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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

STUDENTS?

Post 9/11 Gibill full tuitioj paid + housing allowance(for me around $2000 a month) in which I only pay $700 for rent rest I pocket ;-)
 
borrowing money from a friend. He came into some money and has agreed to an ultra-long term loan. He is also one of my biggest supporters. But I still plan to have at least half of the money ready by scarlet release.

Also note that Canadian students can write off their camera equipment (or any equipment) on their tax returns. It amazes me how many of my friends buy thier own equipment and lose out on hundreds by not claiming it as school supplies. I dont know what its like for American students
 
I got a part time job and I'm slowly saving up. The thing is I already have enough equipment to practice my skill sufficiently, so I can't justify the purchase of a scarlet on credit. I don't plan to get it when it comes out though (at least that's what I say who knows if I can resist) I'm fine with renting or observing the fun until I can prove to myself that I deserve it.

PS. I have made just a few unnecessary purchases in my life.... and regretted them
 
I personally have been buying and selling cars since I was 16 and now have about $30,000. I plan on buying an S35 package, some basic production tools (dolly system, job arm, etc), and a Mac Pro setup.

Once out of school I'm starting a small production company which will shoot commercials, music videos, and any other projects I can get my hands on. Hopefully after a year or two my equipment will be paid off and I can look to either upgrading or saving up to fund my own projects.

Of course, this is all assuming that my internships in L.A. don't pan out.

If you can atleast get your hands on a basic set up and you work hard to get jobs, you should be able to have all your equipment paid for in no time at all (a year or two).
 
Here in Australia there is a student loan system called FEE-HELP (used to be called HECS) which pretty much means that anyone can go to uni and pay nothing until they finish and get a full time job earning over a certain amount a year, then a percentage of their study fee's gets taken out of their wages until they pay it off. Or they can choose to save up enough money and pay it off all in one go. Or leave the country, then they don't have to pay it at all until they return (if they ever do).

Either way, I've been saving up since I first heard about these cameras in August 09. Now that I finally can afford to buy at least the fixed version, I still have at least six months before its released to save up even more. I'm hoping the exchange rate improves between then and now, because at the moment its costing at least another $1000 ontop of the US price because I'm also including the SSD and Pro I/O modules in my kit. Plus I still have to get a tripod and mic and case for it all ... Man I wish red had an Aussie distributor!

And yes I am still a student.
 
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Aaron Cheater said:
I might even consider flying over to LA just to buy it all and avoid paying the 10% tax Australian customs slap on anything imported, which of course adds another grand to my final price.

And yes I am still a student.
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I would think this plan through a bit more. Even if the flight made up the difference you would still have to pay customs as you fly back and you'd also have to pay California Sales tax which is about 10%.
 
Aaron Cheater said:
Here in Australia there is a student loan system called FEE-HELP (used to be called HECS) which pretty much means that anyone can go to uni and pay nothing until they finish and get a full time job earning over a certain amount a year, then a percentage of their study fee's gets taken out of their wages until they pay it off. Or they can choose to save up enough money and pay it off all in one go. Or leave the country, then they don't have to pay it at all until they return (if they ever do).

Either way, I've been saving up since I first heard about these cameras in August 09. Now that I finally can afford to buy at least the fixed version, I still have at least six months before its released to save up even more. I'm hoping the exchange rate improves between then and now, because at the moment its costing at least another $1000 ontop of the US price because I'm also including the SSD and Pro I/O modules in my kit. I might even consider flying over to LA just to buy it all and avoid paying the 10% tax Australian customs slap on anything imported, which of course adds another grand to my final price.

And yes I am still a student.
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I'm doing Uni in Australia too. I've been working to get a Scarlet since 2007, and I'd say that it's a much better idea than defrauding your government...

Anyway, I believe that if you get an ABN and register for GST you'll be able to claim the GST back on your quarterly Business Activity Statement (BAS).
 
Gavin Greenwalt said:
I would think this plan through a bit more. Even if the flight made up the difference you would still have to pay customs as you fly back and you'd also have to pay California Sales tax which is about 10%.
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Fly into Las Vegas and have them deliver it to your room at the hotel..0% tax...problem solved...but..Yes..California is 10% sales tax.
 
And 10% Australian govt import duty, then 10% GST on top of that. If you don't declare it on your way in you risk a big fine too. You haven't really though this through, have you?

And the dollar? It's at .90usd... it hasn't been this good in quite a while. If you have the money saved up already just keep an eye on the exchange rate and convert your cash when it gets better.
 
Hey I went to film school... spent too much bought tons of Arriflex stuff.... what a waste... borrow, rent or use your schools gear... focus on your screenplay and what goes ON THE SCREEN. JMHO. Bryan ;)
 
Atcually what you can do is,

Fly to the states, Buy your stuff,

Repackage it and then send the new boxes/manuals in the post to you home in Oz, then just walk through customs like you brought the camera with you on the way in.

I would wait a few weeks after the scarlet is release though to avoid suspicions to custom tech heads who know there stuff.

Swish
 
Rbs-ent said:
Atcually what you can do is,

Fly to the states, Buy your stuff,

Repackage it and then send the new boxes/manuals in the post to you home in Oz, then just walk through customs like you brought the camera with you on the way in.

I would wait a few weeks after the scarlet is release though to avoid suspicions to custom tech heads who know there stuff.

Swish
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Just making sure that everyone knows that this is definitely illegal and probably fraud, so do it at your own risk!

The customs guys are usually alright - we've brought back $2000 SLRs and sometimes if you declare it they'll just let you through. You get a certain amount duty free (something like $900 or $1200), and if you're travelling with others you can usually add theirs onto yours if you don't use it.
 
Rbs-ent said:
Atcually what you can do is,

Fly to the states, Buy your stuff,

Repackage it and then send the new boxes/manuals in the post to you home in Oz, then just walk through customs like you brought the camera with you on the way in.

I would wait a few weeks after the scarlet is release though to avoid suspicions to custom tech heads who know there stuff.

Swish
Click to expand...

Totally illegal and even more totally lacking integrity.

To the OP, I know where you currently do most of your TV work (I think). Do you really think this kind of scheming fits their ethos?

It's more than a little cheeky to be trying to dodge the small customs fees when I bet you're probably going to apply for tax payer funded film making grants at some stage in your career.

Makes me think, though... If you're that happy to scam the government then what's to say you won't apply the same thinking to me if I ever hire you? If I saw your name on a CV I'd put it aside.
 
Just got told that if I do buy the cam in LA I can get the 10% sales tax back at the airport. Can anyone confirm this for me? At least if I can do that that'll free up the funds to pay the 10% customs put on top back in Australia ...
 
Kris Anderson said:
Totally illegal and even more totally lacking integrity.

To the OP, I know where you currently do most of your TV work (I think). Do you really think this kind of scheming fits their ethos?

It's more than a little cheeky to be trying to dodge the small customs fees when I bet you're probably going to apply for tax payer funded film making grants at some stage in your career.

Makes me think, though... If you're that happy to scam the government then what's to say you won't apply the same thinking to me if I ever hire you? If I saw your name on a CV I'd put it aside.
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As illegal as it may be, honestly, you're way over-reacting. I say this says very little about this person's integrity / professional attitude, and the fact that you would pass on him for something he merely suggested, shows more about you than about him.

That being said, I've worked for Customs before. Usually we'd just check the equipment let people through unless we could tell they were trying to hide something.
 
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