Cuba
Locations. Havana historic centre colonial architecture, old American Buicks and Soviet Trabants, old forts and museums, Chinatown, the famous Malecon. Nearby white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Viñales with its limestone cliffs, lush green tobacco fields, and an expansive network of caves. Punta Francés for coral reefs and shipwrecks. Mountains, waterfalls. Coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and tobacco plantations. Mangroves and everglades. National Parks.
Permits. Permitting is a straight forward process. Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach.
When to shoot? The Cuban climate is mild and sub-topical with cool trade winds that provide relief from 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.
For monthly weather statistics please see: http://www.gaisma.com/en/dir/cu-country.html
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. Locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive. Key crew and some specialized equipment may need to be brought in. On the whole Cuba is a cost competitive place to shoot.
Although the established production centre Miami is only a 1 hour flight away, bringing anything from the US can be problematic due to the ongoing trade and travel embargo.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Street casting is required.
Cuba offers a mixture of Caucasian, African and Mulatto looks. Some Chinese looks also exist. All other looks must be brought in.
Cuba has no local pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.
Please contact us for recommended directors, DoP's and photographers for your project.
Crews are non-union. Key crew should be brought in from abroad.
Fringes. No hidden extras.
Premiums. No fixed premiums apply. We package deals for local crew / talent.
Equipment. Some basic equipment is available locally. You will need to bring in specialized equipment from abroad. See here for examples of locally available equipment:
Sunset Vision - http://www.sunsetvision.com/50821895bf0aaa901/index.html
Art department is basic and set construction is good with hard working and talented construction crews.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Backlots. None exist at present.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign
commercials or films shooting in Cuba.
Film Stock. Must bring from abroad.
Post Production. No labs exist locally. Must post abroad.
Visas and Work Permits. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local Cuban embassy or representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are up to international standards. Several international airlines service flights to Cuba. The US government restricts its citizens from visiting Cuba.
Accommodation. Some of the better options in Havana include:
Hotel Nacional de Cuba - http://www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com/en/home.asp
Hotel Inglaterra - http://www.hotelinglaterracuba.com/
NH Parque Central - http://www.hotelnhparquecentral.com/
Hotel Saratoga - http://www.hotel-saratoga.com/
Melia Cohiba - http://www.solmelia.com/hotels/cuba/havana/melia-cohiba/home.htm
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Web posted casting and scouting. Web access is slow and highly restricted. International telephone calls are very expensive.
Safety. Cuba is a safe place for foreign productions to visit.
The vibrant culture and nightlife makes Cuba a country that clients love to return to.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in Cuba, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
