Well not quite the 1986 film but it does bring an interesting dynamic to mind which is drone shots. Drones make ariel cinematography more accessible and certainly more cost efficient than say a helicopter or foxed wing aircraft. It sorts of opens it up top the masses!
For my final submission, which will be a short documentary style production focusing on renewable energy I need to include shots like this to provide a sense of scale, movement and interest in to the subject.
So why the use of drones, well in simple terms they can provide dramatic scenes and movement. One of the earliest earliest major films to embrace the power of drone footage was the 2012 James Bond instalment, Skyfall. C-Istudios ( 2024) state that it :-
"Pioneered the use of drones in the iconic spy franchise. The breath taking aerial shots of Istanbul and the Scottish Highlands not only showcased the beauty of the locations but also added a sense of grandeur and spectacle to the high-octane action sequences, elevating the overall viewing experience."
Not too sure my submission will be "Skyfall" quality and it's not just as simple as getting a drone and flying it, but I will be seeking some quality footage so it's good preparation. However, there are a few obstacles to over come, even just to competent.
Firstly, it's another aspect to consider, not only are you controlling the camera but you are also controlling movement more than you would with a tripod, dolly or gimbal ( yes the drone has a gimbal) . However, I am now faced with full 3d movement of a drone and camera which can be somewhat independent of each other.
Secondly, I can't just randomly fly a drone, there is a threshold for hobby drones of 249g but my research suggests that it's preferable to be registered with the CAA. It's simple enough to register, but there's a fair bit of reading - online training to complete in advance of the test. I actually found it quite interesting to sit the online exam ( I got 38/40 :-) ). If I am going to be a camera operator then I feel having competence, even basic competence, is another tool in my self development cinematography box.
One of the gains my generation has over Millennials and Gen Z is the pre-exposure to "x" and "Y" controllers, we grew up with Xbox- PlayStation type hand held controller interfaces in which most drones utilise so I have a an advantage....or do I
it's actually horrible at first!!!!!!!
Looking up at a drone in mid-air takes some getting used to, gauging perspective is hard , they move fast and it can feel a bit random, but then I got the hang of it.
Once my confidence improved, it was then more seeing how the image comes on to the screen combined with the movement and thinking about the shot ( or types of shots that could be taken via a drone)
In summary, I'll be getting underneath drone filming as I progress over the years, there are more tests for larger drones capable of mounting a Sony or a Blackmagic camera. I think it's one skill the industry will continually seek from camera operators.
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