Cinema Integrators at Puerto Rico

[Lucas Iaccarino]

Hello everyone,

I’ve been contacted by a potential client who is looking to set up a Digital Cinema projection system in a theater. Currently, there’s no professional equipment installed, so we’ll need to rent the necessary gear and handle the full installation.

I’ve reached out to my usual providers in Spain, but none of them have information about a company or technician based in the U.S. who could take on this job.

Do you happen to know of any reliable technicians or companies located there?
Also, is equipment delivery from the U.S. generally straightforward, or do customs typically pose challenges?

Thanks in advance for your time and any help you can offer!

Best regards,

[Leo Enticknap]

I don't know of any technicians or DCI integration companies based on the island. According to ChatGPT, there are 43 public movie theater locations currently open on Puerto Rico, of which 31 are operated by the Caribbean Cinemas chain and the rest are independent. My guess would be that Caribbean likely has one or two techs on its full time payroll and based on the island, and that they also service the indies (either as a side hustle or through a formal arrangement between the indies and Caribbean). So as a first step, it might be worth reaching out to Caribbean.

If that line of attack doesn't get you anywhere, there are numerous integrators in the US, many of whom could do this for you, albeit at a higher price than if they were doing the same job on the mainland, due to the costs of shipping equipment and flying the technicians out. The good news is there are no tariffs or customs restrictions in moving equipment between Puerto Rico and the mainland USA in either direction. Puerto Rico is formally a self-governing terriitory of the USA, which means that for import and export purposes it's no different from a full US state, and US Citizens and permanent residents have the right to work there without restriction.

There would, I'm afraid, be tariffs, customs, and immigration restrictions involved in a Spanish or Argentinian company handling this. I believe that the tariffs likely wouldn't apply if the equipment were only being imported temporarily and then re-exported at the end of the rental, but there is probably a lot of paperwork involved in that, which would require the services of a shipping agent to negotiate. The technicians would require visas to work in the US if the job were being paid for by a company or organization based in Puerto Rico. Even if they were coming from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (Spain is, but Argentina isn't), someone is not allowed to enter the US on an ESTA authorization to do work that is being paid for by a US-based employer.

If you would like to discuss your requirements with us (a California-based vendor and integrator for all the major DCI manufacturers, and we also do field installation), please feel free to reach out to sales [at] movingimagetech.com or call +1 714 751-7998 (7a to 3p Pacific, which is two hours behind Buenos Aires). We have Spanish-speaking staff available at the office, if that would help. I'm sure that other US-based vendors will shortly be along with their details, too! Hoping that you find a solution and that your project is a success.