Cuba Advice

[Simon N]

Off to Cuba for a 5 day jolly with a friend shooting on an EX1/3 TBA. Having read various threads about going through the green channel etc... anyone got any advice on do's and dont's going into Havana. I know Cuba isn't on the carnet list, but I was going to take a radio mic kit (1 channel, personal mic & presenters mic) along with the EX1 & tripod.

Having read the onorous customs site for Cuba citing no wireless radio equipment ( along with no GPS (iphone?) & Bread toasters). I wondered whether things were as tight and how I should approach this? Are radio mics acceptable and should I show them to the aduana when I arrive?

Flying from the UK direct into Havana in about 6 weeks.

Thanks in advance

Simon

 

[Liam Hall]

You'll be fine. Havana is a fantastic city, like nowhere else on the planet. There's more to shoot there than you can imagine. I've shot both corporates and music videos there.

Don't show them anything, just smile and stroll in.

Take US dollars for tips and be generous if you want anything approaching good service.

Cuba is a stunning place with great music, great cocktails and beautiful people. The food is shocking, but who cares

 

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Make sure your Service Production Company is there to great you and take you through customs. Makes life a lot easier.

 

[Simon N]

Don't have a service production company... just going there to do more personal stuff. Seems like strolling could be the way forward:001_cool:

 

[C.H.Haskell]

Spectacular country, lived there for some time...shot my 1st festival bound short there and have a feature screenplay I have been developing for some time. THe people are very warm and welcoming. I recommend crashing at casa particulars...basically someone in the city who rents out a bed room (20 bucks a night) beats hotels and you get deeper in the heart of things. You can find these all over havana. Make friends and explore!

Oh and customs could take EVERY piece of gear from you at the gate. Wireless lavs and microphone gear looks dodgy so consider that taken...dont worry its returned to you on the way out. You might be lucky and get through with everything or with nothing at all so have a plan, pack light and work on your spanish cause those guys at customs generally dont speak any english and it would benefit you to be able to say something like "I am a student film maker, or I am making a music video"...anything to ease there curiosity. I had hell with a DVX100 so I would not even consider a RED unless you had papers with some joint operation or shcool down there. Exi is better choice for 1st go around...you should be fine. Best of luck and come back with a story!

Cheers

Haskell

 

[Yaque Silva-Doyle]

Hey have a blast, I love cuba. the mojitos are sooo good. Anyway a word of advise travel with Euro's they have a much better exchange rate. The USD is taxed an extra 10% on top of the exchange rate when you change money. so even with the changing twice it is worth it to go there with euros.

 

[C.H.Haskell]

Forgot about that little point...this 10% hit me towards the end of my travels there but I remember my conversion to the euro caused me to loose that 10% if not more anyways. For sure you will want to buy these new cuban convertibles at the airport as soon as you arrive, its what you will spend the rest of your trip.

 

[Zaphod]

It's been years since I've been there, but you can't tip people with US dollars.

You can only use Pesos or Convertible Pesos in Cuba.