Jump to content

Traveling with gear to Brazil


Matt Mayer

Recommended Posts

I've been booked for an NBA gig in Brazil in a few weeks.

 

Crew is mostly coming out of Newark so I'll be flying down solo and meeting with them there.

 

I checked on a Carnet, but Brazil isn't participating yet.  Anyone have any experience with traveling to Brazil with gear?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last time I went I had to take a Rolex watch for the UK TV station which the local fixer had arranged to be given to a certain customs official to ease the passage of the equipment. Can be difficult to get gear in and out but not as bad as Kenya. Take plenty of copies of your gear lists.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the replies.

 

Flying in to Rio, so hopefully that will be a better situation than Sao Paulo.  A couple of local friends reported they had no issues when they went down there a few years ago with only the CBP document and equipment lists.

 

Pretty sure NBA will have people down there, fixer included.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been booked for an NBA gig in Brazil in a few weeks.

 

Crew is mostly coming out of Newark so I'll be flying down solo and meeting with them there.

 

I checked on a Carnet, but Brazil isn't participating yet.  Anyone have any experience with traveling to Brazil with gear?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

Will you have a working visa or any paperwork with you proving that your visit is work related ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Will you have a working visa or any paperwork with you proving that your visit is work related ?

 

JP,

 

Yes, just received my Visa back yesterday, which is a VITEM II -- good for working as long as it isn't for a Brazilian company.

 

Wish I was flying in on the Heat charter, pretty sure they will be greased thru Immigration and Customs fairly quickly.

 

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Matt,

 

Who will answer our questions on the Sound Devices forum while you are gone? Just kidding. Have a safe trip!

 

Mark

 

Mark,

 

Believe it or not, as long as I have internet access, I am monitoring the forums.  One of the things they like about me at SD is I work nights and weekends!

 

Matt,  be certain your insurance is in order; at the least, I'd have USA customs check your gear out on departure, both to insure smoot return, and to document what you took..

 

An excellent point and on my list for next week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Make sure you get the shots you need (yellow fever and rubela when I was there). It's a fantastic place, but like said above theft is a very real thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A real thing, but not a reason for panic or anything. Just take the same precautions you normally would (ex: don't let your gear out of sight, make sure to avoid walking alone at night on empty and dark streets, and so on) and you will be fine.

 

Welcome to Rio, enjoy the beach (although this isn't the best season for that), the views, the food and the people!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

In february i traveled to brasil to do 2 films.

I bring 4 pelicases, a long boom, backpacks etc.

I bring with me a 4 copy list with all items listed with it's serials, that i stamped in customs before living my country (Uruguay).

The fly was divided in two steps, first fly to San Pablo, pick up the stuff, do customs, and new check in o Recife.

When arrived to san Pablo, i give the list to Brasilian customs, and they say "this papers dont works here" and they provides me a computer to fill the blanks in a form containong the most important items (recorder, mics, wireless systems).

Uff! It was slooow, and i was terrified to lost the connecting fly to Recife.

The guy in the customs, was very cool with me, and all was fine, but be careful, because i was lucky, cause i was the only one in customs at this moment. If you don't have a direct fly to your final destination, take care about conecting times.

Enjoy brasil, enjoy the Acai. Taste it.

Fabian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the replies.

 

Flying in to Rio, so hopefully that will be a better situation than Sao Paulo.  A couple of local friends reported they had no issues when they went down there a few years ago with only the CBP document and equipment lists.

 

Pretty sure NBA will have people down there, fixer included.

 

Matt, it doesn't matter whether you fly into Rio or Sao Paulo. Unfortunately, both airports will be populated with corrupt officials. I've flown to both cities, with a small amount of gear, not too conspicuous. If you're taking several Pelican cases and such, chances are local customs will notice you. If you speak at least some Spanish and/or Portuguese you may charm them into letting you through unscathed.

 

Brazil is a wonderful country, and I hope you'll enjoy yourself (Rio is a far better visit than SP, anyway), and there's a good chance you'll luck out and skate through customs without a worry in the world. Just keep a vigilant eye about your surroundings. The fixer idea is good - they definitely should have someone.

 

HTH,

BK

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A year ago, i went to do a doc in Rio, carnaval month.

I just brough one pelicase with all the equipment and boom inside.

In arrivals i don't take the " something to declare" line, just the normal one.

All went fine.

Allways someone from the house prod was waiting for me outside.

Fabian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...