Coordinated the international shipping logistics that got production gear into the Panamanian jungle for Netflix’s survival competition series.
Outlast: The Jungle is Netflix’s survival competition series that pits contestants against extreme wilderness conditions for a shot at a cash prize; for its third season, production relocated to a remote jungle and island setting in Panama. As Production Shipping Coordinator, I oversaw the preparation and shipment of production gear for the international shoot, managing detailed shipping manifests and working closely with vendors and teams to ensure all equipment was properly documented and delivered in compliance with inspection requirements.
Behind the Scenes
Where were you?
Los Angeles, California
What’s the moment things went sideways?
It was a rush to the finish line to really make sure we had everything we needed and everything was documented on the manifest so it would get through customs. We had a week to get over three thousand pieces of gear ready to ship and be on an island ready to start shooting.
A crew or cast story that still gets told
It doesn’t sound like much, but a week in a warehouse with the whole team logging and packing three thousand pieces of gear really bonds you, especially when you’re grateful the whole time that we had air conditioning.
What would a viewer never guess?
The amount of time it takes to make a manifest will blow your mind. You have to pay so much attention to detail. When it goes through customs everything has to be on that manifest. They can just choose one random item and if it is not on the manifest it can hold up the whole shipment.
What were you actually running day to day?
It came down to hyperfixation, staying organized, and staying focused. I had to know where we left off every day and update the team if anything was taken away or added. The props and office supplies have to go through the same thing. Every SKU number and model number had to be documented on the manifest and labeled to show which box each item was packed into.
What are you proudest of on this one?
Really spending time with the camera team and getting ready for the show, talking about what shots we wanted to capture on the upcoming season. There was a real moment when time felt slow, but at the same time we were so excited to start this season that the energy was so electric.