The major equipment houses are based in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Lighting/grip houses include Quanta, Electrica, Cinecidade, Locall, Apema, Naymar. Cranes and dollys are supplied by Fabrica Brasileira de Imagens, Aircam, Para Movimentos, Quanta, Apema, Electrica, Sunshine, amongst others. Camera houses for 35/16 mm and digital include JKL, Camera 2, Central, as well as many owner/operators.
Equipment moves frequently between the two major Brazilian production centers of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo is a 40 minute flight from Rio (6 hrs drive). Smaller cities like Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Salvador, Recife and Porto Alegre have smaller equipment houses. Most international commercial productions and feature films shooting in these smaller cities will require equipment to be transported from Sao Paulo or Rio.
Brazil is a large country with a population of 194 million. It has a significant home based production industry and has sufficient equipment for large international TV commercial productions and smaller features. It is not Hollywood, however, and does not have the volume of most US production centers. Cameras and lenses are very well maintained. Grip and lighting items have sometimes been modified or replicated, but most name brands are available. Foreign grip and lighting technicians may find that though the equipment does the job it is not maintained and as shiny new as their toys at home. Brazilian technicians are used to working with what they have and make perfectly good use of it. Production equipment is imported so rental costs are no cheaper than the USA or Europe. If an item in short supply gets damaged ordering parts to fix the problem could become a time issue.
For international TV commercials and small movies there should be no issues or concerns in finding equipment for your production in Brazil. Unless you have a specific requirement like motion control, for example. This equipment may have to come from a neighbouring country such a Colombia, Mexico, or even the USA.
