French Labour Laws Force Ratner's Movie Set Back To Los Angeles

Hollywood moviemaker BRETT RATNER ran into trouble when directing his blockbuster film RUSH HOUR 3 - because the French government enforced strict labour laws which made filming nearly impossible.

Ratner chose to shoot the third installment of the action franchise starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in Paris with hopes of adding to the movie's "fish out of water comedy".

But the French's leisurely approach to the working week soon forced the director to relocate the film set back to Los Angeles.

Ratner says, "We could only shoot eight hours a day because it was the law - the thirty hour work week in France. No overtime. It doesn't matter if you offer them triple overtime, they will not work more.

"So it's eight hour days and two hour lunches and wine service during lunch. Every crew member, in their contract, has a right to drink wine. So they have an open bottle of wine and they bring you an appetizer, a main course and then a dessert - service. It's not like you go get your own food and you sit down. So basically I'm getting six hours a day shooting.

"So we decided we've got to go back to LA and build an extended (set of Paris)."