Filming overseas

[Guest LondonFilmMan]

I am based in London and need to film in about 20 countries during end of 2007-2008. Does anyone have experience with shooting in other countries? I mean, taking the cams in, filming, getting permits, embassies, institutes, insurance, customs, finding extras in the country...also, where is a good place to get a listing of film org's and institutes?

[Nick Bennett]

Having travelled extensively to film documentaries often in hard to access countries like North Korea where there are few oportunities to hire local facilities the best advice I can offer is when possible travel with the camera body as cabin baggage, invest in peli cases for the other equipment (I have custom made hard foam inserts made for lenses, batteries etc) and if you're travelling to countries that use the ATA carnet system then get one or altenatively use a duplicate list for customs purposes.

 

And don't forget your passport!

 

Nick Bennett, DP

www.astateofmind.co.uk

[Guest LondonFilmMan]

Do you have to get permission from the embassy, film institute of that country before U go in?

[Olex Kalynychenko]

I am based in London and need to film in about 20 countries during end of 2007-2008. Does anyone have experience with shooting in other countries? I mean, taking the cams in, filming, getting permits, embassies, institutes, insurance, customs, finding extras in the country...also, where is a good place to get a listing of film org's and institutes?

 

( copy of letter from other topic)

 

If you will need shoot in Ukraine, I can help.

I'm filmmaker from Ukraine.

I hope, I can help you ( by my friends ) about shooting in Russia too.

 

You will need idea and money only, all other can be our problem.

You not need take personal equipment for shooting, all equipment can be rent with full technical support.

 

We can rent any equipments from video up to Super 16, 35 mm ( Arri 16SR-3, Arri-435, ArriCam Studio )

We can organize all other , law support, technical support, location choose, talent casting , post production and other service.

We have good script writers too.

 

The all details we can discuss by my e-mail olex@a-teleport.com

[Guest LondonFilmMan]

I will note your details down as I might need to shoot a scene in Minsk and then Moscow. Are you able to cover both Belarus and Russia?

[Olex Kalynychenko]

I will note your details down as I might need to shoot a scene in Minsk and then Moscow. Are you able to cover both Belarus and Russia?

Moskow very expensive city about film shooting.

The many film makers from Moskow shot in Ukraine ( Kiev, Yalta ).

Yalta studio have many difference location from the tropics up to desolate wilderness.

And you can find many difference locaition in Crimea.

If you will have real proposes with scenario and budget, i can ask my friends in Moskow, from Gorkov studuio, Mosfilm and other.

About shooting in Minsk, will need ask my colleagues from Belarus.

[Nick Bennett]

You don't always need to get permission for many countries but it can help greatly if you contact their embassy in the UK before you travel just to get information on filming in that country, you will be able to find out if you need a work visa etc.

 

Also try the foreign office website as this has useful information regarding security and saftey of particular countries and regions.

 

Make sure you're fully insured before you go, personal and equipment, many high street policies are very resrictive of destination and will not cover you if you're on business (you should be able to get cover on a single production basis from a media specialised underwriter)

 

In my experience it always pays to hire a local fixer, he or she will probably know where to film and where to avoid (you may need access to cash to facilitate shooting and keeping you equipment safe in some countries!)

Edited May 14, 2006 by Doco

[Guest LondonFilmMan]

Thank you Olex Kalynychenko, right now I was seeking contacts, which I hope you won't mind me considering you to be. Regarding the script, I may be interested in taking the English version and making it a bit 'East Slavic', so there are possibilities...right now, I will be writing for many months to come.

 

And Doco, thanks for your input regarding "permission in many countries" - I will look into specialist underwriters and "local fixers".

[Olex Kalynychenko]

I was seeking contacts, which I hope you won't mind me considering you to be. Regarding the script, I may be interested in taking the English version and making it a bit 'East Slavic',

 

Yes, of course, the first must be base idea.

Possible, you will need service of professional scrip writer for create details of base idea.

If you will have script on English, not problem, we can translate for russian crew.

You can choose base style of locations by Interet too. The many travel sites have photos and you can choose style. The detailed locations can be find on place.

The all first workings can make distantly, and you can visit for shooting only on short time.

Ukraine ( Russia ) have not expensive life and you can live long time with low cost.

 

About shooting on street, I don't know about other countries, but, in Ukraine, Russia, on big towns, if you set professional video or cine camera on street, after 2-3 minutes you will see policeman and policeman will ask permission on shooting.