Logistics

What sort of transport do you need?

What level of support is necessary to operate in your location and give you the feel of filming you want ?  Do you need aircraft, animals or people to help shift equipment and camps?

Don't cut corners with transport

In the Himalayas the hiring of porters, high altitude Sherpas and yaks is very traditional.  In Peru for instance mules or donkeys are often used.  In Greenland I’ve loaded filming kit into pulks – large fibreglass sledges which were pulled across the ice by the team.  Whatever the choice and what’s available it’s important to ensure that this is practical given your shoot.  Skimping here might well mean that your project will fail before you even get there. 

Look after your support team

I’ve often paid porters more than their standard rate and called them ‘camera assistants’.  Their elevated role has ensured that they’ve stuck to me like glue with the kit and not sprinted-off as they would do normally to reach the next camp.  It’s also been great fun teaching them how to use the tripod, change lenses and batteries so that they feel really involved in the production.