Switzerlandfor Movie Stars.MySwitzerland.com

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Welcome 4

Landscape for romance 6

All you need to know about business in S witzerland 10

R ules and regulations 12

K eeping red tape to a minimum 13

G etting there 16

Many roads lead to S witzerland 17

What to do – and not to do – in S witzerland 18

P age

1 Lake of G rindji, the Matterhorn Zermatt Frontpage

2 Mont S an S alvatore, Lake of Lugano, Ticino 4 /5

3 6S ix J eur in the vicinity of the E mosson artificial lake

in the Mont B lanc Mass if

4 On Location, C ity of Zurich 7

6 The E mmental, valley of the E mmen R iver 9

C anton B ern

7 The Morteratsch glacier in Upper E ngadine 10

P age

8 Near Valendas in the S urselva region of the G risons 12

9 At Lake S aoseo in the Val da C amp, C anton G risons 14

10 G rindelwaldblick Hotel on the K leine S cheidegg 15

11 The Aletsch glacier seen from E ggishorn S tation 16

12 R igi railway near R igi K ulm 17

13 Aigle, C anton Vaud in the lower R hone Valley 18

14 R iederalp in Valais , above the R hone valley 19

S witzerland T ourism,

Tödistrasse 7, 8027 Zürich

P hone: +41-1-288 11 11

Fax: +41-1-288 12 05

info@switzerland.com

www.myswitzerland.com

S witzerland T ourism

Maker C hamber VI, G r ound Floor

Nariman P oint, Mumbai – 400 021

P hone: 022-2285 16 98

and 022-2282 82 51

Fax: 022-2282 82 51

radhika.patankar@switzerland.com

www.myswitzerland.com

S witzerland T ourism

World Trade Tower (WTT)

5th Floor, B arakhamba Lane

New Dehli – 110 001

P hone: 011-2341 50 19

Fax: 011-2341 50 18

sarah.berry@switzerland.com

www.myswitzerland.com

P ictur es : S witzerland T ourism

Tritten R eisen, Zweis immen

Museum for Des ign, Zürich

5 S tonebridge in Ticino 8

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Welcome.

But apart from the Alps and the glaciers, Switzer-

land has a wealth of other natural beauties that

meet a growing desire for the genuine and

unspoiled: lakes in every shade of green and blue,

crystal-clear streams, endless hilly landscapes,

lush orchards and meadows dotted with flowers

in every hue, rolling cornfields, well-tended

vineyards and brooding dark-green forests. Swiss

towns combine the charm of yesterday with

today’s zest for life.

They offer countless well-maintained historic

buildings and town centres; shopping boule-

vards of international fame join on to the narrow

Landscape to Romance | 7

Switzerland: heaven on earth for film makers.

Mention the word “mountains” and people automatically think of Switzerland,and vice versa. Every year the mountains lure hundreds of thousands of visitors,among them many Indians who are able to satisfy a lifelong desire to see thefabulous panoramas with their own eyes and to experience snow at first hand.As recently as a hundred years ago the mountains still evoked fear of the un-known. Today, they are more than likely to trigger a profound emotional response.

Landscape to romance.

– A large proportion of the Swiss population

speaks several languages, including English.

– Many hotels are specialised in accommo-

dating the wishes of Indian guests and even

offer special prices.

– In Switzerland vegetarian food is easily avail-

able and Indian cuisine is also offered in many

restaurants and as a catering service.

– You can also avail of year long snow in some

places in Switzerland.

– Traditional cultural events like music festivals

add to colourful backgrounds for film shoot-

ings.

– Besides winter sports like skiing, snow-board-

ing and bob sledding, a diverse range of other

activities like bungy-jumping, trotti-biking,

husky dog sled rides, water parks, etc. are ad-

ditional filming possibilities.

– Switzerland offers many specialized post-pro-

duction facilities like raw stock processing and

sound recording studios.

– Professional filming equipment is easily avail-

able. Local costs have to be weighed against

freight from India.

So Switzerland awaits you with a wealth of pos-

sibilities, which are only waiting to be captured

on film!

streets of the old town, markets maintain their

traditions, and in the many restaurants and

street cafes you may perhaps strike up a lifelong

acquaintance.

Moreover, Switzerland also repeatedly comes up

with superlatives. Here are just a few examples:

the steepest rack-railway in the world (gradient

of 48%) leads up to Mount Pilatus; the oldest

(dating from 1871) to the Rigi. The north wall of

the Eiger has achieved fame as the most notori-

ous climbing wall in Europe, while the Jungfrau-

Aletsch-Bietschhorn area with the 24 km long

Aletsch glacier was recently added to the list of

world nature heritage sites by UNESCO. In the

Lauterbrunnen valley in the Bernese Oberland, –

the highest waterfall in Europe, the Mürrenbach-

fall (700 m), plunges into the depths, and the

Matterhorn is the most frequently photographed

mountain in the world.

And because despite this great variety Switzer-

land is a small country, these attractive film

locations all lie close together. So thanks to the

short distances, time-consuming and costly

transfers can be avoided. The transport of film

crew and material can be arranged easily by

coach or by public transport.

The Swiss Travel System is ideal for transport,

as it extends to every corner of the country,

including numerous mountain peaks. So it is

easy to film in remote areas or in a high moun-

tain setting.

In addition to the beauties of nature and the in-

frastructure, other good reasons (besides the

many suggested before) argue for Switzerland

as a film location:

– Switzerland Tourism, Film Location Switzerland

and allabout production service can provide

assistance in the search for the perfect location.

– The local tourist services and specialized

private companies can provide the desired

support.

8 | Landscape to Romance

Money

Swiss currency is denominated in francs, with

100 centimes or “Rappen” per franc. There are

no restrictions on the amount of Swiss francs

that can be imported, exported or exchanged.

Traveller’s cheques and bank notes can be

exchanged at banks, at exchange bureaus in the

larger railway stations, at travel agencies and

in hotels. Most places accept international credit

cards. For withdrawing ready cash, there are

ATM’s available throughout Switzerland and are

increasingly hooked up with international sys-

tems. Tipping is not necessary in Switzerland

as service charges are included with the bill.

However, it is common, although by no means

obligatory, to leave a little something extra in

restaurants, taxis, etc. Hotel porters expect a tip

of one to two francs for each piece of luggage.

Since the introduction of the Euro currency in

certain countries of the European Union, many

prices in shops, restaurants and hotels are also

indicated in Euro. Many establishments will ac-

cept Euros for payment at the current exchange

rate, but return change in the same currency

might not always be available.

Business/Banking Hours

Business hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon

and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., closed on weekends.

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Once

a week they extend their hours. Please check

locally. Banks are closed Saturdays, Sundays and

on public holidays. Post offices in large cities

are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to

12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m; Saturday 7.30

to 11 a.m.

Weather and Climate

The climate is moderate with no excessive heat,

cold or humidity. From July to August daytime

temperatures range from 18°C to 27° C and

from January to February the range is –1° C to

5° C. In spring and autumn, the daytime temper-

ature range is 8° C to 15° C. However, depend-

ing on the altitude temperatures may vary.

It is highly recommended to pack a sweater, good

walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a com-

pact umbrella and/or a light rain-coat. Longer

daylight hours in summer and the reverse in

winter are factors to be considered for outdoor

film shooting.

National HolidaysNew Year’s Day 1st January and 2nd January*

Good Friday**

Easter Monday

Ascension Day

Whit Monday**

Swiss National Day 1st August

All Saint’s Day 1st November*

Christmas Day 25th December

Boxing Day 26th December

Facts about Switzerland.Population circa 7,3 million

Surface area 41,293 km2

Dimensions North-South 220 km / East-West 348 km

Capital Berne

Languages German 64% / French 19% / Italian 8% / Rhaeto-Romanic 1% / Others 8%

Religions Protestant 40% / Roman Catholic 46% / Others 14%

Cantons (States) 26 including 6 half cantons

Highest peak Mt. Dufour at 4,634 m (Monte Rosa, Canton Valais)

Lowest spot Lake Maggiore 194 m (Canton Ticino)

Lakes 1,484

Glaciers 140

Time zones Summer IST -3.5 / Winter IST -4.5

*in some regions, **in most regions / There may also be various local holidays to take into consideration.

All you need to know about business in Switzerland.

Travel to countries you aren’t familiar with can create all kinds of hassles, rang-ing from financial matters to the practicalities of the climate. Contrary to po-pular belief, Switzerland is a remarkably uncomplicated place to travel and dobusiness. Yet because the country is also so well organised, you can relax secure in the knowledge that the arrangements you’ve made will work out asplanned.

Switzerland: facts and figures | 11

Visas for Switzerland

The Embassy of Switzerland and the Consulate

General of Switzerland welcome and very strongly

support film shooting in Switzerland and ap-

preciate that film and photo producers have so

oftenchosen Switzerland as a destination.

However, they are compelled to observe certain

rules andregulations that they have summarised

below. They hope that these will find your approval

and understanding.

As a general rule, the producer is held responsi-

ble for the crew he intends to bring to Switzer-

land. Usually, an authorised representative of the

producer personally contacts the respective visa

section in order to submit applications on behalf

of the whole group. The visa application should

be supported by a covering letter from the

producer on his business/company’s letterhead.

For first time film producers not yet known to

the Swiss representation, documentation of their

earlier work should be shown on request such

as newspaper clippings, film-magazines or any

other item on which the name and title of the

company or the producer applying appears.

Furthermore, a complete list of the crew (with

their designations) going for shooting is required.

For first time travellers their ID-cards should be

produced. Cooks, spot boys, camera assistants

etc. might have to travel on a group-visa. Should

they have travelled before on a group visa,

please present a copy of it or inform the office

about the previous visa-number. Family-mem-

bers are invited to apply, as individuals, for sim-

ple tourist visas.

For further information regarding visa process-

ing, office hours and visa fees, please consult

the following website:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home.html

Customs Regulations

The temporary import of cinematography mate-

rial such as cameras, negative film rolls and other

technical material falls under the international

Customs Convention of 6 December 1961. Most

countries as well as Switzerland have both adop-

ted this Convention. The basic rules covered by

the saidConvention are that items imported under

the scheme have to be re-exported within a given

period of time.

Duty-free temporary import of said material is

granted upon presentation of a ATA Carnet, an

internationally recognised customs document

which is valid for one year from the date of issue.

In India, ATA Carnets are issued by the most

Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

Furthermore, ATA Carnets have to be en-

dorsed by the Customs authorities.

Keeping red tape to a minimum.

Organising a film shoot abroad is a complicated business. You need to importequipment, materials and personnel to a foreign country and this inevitably involves a certain amount of bureaucracy. This is another area where choosingSwitzerland can make life that decisive bit easier. We are fully aware of theproblems that can arise and go out of our way to take the load of your shoul-ders. Following a few simple but necessary guidelines will make the entireprocess run more smoothly.

Rules and regulations | 13

Rules and regulations.

Business relations and payment conditions

in Switzerland

Switzerland certainly depends on foreign trade

and millions of tourists from abroad visiting

the country every year. Consequently, most Swiss

businesses are used to dealing with foreign

partners from all over the world. Communication

in English should, therefore, not present a major

problem or at least it should be possible to

find somebody to step in for translation, if needed.

Switzerland is also a country with a highly de-

veloped service sector. There is almost no area

which is not covered by a competitive industry

offering first class assistance in their particular

field. However, service excellence has its price.

The following should be kept in mind in this

regard:

– Services and labour charges in particular are

quite expensive in Switzerland compared

with India, but Switzerland remains a competi-

tive option when compared to its European

neighbours.

– Labour, transportation and, in many cases,

also expensive equipment are charged on an

hourly basis. So making proper arrangements

and preparations before placing an order will

help save you a lot of money.

– Once goods and services are firmly ordered

and delivered, they will be charged, whether

used or not!

In the entertainment service industry usually 50%

of the total contract sum is payable when plac-

ing a firm order. The remaining 50% falls due be-

fore shooting starts.

Please consult the web for further details

or ask allabout production service.

Shooting Permits

To obtain permits for film shooting is relatively

easy in Switzerland and is, in most cases,

simply a matter of formality. However, some

arrangements need to be done in advance and

it would, in most cases, require the assistance

of allabout production service with the neces-

sary contacts.

Municipal authorities in Switzerland are compe-

tent to grant the necessary authorisations to

shoot in cities and other public places. Shooting

on private properties requires the owner’s ap-

proval. Things are a bit more complicated for the

shooting of action films where larger areas

or even military equipment needs to be used.

In this event, the involvement of the police or

even the army would be required. However,

the authorities are usually very co-operative.

There might be different rules and regulations in

different cities and cantons. It is, therefore, rec-

ommend that you contact the municipality

where you intend to do shooting in advance to

get the necessary information and permission to

make your arrangements accordingly especially

for parking permissions for the accompanying

generator vans, coach, etc.

In general terms, with every application, the fol-

lowing details should be furnished to the munic-

ipal authorities where the shooting takes place:

– Number of persons participating in the shoot-

ing unit/cast.

– Date and time of the shooting.

– Request for possible availability of parking

places.

– Request for possible temporary closure of

roads/streets during the shooting.

Feel free to contact allabout production service

for further information regarding shooting

permits and assistance in dealing with

local authorities.

Rules and regulations | 1514 | Rules and regulations

Many roads lead to Switzerland.

Switzerland is located at the heart of Europe and has excellent rail, road and airconnections with all the continent’s major cities. Whichever of the country’sthree international airports you land at, you can continue your journey using adense network of regular trains that run so punctually you can set your watchby them.

Since Switzerland is centrally located in Europe,

it is very well connected by rail and road to most

important cities within Europe.

Numerous airlines fly into Zurich and Geneva

international airports and Basel Euroairport.

Zurich and Geneva airports are fully incorpo-

rated into the Swiss railroad network with an

integrated railway station. Trains to the city cen-

tres run every 10 to 20 minutes. The ride takes

approx. 10 minutes. Hourly inter-city and direct

trains leave right from either airport station

and will connect you to most cities and towns.

In Basel, a bus service links the airport with the

downtown area. The bus stops right outside

the main railway station. The buses leave every

30 minutes and the ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Switzerland’s national carrier – Swiss International

Air Lines – has daily flights to Zurich from many

cities.

Getting there.

Getting there | 17

and trams. In some cases tickets have to be

punched in automats at bus/tram stops.

– Telephone calls from public booths is generally

cheaper than from hotels. Most booths accept

pre-paid telephone cards available in denomi-

nations of Sfr. 10, 20 and 50 and are available

at kiosks and at the post office. International

calls can be made from most telephone

booths.

– The Swiss consider fish and eggs to be vege-

tarian so please ensure that you specify no eggs

or fish when you place a vegetarian meal order.

– Like the British, to the Swiss his home is his

castle. This includes his well-tended garden

with flower beds and fruit trees. Plucking of

these is not welcome.

– Medical facilities are generally expensive in

Switzerland and a group medical insurance

would be a good cover for any untoward acci-

dents.

– The Swiss use a comma to separate the cen-

from the Franc when prices are written.

It is not a common practice to address busi-

ness partners by their first names unless in-

vited to do so.

– Punctuality is a serious subject in Switzerland

and appointments are expected to be kept.

Trains, buses and boats depart punctually as

per their time-table.

– The Swiss are generally friendly; a local

greeting you expects a return greeting and/or

a smile.

– “Dignity in labour” is a dictum in Switzerland.

Waiters, cleaners, shop assistants, porters,

etc. are looked at with the same respect as

other professionals.

– Switzerland is a law-abiding country. Rules

and regulations are strictly followed with law-

breakers being penalised.

– Discipline is the order of the day in Switzer-

land. Expect this truism in queues, at coun-

ters, while crossing roads, boarding and

alighting from public transport, etc.

– Prices in Swiss shops are generally fixed and

bargaining is not possible. Goods once

opened in shops are considered sold.

– The Swiss are very clean and expect all litter

to be disposed off only in the provided

garbage cans. Littering in public places is an

offence. In some places there are different

containers for various types of waste disposal

like glass bottles, aluminium cans, etc. If a

location is used for shooting, it is expected

that it is left in the same condition as before

the shooting.

– Porters are a rarity in Switzerland. One is ex-

pected to carry his/her own bags in hotels,

stations, cabs, coaches etc. In the same vein,

no hostesses will guide you to your table in

Switzerland.

– Tickets for public transport have to be pur-

chased before boarding – especially in trains

What to do – and not to do – in Switzerland.

Visiting a new country with an unfamiliar culture can lead to problems that aregenerally caused by misunderstanding or ignorance of certain ways and customs. Simply being aware of certain dos and don’ts goes a long way toavoiding situations that can be frustrating for both host and visitor.

Getting there | 2518 | Getting there