial police, played by Constance Gay, half-sister of Justine Rameau, psychorigid investigating judge, played by Claire Borotra.
To make the intervention of the special forces credible on screen, the production of “Face to face” called on 27 extras, including former Raid personnel, coached by Stéphane Lagoutte, audiovisual advisor specializing in this type of staging. scene. We were on the set of the double episode of the series, broadcast this Tuesday at 9:10 p.m. on France 3.
That morning, the sun shines on the Rhine, which flows below the Rowing Club of Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin). In the hall of the rowing club founded, as a sign reminds us, in 1879, a good dozen cops clad in bulletproof vests are quietly sipping coffee. Outside, other extras, helmeted and armed, film the progress of the police officers along the hangar, under the keen eye of Stéphane Lagoutte. “You stick, you stick!” Don’t go so far! Move forward, move forward,” guides the audiovisual advisor, who also spoke on “the Negotiator”, police comedy with François-Xavier Demaisonrecently broadcast on TF 1, “l’Île prisonnière” (France 2) and “Dérapages” (Arte).
Cop on screen is also a profession
“There is never any rush in these units,” insists this entertainment worker, a former soldier who followed police-gendarmerie training applied to cinema. It’s a whole gymnastics, very specific, around the way of moving, of holding a weapon, that the extras don’t necessarily have. Making a police officer in uniform is very easy. On the other hand, wear heavy equipment, including a 3.5 kg helmet, move around with a shield to protect your neighbor, it cannot be improvised. »
Today, Stéphane Lagoutte is hunting for indexes forgotten in the wrong place on firearms. “ This is a very serious mistake! he repeats to two extras who tend to keep their finger on the trigger. These details are important on screen. »
While waiting for things to turn, a muscular man does squats under the admiring gaze of his comrades. A bulletproof helmet in each hand, this veteran of the Raid asks to be called Rachid, to preserve his anonymity, and smiles: “The equipment is heavy, the neck takes a hit. That’s why you build muscle: you have to be able to wear it all day. »
” Nothing but the bulletproof vest weighs 10 kg,” whispers Claire Borotra, her hair pulled up into a hastily put together bun, while she puts on her costume. The actress, who seems even smaller in this outfit, appreciates the sports sessions that she does daily.
“When I can, I prefer to work with real police officers”
“That’s a certain weight,” confirms Stéphane Lagoutte. An extra has between 10 and 15 kg on his back. It’s essential to have real material, it makes the difference to the image. » Every time we have to redo a take, the audiovisual advisor complains: “When I can, I prefer to work with real police officers. As long as they are not recognizable, they have the right to appear. They already know the gestures, so there’s no need to do the same scene twenty times! »
The camera starts rolling, the police advance in single file. We must ensure that no one steps on each other’s toes. After a few takes of moving machine guns at arm’s length, the extras begin to tire. “That’s where you see the strength that the Raid guys need,” breathes Mathieu, 44, who is donning the uniform for the first time.
“This material is consistent with that with which we intervene when we go to look for an individual holed up in his home, for example, continues Rachid. When we have an assault column to form, we always put the shield at the head and the long gun in last position. We ask that safety rules be strictly respected. »
The other extras press him with questions, to which he answers with good grace. “When you take a weapon, we must always consider it loaded and always direct it towards an area likely to absorb an accidental shot, he explains. And, above all, keep your finger along the trigger guard as long as there is no obligation to fire. »
In the middle of the afternoon, Stéphanie Tchou-Cotta, the director, takes out a megaphone. “Move away or put on a helmet,” she warns. Stéphane is going to shoot in the air. » With a precise gesture, he runs to stand behind a car, shoulders and aims. Even though we have been warned, the detonation makes us jump. “Won’t the local residents be worried? », asks Mathieu. Not if they watch France 3 this Tuesday.
