Maximizing ROI on the Global Stage:
Why PSCs are a Strategic Necessity
Filming internationally is a complex dance of creativity and risk management. While the fee of a Production Service Company (PSC) is rarely a line item above question, an evaluation of its comprehensive contribution to your project’s bottom line ensures the PSC is not undervalued.
The Production Guild of Great Britain recently invited me to share invaluable insights into why working with a reputable PSC is a strategic necessity for today’s makers of film and television. Guild members can click here for exclusive access to that masterclass.
The successful execution of hundreds of shoots across more than 50 countries through our PSN-Production Service Network has equipped me with real-world anecdotes from location shoots around the globe. I’ve broken them down into five core themes to share in this blog. Each is explored in more depth in a series we published earlier this year. You’ll find links to those articles at the page bottom.
1. Protecting Your Investment Beyond the Budget
One of the most immediate benefits of a PSC is its ability to distribute the inherent risks of international production. Rather than a foreign producer carrying the entire weight of a complex shoot on their shoulders, a reputable PSC provides established policies, built-in infrastructure, and comprehensive insurance to protect both the project and the budget.
Every project is unique. But for those exceeding $50,000 to $100,000, the risk of skipping a PSC in favor of a freelance fixer is simply not worth the potential cost. As our service producer in Romania put it: “A freelance line producer who messes up isn’t going to sell their home to cover an extra shooting day”.
The intricacies of local insurance are a prime example of this protection. In France, for example, a permit to shoot in Paris requires demonstration of French insurance coverage—a nuance a foreign producer might miss, even with their own robust global policy. Similarly, in the Czech Republic, worldwide policies often fail to cover local producers’ indemnity insurance, which is vital for protecting foreign clients from liability if equipment causes damage.
2. Streamlining Operations for Smoother Execution
Success in global production depends on “boots on the ground”. Instead of starting from scratch on every project, a PSC offers a pre-existing, streamlined infrastructure and a cohesive, experienced team. This eliminates the delays and communication breakdowns common when building ad hoc crews of freelancers.
The Production Service Network delivers added value. PSN draws on the local know-how of its curated community of PSCs to empower producers as it helps them determine where to film their project for the best screen value.
In individual territories, our production service team in the UAE says the value of this established infrastructure is evident as early as project development. Well-established PSCs have the “muscle” to dedicate in-house resources to promising projects before payment, providing location decks, shoot schedules, and sometimes even budgets at no or low initial charge.
In Italy, a Netflix marketing shoot for The Hand of God illustrated how a PSC manages “project creep” internally. What began as a simple still shoot quickly expanded to include complex video deliverables and casting. By taking the helm and managing the expanded production under one roof, our Italian PSC provided the adaptability needed to execute a successful project even as its scope grew.
3. Instilling Confidence Through Compliance and Accountability
For major studios, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability are non-negotiable standards. PSCs are aligned with these corporate expectations and maintain the strict financial procedures required by global entities. Studio executives arrive expecting clear and transparent financial protocols—a smooth ride that a local PSC is uniquely positioned to steer.
Furthermore, PSCs navigate the legal hurdles of local tax incentives and union crew requirements. In Canada, for instance, an individual line producer might struggle to hire union crews or recover the 15% GST rebate—a process that well-reputed PSCs like PSN Canada handle at zero net cost for foreign producers. Our production service teams in Spain and Thailand underline that local law requires a registered local PSC to access tax rebates.
This accountability extends to rapid administrative support. During the filming of The Sandman Season 2 in Greece, our local PSC successfully responded to a 9:00 PM request to payroll 50 people by 6:00 AM the following morning—a feat that earned them praise from Warner Brothers cost controllers.
Logistics are no different. Our UK team faced a six-week timeline before filming the feature Ghosted with A-list talent. There were night shoots and high-intensity car chases along the Thames to be permitted. Our UK PSC leaned on an extensive network and in-house location experts to fast-track permits, secure top-tier crew, and deliver seamless execution under tight deadlines.
4. The Key to Exclusive Locations and Top Talent
Gaining access to world-class locations and talent often depends on one thing: reputation. A well-established PSC leverages long-standing relationships with local authorities and vendors to open doors that are frequently closed to individuals.
In Iceland, the HBO TV series The Flight Attendant secured a permit for the difficult-to-book Sky Lagoon spa purely because the owners trusted our local PSC’s track record. Similarly, in Turkey, the cathedral-sized underground Cistern Basilica—where even Netflix Turkey had previously failed to gain access—was secured through the expertise of our Istanbul-based PSC.
PSCs working within our Production Service Network also demonstrate an unparalleled capacity to pivot. When the Habib series team needed last-minute prison permits in a more visa-friendly territory, our Turkish PSC worked with the PSN partner in Serbia to secure a suitable prison location and facilitate the necessary permits through local authorities in Belgrade.
Perhaps the most dramatic example of “making the impossible possible” occurred in Egypt for Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth. Our Cairo-based PSC coordinated with the Egyptian army to install camera mounts on military helicopters and film stunts involving explosives near the Giza pyramids—an achievement the film’s location manager admitted would be impossible elsewhere.
5. Achieving Unexpected Savings
While producers may initially worry about the cost of a PSC fee, experience shows production service companies actually provide strategic financial advantages that lead to significant long-term savings. Savvy producers keep one eye trained on the net production cost of local film services.
For example, a PSC’s local leverage can dramatically slash production costs. For the film Jojo Rabbit, our Czech PSC tapped into its deep pool of local vendors to craft deals that reduced the expected $50 million production cost to under $15 million. In Canada, our PSC leverages its high volume of spending to secure bulk pricing and preferential rates that individual line producers cannot access.
Unexpected savings also come from tax expertise. In Uruguay, our local PSC successfully negotiated a special tax exemption for Julianne Moore during the filming of Blindness after local tax authorities sought a share of her publicized multi-million dollar payment. In Mexico, a reputable PSC like PSN Mexico manages vendor fees and VAT recovery internally, ensuring that the 16% VAT cost is not passed onto the foreign production.
Finally, the cashflow and payroll assistance provided by a PSC simplify the financial management of a project. Foreign companies can wire funds directly to one trusted entity rather than managing separate wires for hundreds of individuals and vendors.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced world of international filmmaking, the PSC is more than just a service provider—it is a strategic partner. From protecting investments and streamlining complex logistics to securing impossible locations and maximizing tax rebates, reputable PSCs provide the foundation for creative success on the global stage. And their fee is negotiable for projects of scale.
The real question isn’t whether you can afford to hire a PSC, but whether you can afford not to.
Check out these articles for a more indepth read:
Drop me a line if you want to delve into the details of filming your next project abroad with our curated community of PSCs strategically positioned in film hubs worldwide.
Key Takeaways
Risk Distribution is Essential for Large Projects: For productions with budgets exceeding $100,000, creators should avoid relying solely on freelance fixers. A Production Service Company (PSC) distributes risk across a cohesive team with established policies and comprehensive insurance, protecting the project from unforeseen local liabilities.
Leverage Established Local Infrastructure: Content creators do not need to start from scratch in every new country. Tapping into a PSC provides immediate access to a “well-oiled machine” of experienced crews and streamlined logistics, which prevents the delays and communication breakdowns common when hiring ad hoc teams.
Reputation Opens Exclusive Doors: Accessing world-class or highly regulated locations often depends on the local standing of a production partner rather than the size of the creator’s brand. PSCs leverage long-standing relationships with local authorities to secure permits for “impossible” locations that are typically closed to individual outsiders.
Navigate Complex Legal and Tax Compliance: International filming involves strict local laws regarding union crews and tax incentives. A reputable PSC acts as a necessary legal representative to qualify for tax rebates and ensure compliance with local insurance and auditing requirements that foreign entities cannot manage directly.
Strategic Financial Management Drives Savings: While PSCs charge a fee, they often generate net savings through local leverage. Because they spend significantly more with vendors than individual creators, they can negotiate bulk pricing and preferential rates, while also managing complex VAT recovery and cashflow to keep the project on schedule.
