Dominican Republic
Locations. Forested mountains and large river valleys. Pico Duarte - the Caribbean's highest peak. Rock, gray and white sand beaches. Turquoise waters. Coral reefs. Rivers and waterfalls. Arid desert looks. Plantations. Colonial towns. Golf courses. Whale migration. Vibrant capital city of Santo Domingo. La Vega Carnival.
Santo Domingo is the capital and most likely place to base yourself. Miami is the closest major production centre and a short 2.5hr flight away.
Permits. Film friendly government agencies. Permitting is a straight forward process. Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach.
When to shoot? Hot with tropical temperatures all year with coastal areas being warmer than central regions. There are two rainy seasons; the heaviest is from May to August and the other is from November to December. Hurricanes may sometimes occur during these periods.
For monthly weather statistics please see: http://www.gaisma.com/en/dir/do-country.html
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. The greatest cost is the need to bring in
your key crew and equipment but that is offset by the low costs of local
talent, locations and supporting crew.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Dominican Republic is a mixture of Mulatto, Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean looks. Some Chinese and Middle Eastern looks also exist. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad.
Dominican Republic has a small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.
Please contact us for recommended directors, DoP's and photographers for your project.
Crews are non-union. Crews are experienced and most speak fluent English.
Fringes and Premiums. No hidden extras. No fixed premiums apply. We package deals for local crew / talent.
Equipment. Some basic grip, lighting, 16mm and HD cameras available locally. 35mm cameras need to be brought in from abroad.
Art department and set construction is limited in Dominican Republic. Key crew are best brought in from abroad. Supporting crews are good.
Studios and backlots at present do not exist in Dominican Republic.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign
commercials or films shooting in Dominican Republic.
Film Stock. Must bring from abroad.
Post Production. No labs exist locally. Best to post in Miami.
Visas and Work Permits. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Contact your local Dominican Republic embassy or representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are up to international standards. Several international airlines service flights to Dominican Republic.
Accommodation. There are many resort and hotel options in Dominican Republic. Some of the better options include:
Tortuga Bay Punta Cana - http://www.puntacana.com/
Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel - http://www.iberostar.com/EN/Punta-Cana-hotels/
Majestic Colonial Punta Cana - http://www.majestic-resorts.com/
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Web posted casting and scouting.
Safety. Dominican Republic is a safe and reliable place for foreign productions to visit.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in Dominican Republic, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
