DVX Manual for Air Travel with Your Accessories and
Production Equipment
Part 2 of a Special 3-Part Series
by Thomas Whitman
My brother works
as a baggage handler for an international airport and he says the
main objective of the airlines at the terminals is to get the
passengers out as safely and QUICKLY as possible. “So?”, you may
ask. Well, this means that even if you have the words “FRAGILE” or
“HANDLE WITH CARE” etched in gold on your check-in boxes/luggages,
your check-ins are still going to be manhandled, tossed, thrown,
dropped, bent, etc. whatever it takes to get all of the traveler’s
baggage on board on time. That’s a fact. So, think carefully about
what you want to check-in and how you pack it.
Usually airlines
only allow up to two pieces of check-in items per traveler. Per
item, they have a weight restriction which is usually around 50
pounds or so (each airline differs, so be sure to confirm with
them).In any case, you should check in only the bulky, heavy, sturdy
film gear that you know can withstand the torture of being tossed
around by baggage handlers. Suggestions of check-in items are
production equipment such as lighting kits (you might want to take a
precaution and hand carry the actual bulbs), tripods, cords, cables,
manuals, your clothes and personals, etc. Don’t pack any liquids.
NOTE: If you pack any of these items in a zippered/lockable luggage,
be sure not to lock them for the security screeners. They’ll need
access to search your check-in bags.
TSA Screeners vs. Airline Baggage Handlers
Your check-ins
are screened and monitored by the TSA agents and the airline baggage
handlers. The baggage handlers usually just focus on gathering and
loading the correct baggage for each flight after the bags get
cleared from TSA. However, it’s the TSA screeners that are the first
to screen baggage and if any odd shapes or electronics might show up
on their x-ray machines they will open up your check-ins and turn
your film gear inside out to look for anything suspicious. Even if
they don’t know how to put it back together. I don’t mean to offend
anyone in the TSA who is doing a fine job of security, but I speak
from experience when I say this:
If you’re
going to check in any film production equipment and gear, expect
something to break.
On separate
occasions:
My expensive
Sony MDR 7506 headsets broke
My Bogen tripod
tilt lock broke
A pocket was
ripped inside my cinema gear check-in bag
Now, I
understand that they do what they have to in order to keep the
safety machine turning…but…I’m just sayin’…something will break. Or
at least expect the worst but hope for the best. If the TSA
screeners do look inside your bags, they’ll leave a notice for you
saying that they’ve inspected your production equipment. Also, they
leave a contact number in case anything has gotten damaged in the
process, just in case you want to make a claim. I never followed up
with my broken gear, ‘cause I’ve always been too busy with
production.
Read Part 1 of
this Series :
DVX and HVX
Manual for Air Travel - Part 1
Read Part 3 of
this Series :
DVX and HVX Manual for Air Travel - Part 3
Do
YOU have a cheap, low budget, do-it-yourself DVX100 tip or trick that
you'd like to contribute?
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us and we'll post it up!
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for helping the grass roots grow!
