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Our 

Our Experience

In the last three years we have filmed in over 55 countries worldwide.

We service 90% of our client’s international production agency needs direct from our London and Bristol offices, sending our experienced camera crews and kit to far-flung destinations all over the globe. We do this for a few very good reasons. We’ve found that once unionised local crew rates are factored in, hiring local crew isn’t necessarily a cost efficient option. When the economies of sending our own talented crew are factored against the guarantee of high quality production – it often makes it a no brainer to send our teams.

The remaining 10% may include some sourcing of local fixers and hiring local kit where appropriate.

This is evidenced by the wide range of international shoots we have filmed for various clients, including but not limited to: Canada, US, Germany, France, Italy, Bahamas, Vietnam, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Japan, the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) and India.

Shoots on location and on this scale require precision planning and in depth information of the local requirements which is a body of knowledge we have developed over the last 10-12 years in video production.

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Our 

Our top tips:

12 years in video production and having filmed in so many geographies and regions we have a good handle on some of the local and cultural sensitivities and considerations that this sort of on location filming requires:

VISAS
We are aware of that some countries will require our crew to obtain VISAS and carnet’s for our kit. In pre-production we will always ask ourselves the following:

  • Can our crew enter the country to film or do we require a local fixer/local crew?
  • Do we need any special visas to film in the country?
  • If so is it one that you obtain in the UK or on arrival or both?
  • What are the financial requirements – deposits, bonds etc.

FILM / LOCATION PERMITS
On top of the VISAS we will also ask ourselves;

  • Do we need a special filming permit or several locations permit?
  • Do the filming rules of your filming permit require us to work with a local production company or fixer?
  • Does the Creative require we film in or over nature reserves OR tourist OR sacred sites?
  • If you do – how long per permit/ do we need a guide on site/ do we require the site to be empty of tourists?

PRODUCTION KIT ENTRY
We are aware of that some countries will require Carnets for kit entry (typically Middle-East). In pre-production we will always ask ourselves the following:

  • Can we enter the country with a Carnet (allowing your equipment in)?
  • If the country is not a carnet country what special licenses do we need?
  • Can we enter the country with equipment at all or do you have to rent locally?

When renting locally, will this require us also to hire freelancers?

AERIAL FILMING

In beautiful locations there is obviously a bit temptation for drone filming, but there are some key questions that need answering beforehand

  • Are we filming with a drone? If so can we bring a drone into the country?
  • What are height restrictions and drone laws in the country?
  • Can we hire a drone freelancer?
  • If we can’t use a drone – can you use a helicopter?
  • Do we need a special permit for both helicopter and drone?

MODELS / ACTORS

  • Will we be able to bring models into the country? Can we use local models?
  • Are we filming with child actors/models? If so what are the rules? How many hours/guardians/etc?
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To understand both how we work and see an overview of the types of work we do please take a look at our showreel and expertise pages. We’d love to hear from you and learn more about the projects you have in mind and how we might help.