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We Backpack Films have worked on everything from massive Hollywood-sized productions to solo-indie-documentary shoots, and the misconceptions that some productions have about India and the lack of research about filming here still blow our minds.

These assumptions don't just make shoots harder - they make films shallow.

Here's what we hear every single day:

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"We just need a fixer, any fixer will do"

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Wrong. You don't need someone who just handles logistics and permits. That's the bare minimum - any detail-obsessed person can manage that part.

What you actually need is someone who gets India. Someone who thrives on the beautiful chaos instead of fighting it. Someone with the eye to spot that documentary gold waiting around every street corner while explaining why your carefully planned schedule just went out the window.

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The right person doesn't just arrange things - they help you make an extraordinary film.

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"Let's save money on the fixer and spend it elsewhere"

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Pay peanuts, get monkeys. It’s as simple as that.

A seasoned fixer with credits and experience saves you money by negotiating better deals, spotting permit scams, and hiring the right crew. They know which permits you actually need and where you can wing it. That knowledge pays for itself ten times over.

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Cheap moonshine will get you high but will you savour it like a good bottle of wine? Perhaps not.

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‍"We got green-lit! We shoot next month in India!"

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Unless you're personal friends with the Prime Minister, this isn't happening.

All international productions need two to three months minimum for permits and visas. Then add some more time for local permits - railways, wildlife parks, monuments, airports. Each one has its own bureaucratic dance.

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Just yesterday, someone emailed about shooting a documentary in two weeks. We're still laughing.

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‍"We only need one person to shoot this interview"

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Look, we try to keep crew sizes minimal too. But some crew members simply can't be eliminated.

The mythical self-shooting superman who can nail visuals, capture perfect audio, lug gear, drive through Indian traffic, conduct interviews AND get the neighbour to stop their drilling operation? They probably exist in some parts of the world, but not here.

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Here's the thing about Indian film crews - they're specialists. India's film industry runs on specialized roles and large crews. Most rental houses don't trust expensive gear without "attendants" who know every button and cable. It seems excessive until you realize how much faster everything moves with those extra hands. In some states, it's also a union requirement.

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Sometimes you just grin and bear it.

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‍ "We'll shoot Mumbai in the morning, Delhi in the evening"

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Geography lesson time: India is massive. Think of a country the size of Europe. So flying from one city to another – say from Mumbai to Delhi  - eats into your entire day.

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Traffic jams, flight delays, suspicious security treating your sound mixer like a explosive device, endless queues - everything takes longer than you think. Plan accordingly.

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‍ "India is cheap"

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Our currency is struggling, so yes, it's cheaper than London or New York. But if you want quality work, experienced crew costs real money. Some permits - Taj Mahal, airports, railways wildlife parks - costs as much as any first world country.

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Peak season hotel rates in metro cities? That's your London rent for a month. Top contributors and celebrities also know their worth - and might ask for an appearance fee.

Cheap exists, but quality costs everywhere.

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‍ "English is everywhere"

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Thanks to the British, English is widespread. But millions of people across the country don't speak it, especially in rural areas.

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Your production driver, the dabbawallah, the farmer you want to interview, or even the entrepreneur whose story you love - don't assume that everyone will speak English. In India, knowing English is often a marker of generational privilege or geographical location, and expecting a knowledge of the language shows blindness to the country's diversity and its socioeconomic realities.

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Having a fixer who speaks local languages isn't optional. The fixer not only translates for you, they make sure that regional and cultural nuances are not missed out.

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‍ "We don't need a recce"

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Not every production can afford a recce trip – or even require one, sure. But if you're bringing presenters and large crews with complex logistics, budget the recce. Better to be safe than sorry.

You'll learn small specifics – like what Bangalore traffic does to schedules and how big a hole a meal at the Taj Mahal Hotel can tear into your budget. More importantly, you'll discover nuances in a story that you'd never find from your office in Soho.

The recce doesn't just prep your logistics - it preps you for India.

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‍"They should be happy to have us shoot them!"

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Not everyone wants film crews in their homes, workplaces, or weddings.

Access to amazing locations, special occasions, and celebrities can't be assumed just because you're a top broadcaster or have a Hollywood star as your presenter.

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We constantly get asked for access to Bollywood sets, with crews expecting stars to welcome them with literal song and dance.

Reality check: Most Bollywood sets are off-limits to media, just like in your home country. Film stars are stars precisely because they're not easily accessible. Some producers might not want to leak visuals of their cast, styling, plot or the overall look of the film before the release.

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Some families don't want film crews disrupting their weddings - they have zero interest in turning their private celebration into a public spectacle for international television. Billionaire tycoons won't let you film inside their ostentatious homes so you can mock them later for flaunting wealth in a country full of poverty.

Respect goes a long way. Assumption and entitlement get you nowhere.

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"We know India"

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No, you don't.

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Neither do people who've lived here their entire lives.

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22 official languages. 29 states. 1.46 billion people. Everything is same-same but also different.

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Arranged marriages are normal, but we have 90-year-old couples who had rebellious college romances.

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Some slum residents are highly educated entrepreneurs.

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Ox-carts share roads with futuristic metros.

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We launch satellites for other countries while sitting in traffic on potholed roads.

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What works in Bangalore fails in Bhatinda.

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You can't use Bhangra music as BGM on a Gujarat Navratri dance (true story).

Stay humble. Embrace the diversity. Your content will be infinitely richer for it.

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^{India rewards preparation, patience, and respect for complexity. Get those right, and you'll make films that actually capture this incredible country instead of just skimming its surface.}

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