4 Pros And Cons Of Shooting Off-Shore

Selecting the “best” location for your production is an important decision that should be made with care. Several factors come in to play:

• LA and NY are relatively high-priced but have a high concentration of directors, photographers and talent available
• There are a multitude of cities around the world that can offer lower costs
• Many advertisers travel U.S. based directors and talent to lower cost locations

MRA has created a quick reference guide categorizing popular international locations into high, medium high, medium low and low-cost ranges — click here to download your copy.

While there can be significant cost savings with an off-shore shoot, here are 4 important pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Lower production costs
• Broader selection of directors geographies, etc.
• Ability to tap non-union talent and negotiate talent buyouts
• Reduced overtime (film crews tend to work longer standard days before incurring overtime)

Cons:

• Increased travel expenses
• Possibility of paying for travel time (directors, producers and agency supervision may charge for travel time outside the U.S.; in some instances these can be negotiated)
• Longer lead time to organize and plan the shoot
• Smaller foreign talent pool if an American “accent” is required

Other Considerations:

• If the product is not sold in the country of the shoot, customs could delay product delivery
• When shooting outdoors, be cognizant of the background (i.e., are cars driving on the correct side of the street? Are there signs close-by in a foreign language?)
• Many countries have very specific regulations specific to producing content – ask an expert to ensure you’re aware of all local laws that may impact your shoot
• Consideration should be given to safety and fluctuating currencies

MRA has more than 37 years of experience in consulting with clients on making the best decisions when it comes to production locations, and we’d be happy to help you as well. Contact us today to learn more.

Written in collaboration with Angela Saferite.