Destination question at DVinfo.net

Peter Manojlovic · February 11th, 2011, 06:27 PM

Greetings from cold Canada.
I've got a potential client south of the border in Buffalo N.Y.

Have any Canadians gone south of the border and done any shooting??
If so, what are the steps required and pitfalls to avoid when bringing equipment over?
I'll be traveling by road if it's of any importance.

I'd hate to get turned back the night before filming....

Honestly, i'm a bit intimidated going beyond my zone of comfort in Southern Ontario, so if it's going to be too much hassle, i'll refer the clients elsewhere. Otherwise any links or leads would be appreciated.

Thanks so much!!!

Dave Thomas · February 11th, 2011, 07:17 PM

Hey Peter,

I'm from Toronto ... I did my first out of country shoot back in late November (los angeles) ... I first tried flying out of Buffalo - I brought ALL my equipment - (lights,steadicams,sliders etc) ... they turned me away.
2nd attempt was out of Pearson International - this time all I brought was my camera/lenses in carry on bag ... they turned me away as well ... in the system it showed that I had perviously tried to enter with camera equipment ... and at this point I was pretty much blacklisted.

So I boxed everything up and had to ship it down to L.A ... they almost never let me on the plane at all ... Just one person's experience with your situation.

Good Luck ... just be prepared for the worst ...

Michael Simons · February 11th, 2011, 08:42 PM

Would it help if you contacted the airline beforehand and let them know you're a photographer/videographer/cinematographer and you'll be traveling with all this gear?

Chip Thome · February 11th, 2011, 10:23 PM

I would ship it on ahead and then back again. No sense in causing more confusion for someone (TSA or Border Patrol) who has no clue to start with. Keep it simple and as "typical" a crossing as possible and you will be ok.

Michael Simons · February 12th, 2011, 08:15 AM

I believe Still-Motion posted on their website/blog recently how they pack everything.

Dave Thomas · February 12th, 2011, 12:01 PM

I was told the last time I travelled with just my camera + lenses ... that even if I was taking pictures of my vacation - that it was preventing an american from getting paid to take those same pictures. Its getting absolutely crazy these days.

Aaron Mayberry · February 12th, 2011, 05:27 PM

Professional family vacation pictures...sounds like an untapped market to me!

Nathan Allard · February 13th, 2011, 11:16 AM

Peter, I travel across the border ( Pigeon River ) a few times a year. I have had no problems yet with my equipment.(cameras,tripods,dollys...etc...)
When you get to customs you can fill out cards with all the equipment that you bring with serial numbers, to prove that you didnt steal, sell,buy...anything.

also apply for a work visa/permit if not to late.

good luck.

Warren Kawamoto · February 15th, 2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Manojlovic

Have any Canadians gone south of the border and done any shooting??

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't just come into the US and shoot for profit without a work visa. Come to think of it, isn't this true for every country?

Peter Manojlovic · February 16th, 2011, 10:12 PM

Here's the deal.
After talking to several customs agents, this is what i got..
I can register all my equipment on the Canadian side, and bring it to the US.
But here's the catch.
I can't film for profit (ie wedding), because that takes away American jobs.

Understood..

I don't want to resort to lying, and perhaps there's another way. But i can't believe that there's no room to do this legitimately. I'll gladly pay US taxes to setup temporary shop....But there's no protocol for this...

So much for NAFTA...It doesn't help the little fish i guess...

February 11th, 2011, 06:27 PM	#1
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Destination question Greetings from cold Canada. I've got a potential client south of the border in Buffalo N.Y. Have any Canadians gone south of the border and done any shooting?? If so, what are the steps required and pitfalls to avoid when bringing equipment over? I'll be traveling by road if it's of any importance. I'd hate to get turned back the night before filming.... Honestly, i'm a bit intimidated going beyond my zone of comfort in Southern Ontario, so if it's going to be too much hassle, i'll refer the clients elsewhere. Otherwise any links or leads would be appreciated. Thanks so much!!!

February 12th, 2011, 05:27 PM	#7
Aaron Mayberry Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, MI Posts: 212	Professional family vacation pictures...sounds like an untapped market to me! __________________ www.styleandmotion.com - Modern Wedding Films based in Michigan www.miweddingblog.com - Michigan's dedicated wedding blog

February 16th, 2011, 10:12 PM	#10
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	NOPE!!! Sort of. Here's the deal. After talking to several customs agents, this is what i got.. I can register all my equipment on the Canadian side, and bring it to the US. But here's the catch. I can't film for profit (ie wedding), because that takes away American jobs. Understood.. I don't want to resort to lying, and perhaps there's another way. But i can't believe that there's no room to do this legitimately. I'll gladly pay US taxes to setup temporary shop....But there's no protocol for this... So much for NAFTA...It doesn't help the little fish i guess...

February 11th, 2011, 07:17 PM	#2
Dave Thomas New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 9	Hey Peter, I'm from Toronto ... I did my first out of country shoot back in late November (los angeles) ... I first tried flying out of Buffalo - I brought ALL my equipment - (lights,steadicams,sliders etc) ... they turned me away. 2nd attempt was out of Pearson International - this time all I brought was my camera/lenses in carry on bag ... they turned me away as well ... in the system it showed that I had perviously tried to enter with camera equipment ... and at this point I was pretty much blacklisted. So I boxed everything up and had to ship it down to L.A ... they almost never let me on the plane at all ... Just one person's experience with your situation. Good Luck ... just be prepared for the worst ...

February 11th, 2011, 08:42 PM	#3
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Would it help if you contacted the airline beforehand and let them know you're a photographer/videographer/cinematographer and you'll be traveling with all this gear?

February 11th, 2011, 10:23 PM	#4
Chip Thome Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay Wisconsin Posts: 553	I would ship it on ahead and then back again. No sense in causing more confusion for someone (TSA or Border Patrol) who has no clue to start with. Keep it simple and as "typical" a crossing as possible and you will be ok.

February 12th, 2011, 08:15 AM	#5
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	I believe Still-Motion posted on their website/blog recently how they pack everything.

February 12th, 2011, 12:01 PM	#6
Dave Thomas New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 9	I was told the last time I travelled with just my camera + lenses ... that even if I was taking pictures of my vacation - that it was preventing an american from getting paid to take those same pictures. Its getting absolutely crazy these days.

February 13th, 2011, 11:16 AM	#8
Nathan Allard New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Thunder Bay,ON Posts: 22	Peter, I travel across the border ( Pigeon River ) a few times a year. I have had no problems yet with my equipment.(cameras,tripods,dollys...etc...) When you get to customs you can fill out cards with all the equipment that you bring with serial numbers, to prove that you didnt steal, sell,buy...anything. also apply for a work visa/permit if not to late. good luck.