Shooting in Thailand

bustak

bustak

Well-known member
I'm going to be going to Thailand in the Spring of 2007 to shoot a documentary (without a shooting permit! A total run & gun production). I am concerned with customs being suspicious of me having a lot of electronics/video equipment. I'll have 2 video camera (a DVX100b & a GS400), a shotgun mic, a still digital camera, a wide angle lens, batteries (2 still camera & 6 video batteries), & a laptop.

The good thing is I'm going to have a working visa to teach English there, so I'll be official in that regard.

The things that I do in fact know from this board is too make sure I carry on as much equipment as possible. Does anyone have any overseas shooting experiences to share with me?

Any help would be much appreciated!
 
Hello everyone!

Seeing how no one has responded to my question, maybe I should just open it up to ask people about traveling to SE Asia or any other country where a solitary Caucasian male traveling with thousands of dollars of video gear stands out like a soar thumb!

Any horror/success stories, tips, jokes, etc is much appreciated!

Happy Holidaze!
 
There are probably a few Thailand threads in here if you search. (Maybe not this forum, but this site.)

And/or you can go to Isara.com, join up, and ask in the forums there...since PK is actually in Thailand...teaching English...and was shooting films and such before he got sidetracked. ;^)
 
I was in Thailand in 02 to shoot a bunch of footage on dv and bolex 16mm. It wasn't easy lugging 2000ft of film in my backpack. My experiences with customs etc. were very straight forward. Mind you that might have changed in light of foreign teachers getting busted there for having sex with teenagers.
I don't think I'd be too worried about your situation though. Just tell them that you're there to work and you like shooting images. No lie there.
From a shooting stand point, why two cameras?
From a production standpoint, Thailand is a very hot country. I was there in february and it was hot. Damn hot.
So if you can move lightly you'll be far better off. Hence the number of cameras question.....thailand isn't the easiest place to communicate if you're not going to the major tourist places, so that'll eat some of your time. The country though, is very suited to run and gun, as it's got a little frenetic chaos happening all the time.
There's lots going on. The food is generally pretty good. I'll try to think of more that happened 5 years ago. Sorry I'm blathering. It's very late. Maybe a few more details on what you're going to shoot and where and in what time frame might help? If not, then all the best anyway.
Cheers
 
Oh yeah, shooting permits? I wouldn't think twice about having one. I was never stopped by anyone, except to give me a toothy grin. Also, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, and bribery is not a strange concept in thailand either.
 
Hey Guys!

Thanx for the tips & suggestions!

Evolve, I really appreciate you sharing your experiences in shooting in Thailand!

The reason I'm bringing 2 cameras is the smaller one (the GS400) will be good for vacation footage, it's still 3CCD, minus the massive body style in comparison to the DVX100b! Also it would be good for shooting in shadier areas, making me look like a tourist. Lastly I think the GS400 would be a good back-up camera, in case my DVX breaks, or gets stolen (I hope this doesn't happen!).

I'm going to be shooting mainly Westerners living in Thailand, so I'll be able to communicate with them better than a Thai who speaks a little English. I'm also going to hire a local to work as a PA/translator, so that'll help in getting around!

So Evolver, what exactly were you shooting in Thailand? It sounds like you had a good time, how long were you there for?

Thanx again & Happy New Years fella's!
 
Thailand is fun. As a white 32 year old male I was constantly bombarded with attention so have some patience in the beggining, you get used to it. If you are in shady areas just look people in the eye, that's the first defense against something bad happening. I would really consider the wisdom of two cameras. Hard to lug around. Travel light. Don't trust people that are "too" friendly. Lot's of scams in Bangkok but don't let that deter you. Get insurance on the gear if you can. Good luck.
 
Hey Geno, thanx for the tips! As for your concern:
Geno said:
I would really consider the wisdom of two cameras. Hard to lug around.
Click to expand...
I'm going to living there for 8-12 months, so I'll have a apartment to keep my stuff in. So when I'm on a shoot I'll most likely have just 1-camera with me, with the other one back @ the flat! So in a way it will be safe to bring both cameras, because if I'm in a shady area I can have my much smaller/cheaper camera with me, while my DVX100b is locked away safely @ home (I hope)!!!

As for the scams of Bangkok, I'm going to be way up north, in a much smaller, but developed city. So I'll be far away from a lot of the non-sense of BKK, but as a foreigner with expensive equipment, I'll keep my eyes wide open!

Thanx again! And everyone have a HAPPY (& safe) NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Shooting in Thailand

Dear Ken

Shooting in Thailand without permission can be done it's depend on your story any issue about darkside of the country can be risky.you don't wanna lose your tapes after spend all your energy on it.

Welcome to Thailand!:thumbsup:
 
gongfirst said:
Dear Ken

Shooting in Thailand without permission can be done it's depend on your story any issue about darkside of the country can be risky.you don't wanna lose your tapes after spend all your energy on it.

Welcome to Thailand!
Click to expand...
Hey gongfirst!

Yeah, I'm not looking to do anything bad on Thailand. It'll be focused more on the westerners living there, day in the life type stuff.

So what are you doing out in Thailand? Are you a Thai citizen, or a farang living/working in Thailand?

Thanx for the tips & the good luck wish, I think I'll need it! :)
 
The 2 camera thing is a good idea. I shot a little stuff in Thailand and Malaysia. My camera broke, lucky me one of the headquarters is in Malaysia. Bought it there but since I had an US version they couldn’t honor my warrantee. So I was camera less. til i got home.
 
I been in Thailand and Laos for 3 mouths last winter. I shot quite a lot during that time and I did not have any problem at all. It was pretty hot in February and March. I shot in cities, country and few trekkings in North of Laos (Phongsali), border of China. Those trekkings were the best part, but the hardiest part to reach; 3 days boat, one day bus and one day walk in the mountain from Luang Prabbang. (Beautiful Akkha villages and many minorities)

We felt a lot more safe in Asia than in Australia for the equipment. :)
 
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I never shot in Thai but I was there and for as long s I know it shouldn t be a problem you even going there to work as a different form a filmaker so you re basically just a non professional filmaker for them and again why should be a problem shooting in Thai.
I know they are conservative but unless you do not want to do some anti governativ filming on drugs and sex issues ... Iy should be ok..
 
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