Working Abroad: Plan Ahead but Leave Time for the Unexpected
[by Thomas Werner]
When traveling and working abroad good pre-production is essential. Produce your shoot and travel details as thoroughly as possible before leaving on your trip. Coordinate as many details as you can with your local partners, and develop and deliver a timeline to keep your schedule tight and your team on the same page. This will not only keep you, but also your client happy and your expenses under control.
One thing that we rarely do when working abroad is to build extra time into the production to allow for the truly unexpected. When scheduling be sure to consider the pace at which your production team and clients may work in your host country. Time is a very different commodity when you are working abroad and not everyone will be ready or willing to work within your time frame. The pace at which people work, the seriousness which with people view deadlines, differences in the quality of production, the technical skill and digital skills of your local crew, or the proximity of photo equipment or a good computer store may all affect your ability to get the job done within your perceived time frame.
If you are using a translator, speak with them on the phone before you arrive. Be sure that he or she is fluent in the languages that you need and that they understand the terminology that you will be using as you work. Also check to see if the translator will be available for the entire time that you are working. This may seem obvious, but if you are going to need someone to help you and your crew navigate the city during location scouting or after the shoot, you will need to be clear about that up front. Also be aware that you may find the need to book your own translator in addition to the one provided, as the quality of translation varies greatly from city to city and person to person. What may be acceptable to your client may be difficult for you.
Problem solving is what many of us do best, but sometimes even the best problem solvers can be overwhelmed by conditions beyond their control. By being aware of the issues that you may face when traveling and building extra time into your schedule to allow for them, you will make life easier for all involved, and give yourself greater opportunity for success.
Thomas Werner; Educator, Lecturer, Curator. Please see Thomas Werner Projects on Facebook and Thomaswernerprojects.wordpress.com or for more information.
