Poland sits in the central part of Europe. It is one of the richest countries in terms of history in the world, and not always a positive one. If you want to do documentary production in Poland, we’ve searched for some information that you can base your research on. Here’s what you need to know about filming in Poland.
Top things to know about documentary production in Poland
What are some top things you have to know about documentary production in Poland? First of all, the costs. Money talks, but in Poland, prices for things that are related to movie production are lower than the average of the European area of activity. You can find equipment to rent at half the price from the countries in the West, or even actors and extras at great prices. When it comes to logistics, a hotel room in Krakow will be even half the price of one in Munich, for example. The same goes for transportation, filming permits, and other services.
Speaking of movie permits, documentary production in Poland is simple as there aren’t many places that require you to have one. Surely, the important historic sites will require you to pay a fee for a filming day, and book it in advance, but there are no required filming permits from the government. This is only required if you shoot a movie, and are requesting to book a public street for a few hours, for example. This is possible, but at a significant cost, as you’d expect. The rule is, if the location allows filming for a fee, that’s all you need to pay and you’re good to go.
Finally, filming a documentary in Poland is also about finding the right local support, like fixers or handymen, or local producers, guides, and translators. The more you can rely on a Polish film worker to guide you on, the smoother your production will go.
Amazing facts about Poland worth filming about
Now that you know the basics of what it’s like to do documentary production in Poland, here’s a bunch of incredible facts about this country that are worth mentioning. You know, just in case you’re not settled on the subject of your documentary. As we’ve said before, Poland is an extremely rich country when it comes to history. Many historians believe Poland has probably the most complicated history on Earth. Many documentaries have been made about it, but there’s always room for one more on the matter.
One incredible aspect that is worth mentioning is the near destruction of the capital Warsaw during the Second World War and the complete restoration that followed. Today Warsaw is a modern, bustling city, with some key remains from the past. Marie Curie, one of the most famous women in history, was Polish by birth. While indoors, take off your hat in Poland. Not doing so is considered an act of rude behavior. And kiss the hand of the lady of the house to make up for it.