Mexico Bound

Paul Kendal · September 16th, 2008, 10:08 PM

Anyone have any experience traveling to Mexico?
I am flying to San Jose del Cabo to film a wedding.
Any hints and tips for travel would be appreciated.
How about customs? I plan on bringing a couple of cameras (Sony EX1 and Canon XHA1) and a couple of tripods and a wireless mic. Anything special that I need to know about or do ahead of time to make getting through customs easier?

Thanks in advance.
Paul

Philip Gioja · September 17th, 2008, 08:09 AM

I was just there a few weeks ago and I didn't have any major issues. I was fortunate to be meeting a team that had already driven down there a few days before, so I send most of my gear with them and just carried on a few items - didn't have to check anything.

I did get some attention going through security, but it was mainly curiosity, nothing else. Just be prepared to have to turn things on or answer a few questions, but they seemed pretty understanding of it - must have a few videographers fly now and again.

Customs wasn't bad, just don't try to videotape it... (-: We had a girl who tried to tape while going across the border and they stopped her and made her erase it all. Just be polite and courteous and explain anything. They might ask for bribes because they will assume you're loaded.

Someone told me to make a list of everything I was carrying on, but I never did that - I just opened up my bags and made sure it was all accessible and it went fine. I had more trouble with airline security than I did with customs.

Hunter Richards · September 17th, 2008, 11:47 PM

Customs isnt a problem. If your driving around though its a good idea to have some bribe money on you. Drink lots of coronitas and eat tacos de pastor.

Kurth Bousman · September 18th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Excuse me Paul. I've lived in latin america since 1986. I've lived in mexico since 1990. There are rules about what you can enter as a tourist. These are rules that you should follow unless you're culturally and linguistically aware . You should not try to bribe an official unless you're fluent in spanish and know something about the mexican psyche- i.e. how to read people , in mexico. You can legally only enter one camcorder and one still camera. It says this on the mexican aduana brochure that they give you when you're filling out your tourist visa. However you don't want to have two camcorders packed and then discover at the airport that one of them will be the victim of impromptu justice , the results of which will be decided by the whims of whatever aduana agent or agents you come in contact with. Trust me . I also traveled annually in mexico and guatemale every year from 1970 to 1986. I know alot about mexico. You're lucky I happened to read your post.k

www.kurthbousman.com

Mike Mona · September 25th, 2008, 09:13 PM

Paul, would you write me please.

Thanks,
Mike

Carlos Rodriguez · September 26th, 2008, 07:57 PM

A co-worker of mine show down in Mexico at an energy facility. One of the guards thought he was mexican media and pointed his m-16 at him. As soon as he found out the crew was NBC the mood instantly changed, and the guard was very apologetic and afraid of getting in trouble. Everything after that went smoothly and everyone was on their way. Mexico's media is very notorious for being "in your face" to get the shot and have little regards, its just the way things are. That's why the guard reacted the way he did.

Don't drink the water. I second the motion on the coronitas! have fun, and try not to get married yourself!
=)

September 16th, 2008, 10:08 PM	#1
Paul Kendal Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Asheville, North Carolina Posts: 73	Mexico Bound Anyone have any experience traveling to Mexico? I am flying to San Jose del Cabo to film a wedding. Any hints and tips for travel would be appreciated. How about customs? I plan on bringing a couple of cameras (Sony EX1 and Canon XHA1) and a couple of tripods and a wireless mic. Anything special that I need to know about or do ahead of time to make getting through customs easier? Thanks in advance. Paul __________________ Canon HV20 \| Sony FX1 \| Canon XH-A1 \| Sony XDCam EX1 \| 8 Core Mac with FCP and lots of Hard Drives

September 17th, 2008, 11:47 PM	#3
Hunter Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 83 Images: 2	Customs isnt a problem. If your driving around though its a good idea to have some bribe money on you. Drink lots of coronitas and eat tacos de pastor. __________________ HR\|cinematographer HunterHRichards.com

September 18th, 2008, 12:48 PM	#4
Kurth Bousman Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: san miguel allende , gto , mexico Posts: 550	huh ? Excuse me Paul. I've lived in latin america since 1986. I've lived in mexico since 1990. There are rules about what you can enter as a tourist. These are rules that you should follow unless you're culturally and linguistically aware . You should not try to bribe an official unless you're fluent in spanish and know something about the mexican psyche- i.e. how to read people , in mexico. You can legally only enter one camcorder and one still camera. It says this on the mexican aduana brochure that they give you when you're filling out your tourist visa. However you don't want to have two camcorders packed and then discover at the airport that one of them will be the victim of impromptu justice , the results of which will be decided by the whims of whatever aduana agent or agents you come in contact with. Trust me . I also traveled annually in mexico and guatemale every year from 1970 to 1986. I know alot about mexico. You're lucky I happened to read your post.k www.kurthbousman.com __________________ kurth

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September 17th, 2008, 08:09 AM	#2
Philip Gioja Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Piper City, IL Posts: 272	I was just there a few weeks ago and I didn't have any major issues. I was fortunate to be meeting a team that had already driven down there a few days before, so I send most of my gear with them and just carried on a few items - didn't have to check anything. I did get some attention going through security, but it was mainly curiosity, nothing else. Just be prepared to have to turn things on or answer a few questions, but they seemed pretty understanding of it - must have a few videographers fly now and again. Customs wasn't bad, just don't try to videotape it... (-: We had a girl who tried to tape while going across the border and they stopped her and made her erase it all. Just be polite and courteous and explain anything. They might ask for bribes because they will assume you're loaded. Someone told me to make a list of everything I was carrying on, but I never did that - I just opened up my bags and made sure it was all accessible and it went fine. I had more trouble with airline security than I did with customs.

September 25th, 2008, 09:13 PM	#5
Mike Mona Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tustin California Posts: 29	Paul, would you write me please. Thanks, Mike

September 26th, 2008, 07:57 PM	#6
Carlos Rodriguez Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Modesto, California Posts: 203	A co-worker of mine show down in Mexico at an energy facility. One of the guards thought he was mexican media and pointed his m-16 at him. As soon as he found out the crew was NBC the mood instantly changed, and the guard was very apologetic and afraid of getting in trouble. Everything after that went smoothly and everyone was on their way. Mexico's media is very notorious for being "in your face" to get the shot and have little regards, its just the way things are. That's why the guard reacted the way he did. Don't drink the water. I second the motion on the coronitas! have fun, and try not to get married yourself! =)