Indonesia
Consisting of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers a wealth of diverse filming locations. Indonesia’s agricultural locations of interest include palm oil, rubber, cocoa, rice, tea, and coffee plantations.
Cost & Rebates
The favorable exchange rate means that your currency goes far in Indonesia. Locations and talent are generally inexpensive. The greatest cost is the need to bring in your key crew and equipment. Indonesia is a very large country and locations are often remote which also adds to costs.
There are no tax incentives for feature films or commercials in Indonesia.
When To Shoot
Indonesia has a year-round warm, humid tropical climate. The wet season runs from November to March. April. The cooler, dry season runs from April and October. This is the best time to film for weather.
Visa Information
Clients, agency and talent travelling on western passports can enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Visiting shooting crews require journalist visas. At the same time that the above mentioned (see Location Permits section) National Film Permit application is approved, so to is the journalist visa. Each visiting crew member then needs to go to their local Indonesian embassy / consulate to get their passports stamped. The film permit and journalist cards are then picked up in Jakarta by either the visiting crew or the local fixer / service producer. Note, both the film permit and journalist cards are valid for 30 days. Contact your local Indonesian embassy / representative for more information.
Cast, Crew & Equipment
Indonesia has a small pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Unfortunately the depth of local crews is quite limited and most don’t speak fluent English. It is advisable to bring your key crew from abroad. Talent. Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation. The Javanese and Sundanese are the largest ethnic groups but many other groups exist offering a variety of pan-Asian and indigenous talent looks.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Day rates are very reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis. Standard grip, lighting and camera equipment is available out of Jakarta. The two largest Indonesian equipment houses are Elang Perkasa and Cinerent. The rest needs to be flown in abroad with Kuala Lumpur and Singapore the closest major production centres for gear.
For productions intending to bring in equipment Indonesia is an ATA carnet country.