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Welcome to La Cite Du Cinema

Michel trudel
president locations michel trudel
It was 1974 when Michel Trudel first entered the Québec Cinematography and Production industry. As an Assistant Electrician, Michel’s initiative and entrepreneurial spirit distinguished him in a time when some of Canada’s first big productions were being introduced to the industry. So strongly did Michel stand out, in fact, that it wasn’t long before some of the pioneer companies in the Quebec industry, including Éclairage RPF and Ciné-Mark, were offering him strategic positions in their organizations.
In 1983, Michel was given the opportunity to launch and establish the Montreal division of William F. White, perhaps the most important lighting company in Canada. Just a few years after launching the division, it was firmly established with Michel at the helm. It was a significant success for both the company and Michel.

Five years later and with the Montreal division a great success, Michel decided it was time to commandeer the controls of his own professional life. Taking a leap of faith, he opened Locations Michel Trudel in 1988. Specializing in cameras, lighting and machinist equipment and the very best in dollies, Locations Michel Trudel soon became a vital part of a wide variety of Quebec production successes. With a first-hand understanding of the many challenges facing local artists and projects, Michel used all his resources to provide top-quality, convenient services at a reasonable price.

Despite his success, the true turning point in Michel’s career could be said to be his partnering with fellow Montrealer and Panavision (Canada) founder Mel Hoppenheim in 1994. Together, the partners embarked on a grand project entitled La Cité du Cinéma, a complex of state-of-the-art studios and equipment situated in Montreal’s historic Cité du Havre. Never one to rest on his accomplishments, they founded Les Génératrices Star, offering visiting productions the opportunity of renting the best electrical generators available, in 1997. Now known as Gene Star and with Louis Larocque at its helm, the company has evolved into the major provider of generators to Quebec-based productions, with 35 completely silent machines at their disposal.

A year later, Trudel and his partners, started Vidéo Assist, which provides cinematography equipment. Always on the leading edge of the industry, Trudel started Vidéo MTL, specializing in the rental of High Definition (HD) equipment. In 1999, the second building in La Cite du Cinema was completed, which includes a complete Panavision camera department and three soundstages, the largest of which, at 36,500 square feet, rivals any other such facility in North America. In 2002, the duo began work on the third building of La Cité du Cinéma, which comprises four ultramodern studios together, the highest being fifty feet high, with the largest lighting and machinist department in Quebec.

It is no overstatement to say that Michel Trudel and Mel Hoppenheim, with thirteen studios and perhaps the most complete equipment provision anywhere, are the most productive and influential members of Canada’s cinematographic community. Productions such as The Score, The Sum of All Fears, The Bone Collector, Driven, The Day After Tomorrow and the upcoming The Human Stain have all relied on Locations Michel Trudel to make their productions a success.