Assignment Desk

US Production Crew for International Broadcasters

Assignment Desk has supplied US camera crews to BBC, ITV, Canal+, ARD, NHK, CBC, and ABC Australia since 1997. If your production is filming in the United States, we are your single point of contact: one call or email staffs any of 50 US cities with a professional Director of Photography, camera operator, audio technician, or field producer — IATSE union or non-union — with a same-day quote and USD invoicing.

Who We Serve

Broadcasting Networks

BBC, ITV, Canal+, ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Welle, NHK, CBC, ABC Australia, France Télévisions, and other international broadcasters rely on Assignment Desk when their US bureau needs a local crew or when a story breaks in a market outside their permanent staff footprint.

Production Companies

Foreign production companies — whether shooting a documentary series about American culture, a travel format with US locations, or a scripted co-production — need a US crew partner who understands international workflows, delivery specs, and scheduling across multiple cities.

Corporate & Branded Content

International brands and agencies producing commercials, corporate films, testimonials, or event coverage in the United States need a crew supplier who can match their brand standards, deliver broadcast-quality footage, and manage the shoot from briefing to wrap without requiring a US office.

What We Provide — and What We Don't

Being clear about scope prevents surprises. Here is exactly what Assignment Desk handles for international productions filming in the US.

ServiceWe ProvideWe Don't Provide
Camera crew — Director of Photography
Camera crew — Camera Operator
Audio technician
Grip / Gaffer
Field Producer
ENG single-camera setup
Multi-camera setups
IATSE union crew
Non-union crew
Same-day quotes
USD invoicing
VAT-compatible documentation
Post-production / editing
Location permits (we partner with specialists)
US work visas for foreign crew
Stock footage licensing

50-City US Coverage

From New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Miami, Assignment Desk crews the full breadth of the United States. One call — or one email — is all it takes to staff a crew in any of our 50 markets. We coordinate multi-city shoots regularly for international clients who cannot be on the ground in every location.

New York

Tri-state area, major US news hub

Los Angeles

Entertainment, branded content, film

Chicago

Midwest hub, corporate and news

Atlanta

Southeast, major production market

Miami

South Florida, Latin American gateway

Washington DC

Political, government, news

Everything International Clients Need to Know

Hire a US Camera Crew

The direct booking guide — crew types, day rates, and how to place an order from any country.

Book US Crew →

US Production Services

What 'production services' means in the US context, and how our producers act as US fixers for inbound foreign shoots.

Learn More →

US Broadcast Crew

ENG, single-camera, documentary, and multi-camera crews for news bureaus and broadcast formats.

ENG Crew Details →

Union vs. Non-Union

A plain-English guide to IATSE union rules for foreign producers. Most international shoots use non-union.

Read the Guide →

Coast-to-Coast Coverage

One call staffs any of 50 US markets. How Assignment Desk handles multi-city shoots for international clients.

See All Markets →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a US camera crew from the UK?
Email or call Assignment Desk directly. We handle all bookings by phone or email — you do not need a US-based production service company to go between you and the crew. Provide your shoot date, city, and brief and we'll return a same-day quote. We work with UK, European, Canadian, and Australian clients regularly.
What time zones do you operate across?
Our booking team is based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (US Eastern time, UTC-5/UTC-4). For European clients booking from London or Berlin, we recommend requesting a quote the business day before your shoot at the latest. We routinely handle bookings from UK and European clients and are flexible on communication times.
Do you supply IATSE union or non-union crew?
Both. Assignment Desk can supply IATSE union crew for projects that require it (network broadcast, certain studio shoots) and non-union crew for documentary, branded content, news, and most international inbound productions. We recommend non-union for the majority of foreign productions filming in the US — same quality, more scheduling flexibility, lower cost.
Do you invoice in USD? Can you provide VAT-compatible documentation?
Yes to both. All invoices are in US Dollars (USD). We can provide documentation compatible with EU VAT reclaim requirements — including our company address, EIN/tax ID, and itemised line items — on request. We have worked with accounting teams in the UK, Germany, France, and Australia.
Is equipment included in the day rate?
Equipment is typically included in the DP day rate for our staff crew. Package specifics depend on the crew member and market, but a standard package includes a broadcast cinema camera (Sony FX9 or equivalent), lenses, wireless audio, LED lighting, and basic grip. Confirm equipment specifics when you request your quote.
How far in advance do I need to book a US crew?
For most single-city shoots, 24–48 hours notice is workable in major markets (New York, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami). For multi-city shoots, we recommend 5–10 business days to confirm crew across all markets. Same-day bookings are possible in major markets but not guaranteed — contact us as early as possible.
Do US camera crews have PAL cameras for European broadcast?
Yes. Professional broadcast cameras used by US crews — such as the Sony FX9, ARRI AMIRA, and Blackmagic URSA — are multistandard and can record in PAL-equivalent frame rates (25fps, 50fps). Confirm the required delivery specification when booking and the crew will set the camera accordingly.

Ready to Book a US Crew?

Tell us your shoot date, city, and crew requirements. We respond within the business day with a full quote and crew confirmation.