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Overseas
I am going to Kenya and Swaziland to shoot for a humanitarian organization. I am taking my HDX-900. Never been overseas with my rig. What do I need to do for customs, insurance, etc.? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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5 Replies
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Overseas travel with professional video equipment, especially to two or more countries almost always requires acquiring a “CARNET” which is a document which proves the origin of the equipment and demonstrates that it has been re imported to the country of origin. The processing of the Carnet required proof of insurance and often a bond to compel compliance (in lieu of established credit rating such as a D&B). No doubt, getting a Carnet can add cost and complexity to your travel plans, but so can the impounding of the equipment when you attempt to enter or leave a foreign country.
Search “Carnet” on google and you’ll find out a lot more. The first specific would be whether the two countries you intend to visit are party to the international agreement. If not, then the alternative is to establish a relationship with a customs broker who is familiar with import and export from the countries concerned.
JS
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Every country is different when it comes to bringing in gear. Sometimes it depends on the agent on duty when you arrive.
You might look into hiring a fixer. In Kenya, we’ve used View Finders.
https://www.viewfindersltd.com/Even so, I have still had gear impounded for a couple days on 1 out of 2 trips there. If the humanitarian organization is large enough, sometimes they will have contacts that can help you out as well.
Swaziland accepts a carnet, Kenya does not. I have not been to Swaziland, but FWIW, South Africa was no problem. If you choose to travel without a carnet, register your gear with US Customs on form 4455. This will eliminate problems re-entering the US.
Make sure your business insurance will cover your equipment in both of these places.
Also, as these are 50Hz countries, be sure to adjust the camera’s shutter to 1/50 second when under artificial light…or else you will get flicker.
Evan McIntosh
McIntosh Productions LLC
Atlanta, GA
HDX900 owner -
try this link
https://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=718I’ve done carnets overnight but the cost goes up.
as stated by the others it might be best to pile on with
the relief group if you can but, to hedge all of your bets it is also a good idea to have the name of a good customs broker in
your back pocket. The more bases covered the less likely it is that your gear will spend time in customs jail. I’ve been there and it is not a good feeling to walk out and leave your stuff in a closet and wonder if it will be there tomorrow. -
This company is great. Superb customer service. I’ve been using them for over 15 years!
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TONY RIMWAH-trimwah@yahoo.co.uk
A fixer / Locations manager based in Kenya and offers spectrum of film services for projects which includes pre-production, research, referencing, location scouting, with a background of having worked as AD, Cast director in varies international and local productions, since the early 90s before moving to Location management
Tony Rimwah began his career in 1990’s as a featured extra, moved to AD/Casting director position then Locations manager for eight years (15 films and many television shows/commercials). With me, you get production experience that many of the new services cannot offer. I began my service with a unique collection of architectural properties to offer for filming and print photography. I have continued to offer the newest, architecturally unique properties with the best service to Producers with integrity, honesty and a helpful attitude.Tony Rimwah represents a variety of locations that are available for film, television and commercial shoots, as well as still photography and events. I have worked with most of the major studios indirect or direct such as Universal, Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox, and local commercial production houses such onedayfilms, gingerink films, bluesky films, pontact Films and now Cinematic Solutions. l have been in business for over 15 years and have an excellent reputation throughout the industry.
My role follows a sequence of activities from the pre-planning to completion stages of a production support services’
a) Assessing scripts or story boards and scheduling them according to location;
b) Meeting with the director and designer to discuss projects and work to their creative vision;
c) Collating ideas and undertaking research using resources such as the internet, specialist location libraries, local and regional film commissions and agencies;
d) Visiting and photographing locations appropriate to budget in order to assess suitability;
e) Making preliminary enquiries regarding access, parking, and location use;
f) Liaising with the director to discuss and show ideas and photographs;
g) Collating practical information on potential locations, such as hotels for accommodating the crew and cast and, in the case of photography shoots, often booking the hotel and making travel arrangements;
h) Liaising with key members of the production team to assess visual and technical specifications;
i) Researching locations thoroughly to ensure no disruptive noises or events are likely to occur during the shoot;
j) Negotiating access and drawing up a contract with location owners;
k) Organizing permissions for access, for example with local authorities and the police;
l) Scheduling crew arrival dates and times and keeping all parties informed on site;
m) Ensuring the technical specifications for equipment, power sources and crew accommodation on site are met;
n) Ensuring compliance with health and safety and security requirements and undertaking risk assessments;
o) Distributing maps, directions, parking plans and all relevant support information to all services and crew;
p) Arranging schedules for the day with the assistant director to ensure continuity;
q) Managing the location on the day and resolving practical or people-related problems as they arise;
r) Supervising location support staff throughout the process;
s) Dealing with members of the public who may intrude upon a shooting location;
t) Ensuring the final clearing up (‘the wrap’) runs smoothly and thanking site owners.As well as arranging and negotiating site use, the role usually includes managing sites throughout the shooting process. This involves working to strict budgetary and time limits and maintaining a high standard of health and safety and security. The demands of organizing crews and dealing with a range of people make this an intense and varied role.
FIXER / LOCATIONS SCOUT / MANAGER
Work Experience
Feature Films
2011-“Nairobi Half Life”, One fine day films-Ger
2011-“Somali Pirates”, My Name Is Cutter Productions-UK
2010 -“Rugged Priest” Cinematic Solutions Kenya Limited
2010-Lost In Africa, FILMS-SWEDEN
2010-The Revenge, Denmark Crew Zetropa Films
2009-Soul Boy, Tom Tykwer Master Class One Fine Day Films GmbH, Berlin,
Germany
2009-Following Jesus, F.C Haman
2009-British Army Recruitment, Ministry Of Defence/ https://www.armyjobs.mod.uk /
2007-Heart Of Fire, Munich Luigi Falorni / Andreas Bareiss, Sven Burgemeister,
Gloria Burkert, Bernd Burgemeister Fall
2006-Malooned, Cinematic Solutions
2005-The Last Breakthrough, A Hong Kong Film Company
Jan-Mar 2006-Equator, Amber Studio Moscow
2003-Lara Croft Tomb Raider:The Cradle of Life, Paramont Pictures
2005-Winterrreise, d.i.e. Film, Munich Hans Steinbichler
August – Nov 2004-The Whie Masai, Constantine Film
December 2002-Dangerous Affairs, Baraka Films
July 2002-Love Actually,Tell Tale Films
November 2001-Company, P.Ramgopal Varma /P.Som Shekar
October 2000- April 2001 –Nowhere In Africa, MTM Cineteve/Caroline
Link/Peter Herrmann /
March 1999-I Dreamed Of Africa, 2nd Unit/Jaffilms-Columbia
1998-Besieged, Navert Film/Bernardo Bertolucci/Massimo Cortesi June/
‘TO WALK WITH LIONS’ Kingsborough/Carl Schulz/Pieter
Kroonenburg /January-May
Commercials
2011-CO-OP Bank BIZWISE-TVC
2011-Bamburi Cement TVC
2010-Ariel Talking Heads TVC
2010-NIKE TVC-For Worldcup
Vodacom Tanzania TVC/ Vodacom TVC German, Several Safaricom
TVC’s(mobile networks)
NCCK –Voter Education TVC
Mea Fertilizer TVC,KPLC, Nivea Lotion TVC,Venus Hair Oil TVC,Yana Tyres
TVC
August 2006-Suzuki NL “Suzuki Saves the Rhino” Deem Productions,
September 2006 -“Safari of a Lifetime”, Alcon ReStor
November 2004-Senso Coffee, Milly Films (Brussels)
August 2004-Viceroy – Beat, Passing Trains (South Africa)
CO1 British Army recruitment, Pathfinder Caritas People in Need, Clausthaler
Beer, Amstel IBM Magic Box, Dreyfus Comic Relief- Drop the Debt
Pathfinder Caritas People in Need, Clausthaler Beer, Amstel IBM Magic Box,
Dreyfus Comic Relief- Drop the Debt
Documentaries
KPMG –Thriving Businesses
2011“GOOGLE IT-Gatehouse Commercials
2011-Wild In Nairobi, Cosmos Factory Film Production Austria
2011-Kibali, Baney Media INC.
2011-Paul Mercuiro’s Menu, WTFN ENT. Australia
2011-Henry Manson STORY-UK-
2011-Pekin Express Reality Show
2011-Churchill Live Live Comedy Show,Cinematic Solutions LTD
2011-Seven Networks, Relocation Of Elephants (TSAVO)
2011-Wildlife Works, PIQQOLTD. UK-
2010-One Goal Comic Relief UK
2010-Climate Change,One Earth,USA-
2009-Africa on the move/cbc/leora eisen-
2009-Africa soul to music and drum/film magic-china/su xia
‘BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO’ / Corporate Documentary Ð The Edge
Picture Co Ltd, London, UK
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