I can adapt to your workflow and offer you the best solution to fit your budget and other requirements.

Whether you’re looking for a bilingual ENG camera crew with cameraman, sound and lighting, fully equipped video journalists (VJ´s) or sound technicians and camera assistants whatever your needs.

I have the right camera package for you with experienced bilingual crew ready to use it.

I’m familiar with the demands of international television newsrooms and know how to implement this in Cuba and Latino-America.

My clients can count on the same high quality production standards and professionalism for their corporate video production in Cuba.

Each project that I carry out is successful and cost efficient, I use every resource at my disposal to meet your requirements.

Filming in Cuba?

Looking for a film or photographic production service or fixer in Cuba? Contact me for referrals, questions, bids and references.

I can facilitate the production process by advicing about film permits, budgets, location scouting, casting, customs brokerage, Fixer services, equipment and crews, no matter what the size of the production.

See below for an introduction to Cuba locations, permits, when to shoot, costs, crews, equipment, post facilities, visas and work permits, film friendly hotels, transport, communications and safety advice.

Locations.

Cuba offers a range of distinctive filming locations to filmmakers.
Havana is particularly relevant for historical productions with colourful, vibrant street scenes, impressive colonial architecture and the proliferation of American classic cars from the 1950s giving the city the feeling that it has been locked in a time warp.

The Island is also home to over 200 stunning white sand beaches and nine UNESCO sites including coffee plantations, the historic city of Camagüey, San Pedro de la Roca Castle, the Valley de los Ingenios and Alejando de Humboldt National Park.

Equipment.

Modern film equipment can now be more easily accessed in Cuba, and cities such as Havana have several companies who offer equipment rental. Production companies, such as those referenced above, can offer recommendations on where to rent.

However, for independent filmmakers on a strict budget, advanced planning is very important before travelling to Cuba with filmmaking equipment. If an item in your kit breaks, it can be difficult to find the correct parts to fix it. Though Cubans are extremely resourceful, it’s important to ensure you come prepared with replacement parts if your production will be on-going for an extended period.

I can provide you with a cost-free initial research and project analysis for a reliable estimate without surprises. Trough my network of contacts I can offer you access to locations and vital information that might be necessary to define your overseas shoot.

I can provide you as well with a quick quote that can give you an indication of the approximate cost involved in producing a project. You need to bear in mind that costs vary depending the production nature.

Permits.

There are some strict regulations to keep in mind when filming in Cuba.

One of the most restrictive regulations which foreign filmmakers face in Cuba is that the government may refuse filming permits if script content is considered to be “detrimental to the image of the country and the people of Cuba.”

A Temporary Work Permit Application for Visiting Media Productions is required for all members of a film production and must be submitted at least ten working days before arrival. All equipment will also require clearance.

Applications to shoot in the country can be made easier by contacting the Cuban embassy in your country of residence and which can advise and can make all the necessary contacts for shooting permits.

Film Locations.

Havana is Cuba’s capital and historic centre offering colonial looks such as the Old Town Square, Havana Stock Exchange, Great Theatre of Havana, Fine Arts Museum, Capitolio Nacional, Revolution Museum building, Neo-classical Hotel Inglaterra, University of Havana, iconic 1950’s American Buicks, Chinatown, Morro Fort, Havana Harbour and the famous Malecon. Havana also has Post-Revolution looks such as Soviet Trabants, Focsa residential skyscraper, Meliá Cohiba high-rise, Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Revolution Square, National Theatre of Cuba. Within an hour of Havana you can also find white sand beaches and turquoise waters, rivers, rural roads and plantations. Havana is truly one of the most unique film destinations in the world.

Beyond Havana you can find Viñales with its lush green tobacco fields, limestone cliffs and caves. Other locations of interest to filmmakers and photographers include Punta Francés for coral reefs and shipwrecks, Santiago de Cuba musical Trivoli neighbourhood, Baracoa, Trinidad, Holguin parks, mountains, waterfalls, plantations (coffee, cocoa, sugarcane and tobacco), National Parks, mangroves and everglades.

Cuba Film Location Permits.

Can only be obtained through a state approved production company. General film permits for guerrilla style shoots take about two weeks to process. Separate permission may be required for shooting inside individual public buildings. Larger shoots involving road closures, pyrotechnics or traffic control can take up to three weeks to permit. Permission to film projects of a politically sensitive nature is generally not granted. Please Contact me for location specific information.

When to shoot?

The Cuban climate is mild and sub-topical with cool trade winds that temper the heat and humidity. The rainy season is from May to October. May and June are the wettest months whilst August and October is the hurricane season. November to April is the dry season with warm, sunny days. This is the best time for Northern Hemisphere clients to film opposite season looks. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Costs.

On the whole Cuba is a cost competitive place to shoot. Local costs such as locations, local talent and supporting crew are not expensive. Depending on the shoot some key crew and equipment may need to be brought in adding to that cost.

Fringes and Premiums.

No hidden extras. No fixed premiums apply. Our Cuban producer / fixer packages deals for local crew and talent.
Equipment. Standard equipment such as Alexas, Red Epic, standard grip and gaffer equipment is available locally. More specialised equipment such as technocranes needs to be brought in from abroad.

Cuba is not an ATA carnet country. Our local producer deals with all customs clearance including arranging a customs liaison to meet you at the airport. Customs clearance documentation usually takes about a week to organise.

Art department is only good for local Cuban looks. More modern looking props, dressing and wardrobe will need to be brought in from abroad. Set construction crews are hard working and talented.

Tax Incentives.

There are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Cuba.

Transportation Infrastructure.

Main roads are up to international standards. Several international airlines service flights to Cuba. Due to the ongoing travel embargo there are no commercial flights direct from the US.

Accommodation.

I can recommend a vast range of accommodation . For small project some times it is more suitable B&Bs but also I can accommodate in any of our comfortable hotels.

Communication.

Internet speeds have improved markedly in recent years allowing for web posted casting / scouting and Skype conference calls mainly from hotels. Internet and international phone calls in Cuba remain very expensive.

Safety.

Cuba is a safe place for foreign productions to visit and, despite what people say, police is very helpful when you have the proper filming authorisation. In general is a safe country with very friendly people.