Montreal is the only large North American market where the language of your content is set by law. For a creator that is not a constraint, it is the reason a brand needs somebody on the ground rather than a creator in Toronto or Paris.

French is not optional

In Quebec, commercial advertising has to be in French, and French has to be at least as prominent as any other language. A brand arriving with an English campaign has to produce the French version. That is a guaranteed commission, and you are the one standing next to it.

Deliver both languages, invoice both

The beginner reflex is to film in French and throw in English for free. Those are two deliverables, two takes, two subtitle files. Invoice them as such, stating in the quote that the second language is a separate piece rather than a variant.

It is not the French of France

A Quebec brand hears a Paris accent instantly, and so does its audience. If you come from elsewhere it is not disqualifying, but the everyday vocabulary has to shift. A brand selling in Laval does not want a script written for Lyon.

The sectors that hire

Video games and visual effects, food and craft breweries, local fashion, beauty, and a dense technology start up scene. On top of that sit the agencies, which are numerous here and subcontract content production rather than building it in house.

The season changes everything

From November to March, outdoor shooting is rarely workable for product work. The creators who do well have a clean indoor corner, controlled artificial light and a clear line about it in their pitch. Outdoor content gets filmed in September to run in January.

Keep reading

Publish your creator profile →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need French to work in Montreal?

For most jobs, yes.

Is the English version included?

No, it is a separate deliverable and it is billed.

Does the Quebec accent matter?

For the local market it helps a lot.

How do I handle winter?

A clean indoor corner, and outdoor content filmed in September.