BRETT RATNER - PARIS PROBLEMS FOR RATNER

Moviemaker BRETT RATNER has warned his peers about shooting films in Paris, France after falling foul of the country's strict union laws while making RUSH HOUR 3. The director reveals producers were forced to pay almost $550,000 (GBP277,500)-a-day to keep up with restrictions and regulations that govern filmmaking in Paris. Ratner explains, "We could only shoot eight hours a day because there's a law... There's a 35-hour work week in France, no overtime. It doesn't matter if you offer them triple overtime. "(They have) two hour lunches and wine service during lunch. Every crew member in their contract has a right to drink wine and they bring you an appetizer, a main course and then a dessert service." Ratner faced more problems when it came to shooting scenes at Paris landmark the Eiffel Tower - because the authorities would only let him film from midnight to 6am. Eventually, the director gave up, adding, "We decided, 'We've got to come back to L.A.'"