SOME HINTS FROM A PRODUCTION FIXER

Germany as well Austria are part of the European Union and members of the "Schengen" area meaning both countries don't have their own entry requirements but the EU/Schengen area entry requirements apply. Citizen of EU member countries can travel, move, work and stay in Germany and Austria as they like it. For citizens of many countries outside the EU, the European government has installed a visa free entry for up to 90 days. A carnet is recommended for all equipment that is brought from outside the EU to the EU.

The main international airports with extensive intercontinental connections are Frankfurt (FRA), Düsseldorf (DUS) and Munich (MUC) for Germany; Vienna (VIE) for Austria. Some airports including Berlin (BER) and Hamburg (HAM) offer a smaller range of international connections. When filming in the West of Germany (like the city Cologne), your choice to arrive may be DUS or FRA in Germany but as well Amsterdam (AMS) in Netherlands or Brussel (BRU) in Belgium. Travelling inside the country can be made easily with my 9 seater production van or via ICE high speed train. However the travel distance between (e.g.) Berlin and Cologne or Munich and Berlin will be around 5 to 6 hours and this will need you to schedule a travel day for the crew.

Depends on the mood you need for your story. The weather conditions in Central Europe are usually very calm. From april to september the day light hours are longest. In december most of the city centers are decorated for x-mas season, and from mid of december onwarts more and more people take a time off. Finding additional local crew is difficult than and more expensive. Due to increased season tourism, rental cars and hotel rooms are more expensive too. In february you'll need to expect snow fall that may slow down the production schedule.

Yes it will – I never met a crew that had issues with that. Usually you can login to a partner provider right after landing. Due to expensive roaming fees, getting a local SIM card can be a good idea. I can get one for you.

MASTER and VISA are widely accepted by supermarkets, fuel stations, hotels and transportation companies. The acceptance of AMEX is smaller. ATM cash points can be found easily. This is important as you should always have some cash with you. Smaller shops and restaurants usually only accept cash or local banking cards.

As long you are from the EU: Yes; because the drone operation laws are similar all over the European Union. The drone itself needs to be registered by a local EU authority and the pilot needs to have a EU license and a damage covering insurance. As local fixer, I need copies from this certificates to ask for droning permission at the property owners in Germany. Sometimes, private locations will ask for a damage cover insurance that is including rescue costs. If your drone is registered outside the EU, an operation is not possible. Than it's more handy contracting a local drone pilot. I will help you with that, too.

Please bring all adapters you need with you ! The power circuit here is 230V/60Hz using Central European socket design. Adapters to connect plugs from US, UK or JAP to local European sockets are difficult and expensive to buy in Europe, but easy and cheap to get in your home country. Usually I can provide you with an adapter as emergency aid, but i don't have a big warehouse of them.

99,9% no. More or less all film financing and supporting programs in Germany and Austria are given as economic development to the local film industry, Anyway...as a minimum requirement you'll need a distribution contract and local co-producer (receiving a part of the distribution income) plus all the financing you will receive must be spend in the country with a specific percentage on top. The film funds supporting requirements read on paper very fair but In the reality, nearly all of the funds money is given to local producers that are working since many years with the funding system. Newcomers as well foreign film makers don't have a realistic chance participating from this funding system.

You'll need to get an international health insurance of your choice from the company of your choice to cover healthcare costs as well transport costs back to your hometown. Medical treatment must be paid in advance by your credit card.

Yes, of course. In general, the prices here are not very different from the prices in UK or the US. Hotel nights and restaurant prices are a bit lower. Rental car costs and kit rental are similar. If you are in need for additional local crew, staff often must be employed by a local company and you need to calculate +25% on their rates for the legally required insurances.

In all the big cities I can establish several uplink options for you – fiber glass, sat feed, ATM or a combination of this transmitting ways. As well you can have Sat/Easy Link van at the spot. I will take care for all the bookings.