Filming in Foreign Locations: What UK Music Video Producers Can Learn From Empire City’s Melbourne Shoot

Hook: You're planning to shoot abroad — but the unknowns are killing your schedule and budget

For UK music-video producers and indie directors, the upside of an international shoot is huge: fresh locations, new crews, and potential tax incentives. The downside? A maze of permits, cross-border contracts, customs headaches, and local labour rules that can blow your budget or delay your release calendar. Take the 2025-26 Melbourne production of Empire City: a high-profile example of an international shoot that leveraged local infrastructure and talent to stand in for New York. That production also highlights what you must plan for—now, in 2026—when shooting abroad.

Top-line takeaways (inverted pyramid: start here)

• Start legal and permit work early — many cities require applications 6–12 weeks pre-shoot.
• Use a local production partner or PEO to manage hiring, payroll and union compliance.
• Bring an ATA Carnet for kit or plan to hire locally to avoid customs delays and import taxes.
• Map incentives and eligibility — federal and state incentives vary; meeting local spend thresholds is key.
• Plan COVID-era health logistics but assume fewer blanket restrictions in 2026; focus on testing, ventilation, and insurance clauses.
• Lock contracts on jurisdiction, IP, and tax withholding — don’t leave cross-border tax exposure to chance.

Why the Empire City — Melbourne example matters for UK crews

Empire City’s decision to film in Melbourne in late 2025 illustrates two current trends in international shoots. First, major productions increasingly treat non-US cities as high-value stand-ins for North American locations because of cost, facilities and incentives. Second, state and regional screen agencies are actively competing for overseas work. For UK music-video teams — who often operate with compact budgets and compressed timelines — the Empire City case shows the scale of coordination necessary and where small productions can borrow efficiency lessons.

Practical lesson: scale your legal and logistical planning to the production, not the running time

Even a three-minute music video may require the same permit, customs and safety checks as a feature when you shoot in a foreign city. Plan as if you’re producing a film: the paperwork rarely scales down.

Pre-production checklist: permits, visas, local regulations

Start 12–16 weeks out for international shoots. Here’s a tight, actionable checklist specifically tuned for UK crews heading to Melbourne or similar locations.

Permits & location agreements

1. City filming permits: Apply to the local film office (e.g., City of Melbourne/Film Victoria) early. Confirm public-space fees, noise curfews and insurance minimums.
2. Road closures & police liaison: For stunts, traffic control or crowd scenes engage local police and traffic management firms; budget for permit lead times and fees.
3. Private property agreements: Get written location releases from owners and neighbours if required. Include language for signage removal and reinstatement costs.
4. Aerial/drone approvals: Coordinate with CASA (Australia) or your local aviation authority for commercial drone permits; allow 2–4 weeks for approvals.

Visas & immigration

• Identify the correct visa class for all crew and featured performers — short-term specialist visas are commonly used for film and TV crews. Visa policies changed through 2025; verify current requirements with the destination country’s embassy.
• Allow time for sponsorship letters if you're employing a local company or co-producer as the sponsor.

Union & labour compliance

• Contact relevant unions (e.g., Australia’s MEAA) to confirm rates, overtime rules and minimums for performers and certain crew.
• Consider a local production partner to act as employer of record — this reduces payroll complexity and helps you meet local incentive spend requirements.

Logistics: kit, customs and crew travel

International travel logistics have improved since 2023–24, but supply-chain pinch points and freight costs remain uneven. Use these practical steps to avoid surprises.

Equipment: bring or rent?

• ATA Carnet: If you’re transporting cameras, lenses and grip gear from the UK, use an ATA Carnet to avoid import duty. Carnets are accepted in Australia and many other production destinations — apply well in advance and keep meticulous inventories.
• Local hire: For heavy grip, trucks or specialty cameras, renting locally is often cheaper when factoring freight and customs timelines. Melbourne’s rental houses can supply ARRI kits, REDs and full grip packages.
• Power and plugs: Australia uses 230V and Type I plugs. UK crews will need adaptors and should verify generator specs and on-location distribution with the local electrics team.

Air freight & couriers

• Book air freight early. Late-2025 saw rates stabilise but not return to pre-pandemic norms.
• Consider door-to-door couriers for critical items; include customs brokerage in the quote.

Insurance & risk

• Get production insurance that includes international public liability, equipment transit coverage, and a pandemic addendum for COVID-related shutdowns.
• Confirm whether local venues or councils demand specific local insurers or minimum limits.

Hiring local crew and services

One of Melbourne’s key advantages for Empire City was depth of local talent and facilities. UK producers should adopt a lean-local hybrid approach.

Why hire local?

• Local crews know permit procedures, logistics and supplier networks.
• Hiring locally can be a condition of state incentives and can reduce travel and per diem costs.
• Local DPs and gaffers offer knowledge of local light/weather patterns and practical problem-solving on location.

How to recruit trustworthy local crew

1. Work via established agencies or local production companies with verified references.
2. Use short trial days to gauge fit for key technical roles (AD, gaffer, camera operator).
3. Include clear scopes, rates and overtime terms in written agreements. If a local union applies, ensure rates meet minimums.

Tax incentives & finance — what matters in 2026

International incentives can materially change your budget. The lesson from Empire City: a well-structured application and a local spend plan matter more than headline rates.

How incentives typically work

• Federal and state incentives often require a minimum local spend and submission of detailed budgets and delivery materials.
• Many incentives prioritise employment of local crew, use of local facilities and cultural/content tests.
• In late 2025 several Australian states adjusted incentives to be more attractive to international shoots; always verify the current scheme and application windows in 2026.

Practical finance checklist

1. Identify applicable incentives (federal + state). Contact the local screen agency to pre-qualify before finalising the shoot location.
2. Budget for local spend targets and plan funds flow. Some incentives are reimbursable and paid after delivery—factor cashflow.
3. Watch GST/VAT: in Australia, local suppliers will charge GST on goods and services; understand refund or registration implications.
4. Include contingency for currency fluctuations and withholding taxes.

Contracts & IP: cross-border clauses you can’t skip

Contracts are your safety net. A few tailored clauses save disputes and tax headaches.

Must-have contract elements

• Governing law & jurisdiction: Decide whether UK or local law governs disputes and where arbitration will occur.
• Payment currency & schedule: State the currency and include FX risk allocation; for local hires pay in local currency where required.
• IP ownership & exploitation rights: Secure worldwide rights for the music video and specify exploitation windows for local partners.
• Tax withholding: Clarify who is responsible for local withholding taxes on payments to non-residents.
• Force majeure & pandemic clauses: Define triggers, notice periods, and remedies for pandemic-related shutdowns.

Working with local producers/co-producers

Consider a local co-producer to access incentives and run payroll. Clearly define deliverables, credit, and recoupment in a co-pro agreement.

On-set health & COVID-era practicals (2026 update)

By 2026, most countries have relaxed blanket travel bans. Yet the pandemic taught the industry to plan for health disruptions. Small crews can adopt the same protections used on large shoots.

• Appoint a health safety officer to manage testing regimes, ventilation checks and any isolation plans.
• Keep an on-site rapid-test kit supply and a work-from-home or remote-post plan in case of positive cases.
• Review travel insurance policies for pandemic coverage—many policies in 2026 still have specific exclusions unless a pandemic add-on is purchased.
• Respect local privacy laws when collecting vaccination or health status data.

Post-production, delivery and clearances

Post-production logistics often get left to the end—but early decisions save time.

Data management and editorial

• Decide whether to do dailies and editorial locally or repatriate media. Factor in secure data transfer (SRT, Aspera) and local broadband limits.
• Confirm camera codecs, LUTs and colour pipeline with post so nothing is lost moving between countries.

Clearances & releases

• Obtain music, location and talent releases that cover worldwide exploitation, including social and streaming platforms.
• Get extended releases for recognizable brand logos or license them out in advance if removal is impractical.

Case study snapshot: Applying the checklist to a UK music video shooting in Melbourne

Imagine a UK alt-pop artist shooting a 10-day video in Melbourne. Using the checklist above, the producer:

1. Hires a Melbourne fixer and local production company 16 weeks out to secure locations and manage payroll.
2. Uses an ATA Carnet for essential camera bodies and lenses; rents grip locally for heavy kit.
3. Applies for City of Melbourne permits for three public locations and books traffic control for a 1-day street sequence.
4. Engages a local gaffer and camera operator, saving on travel and qualifying part of the local spend for state incentives.
5. Signs contracts that specify UK governing law for IP but agree to Australian jurisdiction for employment disputes, and budgets for GST on local services.
6. Implements a basic health protocol with daily symptom checks and rapid tests; secures insurance with a pandemic add-on.

Practical templates & quick timelines

Use this mini-timeline for a 10-day shoot. Adjust based on scale.

1. Week -16 to -12: Scout, select local partner, begin visas and initial permit applications.
2. Week -12 to -8: Finalise budget, co-pro/PEO agreements, ATA Carnet application, insurance quotes.
3. Week -8 to -4: Hire local crew, confirm rental houses, book freight and courier windows.
4. Week -4 to -1: Finalise permits, deliverables, health plan, and customs paperwork; run briefings and tech scouts.
5. Shoot week: Daily production report, local liaison with councils, implement health checks and data backups.
6. Post-shoot week 1–8: Ingest, editorial, and incentives submissions; reconcile invoices for rebates.

“Treat an international music-video shoot like a small feature: the paperwork and local rules rarely scale down — but the gains can far outweigh the effort.”

Final practical checklist (printable)

• Visas & sponsorship letters — confirmed
• ATA Carnet or rental plan — confirmed
• Local production partner / PEO — contracted
• City & location permits — applied/approved
• Insurance (incl. international, transit, pandemic addendum) — bound
• Contracts with governing law, currency, tax withholding — signed
• Local crew & union compliance — confirmed
• COVID/health officer & test kit supply — on contract
• Incentive pre-qualification & spend plan — documented
• Post workflow & transfer plan (SRT/Aspera) — agreed

Where to get help in 2026

Use the local screen agency (e.g., Film Victoria), embassy trade teams, and verified local fixers. For legal and tax certainty, engage an international entertainment lawyer and a local accountant experienced with production rebates. Short of that, engage a reputable local production company as partner — they’ll already know the permit cadence and union rates.

Closing: turn international complexity into creative advantage

International shoots like Empire City’s Melbourne production show that the right preparation unlocks huge creative upside: striking locations, local craft, and financial incentives. For UK music-video producers, the difference between a stressful shoot and a smooth, profitable one is often a clear checklist, early legal decisions, and a trusted local partner. Use the steps above as your production spine and you’ll spend more time on creative decisions — and less time firefighting.

Actionable next step: Download our printable international shoot checklist and sign up for our monthly production planner. If you’re planning a shoot in Melbourne (or elsewhere), contact our network and we’ll introduce you to vetted local fixers, rental houses and legal partners.

Related Reading

• Make Your Smartphone a Film Festival: Sound Packs from EO Media’s Cannes-Worthy Titles
• How to Audit Torrents for Licensed IP Before Publishing: A Practical Workflow
• Value Arbitrage: When Bookmaker Odds Diverge from Model Probabilities
• Affordable In-Store Upgrades: How a Smart Lamp and a Mac mini Can Transform a Small Jewelry Shop
• Protecting Email-to-Link Attribution When Gmail AI Summarizes Threads