Filming in european city. Barcelona. Need advice and tips.

[Thomas Koba]

We´re going to Barcelona to film some documentary-ike shots and an interview. We're going to be shooting in the streets of Barcelona, and at a market called Boqeria Market.

How is it to film in Barcelona? Do people get angry, when you pull out a big camera in the streets? Do we need permission to film in public places in Barcelona, are people paranoid about cameras and such?

I´m asking, because 10 years ago, when we shot with a handycam in London, I got stopped by the police and such. Also have heard horror stories from people filmin ENG style in London markets, where people ran up and demanded money for filming their shops and such.

I know that the Market place is controlled, and we´re going to ask them for permission. But what about visitors and such? What about setting up a tripod in the middle of the street filming etc. etc.

I know this sounds paranoid, but I just want some advice, on how things are in Barcelona. I live in a small country, and I´m not used to shoot ENG/Docu-style in big cities in Europe.

Are people easy going in Spain?

Tips and advice, anyone?

Thanx for listening

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

I think you really need an answer from someone who either lives in or around, or has recently shot in Barcelona.

However, with that said, we spent the better part of October shooting in Northern Italy (Lombardy and Piemonte). We shot in small to medium sized towns (like Como and Alba), street markets, regional festivals (the white truffle fair) and all sorts of churches, wineries, slow food movement events, etc. We had no problems or issues whatsoever. (It did help that my wife spoke Italian.) We didn't use a tripod. We used a monopod or hand-held. We didn't have a sound guy ... when we needed audio we recorded dual audio using a small Zoom recorder-w-a shock mount on the camera. Most of the time, it just looked like we were shooting stills with a medium format camera. I wouldn't say we were "guerrilla" but we weren't in your face with a big set-up and/or a crew.


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Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

 

[Rob Gardner]

I have shot in Barcelona, but we had a Spanish fixer to handle permissions and local issues. Any city in the world has rules and limitations (Washington DC is a great example) and the only way to be sure you are not going to have a problem, or that the problems can be dealt with, is to hire a local fixer or associate producer or whatever you can come up with. This is critical. If you don't do that, its just a big roll of the dice. You might think this sounds too expensive, but consider the alternative. It might be that there are some Spanish production people here on Reduser that could hook you up.

 

[jochem bakker]

Never shot in Barcelona, but I can imagine it's like any other public scenario most of the world. As soon as you place a tripod, you technically need permission to shoot in public, especially if it's in the middle of a market street. I once was a fixer for an American crew in Amsterdam that were not aware of this limitation, but with some careful planning, you can get away with most situations. Just don't expect to shoot a controlled interview for half an hour in the streets either. If thats what you need, choose your location accordingly, maybe with the market street in the background, but from a side street for example. I think your soundie will be happy about that as well.

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

One more thing: If you are traveling with a lot of professional equipment and cases ... guess what? It just might look like you are "working" when you enter the country. (I made that mistake once traveling to the UK-w-talent and crew ... fortunately I was able to talk my way out of a real sticky siutation when the immigration official asked us what the purpose of our trip was ...) If it "looks" like you are entering a country to "work" then you may need either a special visa or a work permit. On subsequent gigs in the UK, we rented everything there (and hired freelance BBC shooters) and the purpose of our visit was always for "pleasure" (luckily nearly all of our filming was done indoors). On the recent Italy trip, the monopod and related gear/accessories all went in our checked-in luggage and I carried our Scarlet and the lenses on the flights in a carry-on camera bag. Just sometihng to keep in mind.

__________________________________
Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8