Amistad Films

	There is an old adage in TV land: The Producer does all the hard work, the reporter gets all the glory and the Fixer makes it happen! After the January 12th, 2010 earthquake which leveled Port au Prince, every conceivable television crew came down to Haiti to cover this immense tragedy. They all needed a Fixer and so every Joe Blow who could mumble a word or two in English or French or Spanish was selling his or her services as a Fixer! When filming in Haiti you need a “professional & connected fixer”. A fixer in our book is a person who understands the rigors and pressures of the film and television industry! In a land as chaotic and unpredictable as Haiti you need to be next to a Fixer who knows what to do when things go wrong, like when they “snap”. In Haiti the eventually of things “snapping” is always a constant! That is why experience is the best policy!

	When you contact us we’ll review your project and assess what your needs are and whether or not your project is feasible and doable in the time frame allocated. As most production companies like to send an associate producer on the ground, we’ll work with that person to assure the complete success of your project. When assessing your needs we will caution not to under-budget as Haiti is terribly expensive! Here are some key things you should know prior to launching your project in Haiti.

	Renting cars in Haiti is an expensive proposition. Any 4 x 4 vehicle varies between $150 to $200 US dollars a day. Should you want a bullet proof vehicle that also can be negotiated? As a rule we like to use our own vehicles and built the price of the car in the day rate that we charge you. If your project takes us to the back country where a 4 x 4 is a must we will rent you the vehicle and bill you. Gasoline is roughly $4.00 a gallon with Diesel fuel slightly cheaper.

	Haiti lost overnight more than half of its hotel room capacity after the January 12th earthquake! Finding a room in Port au Prince is no easy feat, finding a cheap room is even more challenging! Available hotel rooms vary from $125 to $250 US dollars a night. In the wake of the earthquake a good many homes have been turned into Bed and Breakfast operations at often competitive rates. For crews on a shoe string budgets bunking down together in a private home can also be arranged.

	A good many companies like to hire “bodyguards” for their people on the ground. We work with one of the leading security firms in Port au Prince who can provide us with a trained arm guard. Although we feel that “armed guards” often get in the way of what we do, there are nevertheless security concerns that are quite challenging in Haiti!

	There are 3 leading cell phone companies in Haiti. SIM cards can be purchased on the ground.

	Currently Haiti is not signatory country to the ATA Carnet system convention which allows goods to temporarily enter a country without the applicable duties and taxes. If you’re a news network or a film company looking to bring in a sizeable quantity of equipment it is advisable that you forward us your equipment list otherwise you will be stopped at customs. If you are an independent coming in with a small camera and limited equipment (tripod, sound gear etc…) chances are you’ll be waved off by the custom official. Negotiations to allow film equipment into the country are customarily handled through Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism. Please allow enough time for the Ministry to do the legwork and not send your equipment list at the last moment!

	As a rule filming permits are not enforced in Haiti particularly since the end of the dictatorship in 1986. However if you choose to film in any historical monument like the Citadelle Laferrière you must go through ISPAN (L’Institut de Sauvegarde du Parimoine National) to obtain permission. If you are a conscientious filmmaker and you like your permits to be in perfect order in a foreign country, I suggest you contact the Ministry of Tourism.

	There are no shortages of fine restaurants in and around Port au Prince where you can dine. However if you’re looking to stay let say 21 days, dining out in Port au Prince may explode your budget. We usually recommend a good cook for long shoots.

	Generally our team members are tri-lingual (French-Créole-English) with working knowledge of Spanish as well.

	No such thing in Haiti! Should your camera go out on you, there are a few small production companies who can bail you out but they usually don’t like to part with their gear unless one of their own is handling the equipment. When in Haiti the two closest places to fly equipment in is Santo Domingo on the other side of the island or Miami in Florida.

	Haiti is serviced by reputable airline companies: the following are some that operate in Haiti: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Air France, Air Canada, Copa Airlines, Air Caraibes….. The country also operates regional airlines which go to most Haitian cities.