jeoh Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I'm due to start 3 months filming in the UK and am looking into the feasibility of shipping my gear from Los Angeles for the shoot. There are 5 x 1610 pelican cases all packed with everything I need. Has anyone ever done this before? What freight companies out there would you recommend? Any advice would be gratefully accepted. Julian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I've had luck with FedEx - not sure of the cost production paid for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 Fedex has been good to me so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Lightstone, CAS Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 Julian, Is this your own project? If not, the production company hiring you should be responsible for all the details. They should be using a customs broker who will arrange the correct paper work and air freight - all at their expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmahaAudio Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 I've only ever shipped gear on domestic airlines (Southwest are very easy to deal with). You could start with British Airlines www.baworldcargo.com but you'll probably need a customs broker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 " shipping my gear from Los Angeles " you gonna leave it there ?? there are also things to deal with for returning gear to the USA, also to be taken care of by Production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Waelder Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 +1 to using a customs broker. For freight expediters, Rock-it Cargo comes highly recommended: http://www.rockitcargo.com/ I've not used them personally. The companies I have used, including Target Logistics, seem to have either disappeared or morphed into something else. But Art Rochester strongly recommended Rockit Cargo to me when I was looking. That was a few years ago and things can change. But it's a good place to start. They have a division dedicated to film production and they have in-house resources for customs clearing and for generating Carnets. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmahaAudio Posted April 2, 2012 Report Share Posted April 2, 2012 Or you could just bring them with you when you fly and write it down as an huge excess baggage fee. I've seen that done. You'll still need the carnets. Of course you might ask yourself if you have the correct work visa before you attempt this (or even doing the ship-the-stuff-ahead thing) as the Brits might not be too amiable to a foreigner (and yes, US citizens are foreigners) walking up to the immigration desk and saying, "I'm just here for a three month gig working on a movie." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted April 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 It is at my own expense for this project, hence me looking for the best deals, the production is based and filmed out of the UK they are helping me with the paperwork and some costs but not all of it. I have all the required paperwork (Carnet etc) as I am going to be bringing it all back. Please tell what else I might have overlooked/need? Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted April 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 As for Visa's, I am a UK citizen and also a legal resident of the good old US of A. Hooray! Thank you all once again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Nault Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 If you're flying the friendly skies with a US airline, you might be able to ask for a 'media rate' for your Pelicans and have them go on the same flight as you... I've seen rates vary from $50-75/bag. Even at the usual $100 or so/bag, you're probably beating Fedex rates that would include customs brokering Also, since you have a carnet already, you might just be paying Fedex a customs brokering fee for a service you yourself can do at the airport. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Visser Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 I've had a bad experience with FedEx (not an issue with the company, but local customs) where something got caught up in the customs pipeline for about 2 weeks. Granted this was Ecuador and probably worse than someplace like the UK, but sometimes you could fall prey to the local government agencies despite what the shippers estimates are. "international overnight" doesn't necessarily mean door to door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 DHL is the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Lightstone, CAS Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 Julian, Do not do this on the cheap. If you have a lot of lead time you could ship it through a company like Rockit Cargo or Packair Air Freight. If you know the airline you are flying with you can have it on the same flight. You can price the air freight cost vs. excess baggage. I'm not sure a "media rate" would apply for international flights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundslikejustin Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 DHL is the best option. I dunno. I've had DHL lose stuff in the past, and get heavily delayed. I've also had airlines send my kit to the wrong city (as checked baggage), so...yeah. Don't skimp on how much it costs, have it insured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Nault Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Baggage: A quick Google for American Airlines media rate gets me to their site's baggage allowance page. http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp $50/bag and have to be a member of any one of a bunch of media organizations, or 'a member of a commericial film production.' Think most of us could be described to be in that category! Insurance: if you have a an insurance policy on your gear currently, it probably covers it while in transit... FedEx: Quick estimate from FedEx.com shipping 6 cases weighing 50lbs each, from LA (I took the liberty of using 90210 as the zipcode, hope that didn't add to the price) to London with a value of US$40000: Cost: $2200 - $3300 depending on expediency required... Big difference in price. That said, I often find myself in an airport with a bunch of cases of gear and a carnet not worrying about sound, but worrying about customs. I'd be curious to see how much Rock-it would charge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 " if you have a an insurance policy on your gear currently, it probably covers it while in transit... " if you have a an insurance policy on your gear currently, it maybe covers it while in transit... best to check! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted April 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 I am checking the insurance, and double checking! Thank you Senator! I will publish the full and final costs when I get them, estimates so for are around $3500.00 for delivery to the UK and return to the US ( Door to door ) this includes customs brokering too!!! Hooray! Thanks again everyone Julian PS The job runs from June 4 to Sept 20, after then I'm free and available for work once again. Sad I'm missing the Summer in LA but see you soon after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Nault Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 " if you have a an insurance policy on your gear currently, it probably covers it while in transit... " if you have a an insurance policy on your gear currently, it maybe covers it while in transit... best to check! Time for a new hat, Michael? 'Call Your Insurer'? A lot of us do work on location. What would be the point of having equipment insurance that didn't cover gear while in transit while we travel to location be it by plane, train or automobile? R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Ok final Details are as follows. The company we used in the end were a british based out fit called Dynamic International. They were customs broker, shipper and insurer all in one. Total costs were - Shipping ( USA to UK ) this cost included carnet and full insurance - $3000.00 Return costs ( UK to USA ) - $ 1300 And even better, after advice from Mr Lightstone, the costs were all picked up by the production! Hooray! Well off I go and I'l be back in the good old US of A in 3 months time! Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmahaAudio Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 The job runs from June 4 to Sept 20 Good luck getting anywhere in London during the Olympics (27 July - 12 August). It's going to suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted May 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Luckily we are no where near London! Hooray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 I have arrived in the UK to find all my equipment waiting for me! Excellent service, prompt and very helpful! Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Glad to hear it, whereabouts are you working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeoh Posted May 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 I'm in Swansea for the next 3 months working on the new David Goyer Series - Da Vinci's Demons. If you're ever near please feel free to drop in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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