official customs line

[LEVLHED]

hey,so in order to minimize international travel grief...whats the best explanaition we should have ready when explaining what all this kit is for when we are getting on the plane?

I remember last year it was something like "taking part in a free film festival" but this years educational focus could warrant a different explanaition....

is that the way you spell "explanaition"? looks funny

[robotfunk]

its 'explanation'

[littlecatalyst]

i know that for getting into the States the most important thing was always that i'm not getting paid.... they could care less about the eqiupment (so long as its not explodable,...)

...of course returning is a funny one, theyy just want to make sure that you didn't buy the equipment abroad.... (actually reminds me of when i was coming back from shooting in amsterdam, they were so intent on making sure i wasn't smuggling camer gear back into canada that they totally missed the little loot-bags i seomehow forgot in my suitcase.... love those blinders...

[wellREDman]

the proper thing to do, is to get a thing called a "carnet" before you leave the country,

in the uk i think you get em from the post office,
basically its a thing signed by an official to say that you owned the kit before it left the country, usually you need a recipt to get one


oh and it cost money too

[sleepytom]

and its a hell of a lot of grief
its not recomemnded unless you have a lot of kit (?10,000 worth or more) - also you don't need one if your in the EU.

the best option here is to tell the truth (shocking i know!!) - you are performing as part of a VJing / Video art festival and you are not being paid anything for your performance - all the gear is yours and you'll be taking it away with you when you leave the country.

this should keep them happy enough

[mondo]

.........and make sure any gear you DO buy has "lost its wrapping!!

[oxygen]

....or when going on the road:
fill up a big truck with gear and fill the last part with plenty of squeek-foam (the white material existing of lilltte bolls) and say you make art, and be sure to make it fall out of the truck, when u open the door...(essential part)
even white-russian customs wont be bothered then anymore...

[complexvisuals]

Make sure to not to tell immigration that u are working, tell em that u are doing promotional work, or an arty thing.

Cian

[fALk]

I remember beeing pulled over at the custom last year when comming to leeds. I opened my stuff with tons of cables and the forgot about it and let me go - they did not even ask any questions. This years trip to london I had not even to open my larger case or my bag even it looked like a classical bomb on this screening monitors and the bag had two TiPowerbooks stacked on top of each other and the screen was black. there where not even customs that could have had a look. but this was an inter europe flight it might be different when you come from the staates or other international destinations. Go to the embassy webpage for UK in your local country and have a look there. They tell you what you may bring and how much it can cost and what kind of paperwork you might need to fill out. If you are performing or talking at AVIT then get a official looking piece of paper from the AVIT organizers. That will make things easier, mostly they want to see something that "looks valid".

Artist is probably the best excuse :)

[unjulation]

aye faulk evreyone is geting a little twithchy theses days, i was doing a move for my sis in a hire van this year and got stoped under the provention of teroisum act by armed police waveing mp5's about, full snifer dogs and the rest, mind my mate that was with me started takeing the piss out of me saying i look like the shoe bomber, when i have my hair tied back, so it could have been that :P