Production tips

Expert advice on guaranteeing the success of a shoot in Brazil

Story Productions has organized hundreds of shoots all across Brazil. Here are our top tips on how to get the best out of a video production in Brazil.

If “location, location, location” is the golden rule in real estate, “planning, planning, planning” is the cornerstone for a successful shoot. When filming in Brazil, whether for film, documentary, corporate video, reality show, news or a photo session, there’s plenty to consider beyond importing equipment and getting the paperwork sorted. Read on to make sure your shoot has got all the boxes ticked in pre-production and whilst on location.

01 Choose a fixer with audiovisual experience

Don’t be tempted to work with a fixer without audiovisual experience. We’ve crewed foreign productions in Brazil before where our clients have hired a local guide as a fixer; their lack of experience with set procedures and shoot timings as well as the more technical and logistical aspects of a shoot often leads to time lost on set. Experienced fixers have a flair for stories and will be able to help you choose the right people and places to capture the story you want to tell. Time wasted on set means images not captured so this decision will have a have a visible impact on screen, and it is worth the extra plane ticket if necessary.

02 Feed the crew!

It might sound obvious, but a well-fed crew is a happy crew that will work with more speed and focus. Stopping for a hot meal at lunchtime is not only the norm in Brazil, it is also a legal right, to have a one-hour lunch break. Forward planning to factor in meals is important as restaurant service in Brazil can be slow and waste precious hours on a shoot. Look for restaurants that are self-service (often described as “buffet” or “por kilo”) to avoid waiting around. Steer clear of tourist traps and when searching for restaurants online, don’t underestimate how long it can take to cover seemingly short distances, especially in remote areas. See next point!

03 Don’t underestimate distances

Never trust the travel times suggested by Google Maps; you don’t know the current conditions of roads, especially when filming in rural locations. And even in cities, rush hour can turn a shoot schedule upsidedown. When hiring vehicles with more than six seats in Brazil, it’s worth noting that a special licence is required to drive the vehicle, so don’t rely on regular crew members to double as drivers. When there are long distances or complicated logistics involved for a shoot, Story Productions always arranges transport and a driver for the visiting crew. This not only makes the costs more predictable but provides added security and flexibility for the shoot.

04 You can’t predict the weather

Be prepared to experience four seasons in one day when filming in Brazil, especially in the tropical northern half of the country, as well as in São Paulo. This means making sure you have the gear and the transport to protect equipment, and a plan B and C with back-up locations if rain or storms make outside shooting impossible or unsafe.

Bad weather can also have knock-on effects on getting around – rain almost always leads to terrible traffic jams in cities, and can make dirt roads in rural areas impassable without 4x4s.

05 Plan your schedule well ahead

Brazilian bureaucracy is notoriously slow and visas and filming permits can take time to obtain, particularly in the summer months of January to March when most Brazilians take vacation. It’s also important to check the dates of national and regional public holidays in Brazil when planning a shoot in order to avoid finding shops, restaurants, banks and institutions closed. That all said, we don’t live in an ideal world and most of our clients are working to tight deadlines (sometimes 24 hours notice!), and we always find a way to make the shoot happen.

06 Don’t underestimate the language barrier

This may not come as a surprise, but English is not widely spoken in Brazil, even in its largest cities. Portuguese is the language here and Spanish speakers are mistaken if they think they’ll easily understand the Brazilian Portuguese. Having a local, bilingual crew is essential, and Story Productions prides itself on its language skills – we can provide Brazilian production services in English, Spanish, German and French.

07 Don’t underestimate cultural barriers

Cultural barriers can impact every aspect on a shoot, from attitudes to time keeping, getting the best out of interviewees, and interpreting what is said as well as non-verbal communcation. Don’t think that yes necessarily means yes. Brazil has its own code of communication in which things cannot always be taken at face value. This code can also vary from region to region, for example when filming indigenous people. Story Productions can help overcome these barriers to get the most out of your shoot. Besides which, local knowledge, contacts and the right accent can open doors, lower costs and facilitate every aspect of a production. Read our case study about bridging cultural barriers for a German client.

08 Ask your local fixer for security advice

 Crews coming from Europe or the U.S. should take into consideration that Brazil is not as safe as their home countries. It is often worthwhile hiring an unarmed security detail on certain shoots where team and gear will be driving to various different locations. Professional security personnel will look after your equipment and crew, allowing them to work more safely and efficiently; this is something that Story Productions can provide.

09 Check vaccines and bring mosquito repellant

Filming on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro

Besides routine vaccinations (including measles, of which there has been an outbreak in Brazil in 2019) it is recommended that foreign visitors are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid and yellow fever. The seasonal period for yellow fever is December to May, according to the WHO and the risk areas have expanded in recent years to include coastal areas of the South-East of Brazil (which include Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo).

The Aedes aegypti mosquito which transmits yellow fever is also responsible for the spread of dengue fever, zika and chikungunya, so it’s essential to bring plenty of insect repellant to minimise risks. Malaria pills are also recommended for those travelling to remote regions, especially the Amazon.

10 Check equipment voltage and plugs

This may seem like an obvious point, but Brazil is a curious case when it comes to sockets and voltage. There are two voltages –127V and 220V – and 127V is the most common, but it’s important to check the voltage of each location beforehand to avoid equipment being damaged, or lacking sufficient power. The table towards the bottom of this page contains a useful list of voltages for the main cities in Brazil. Also, socket formats can vary – historically, there were two different types of socket before Brazil decided to standardise (with a third type of socket!) so bring global adaptors with you to allow for any of the three possibilities!

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