So, you've got a drone, you've got a license, you've booked a gig so what do you need to do now? In this blog, we look at the five most important drone safety considerations you need to have before you think about flying a drone for work. Everyone thinks production location planning is an easy task. You find somewhere perfect and you just send the drone up and go for it, right? Maybe in an ideal world - but this isn’t the case when it comes to flying drones commercially for production. It’s especially true when it comes to selecting a location where a drone can legally fly.
If you are planning to use a drone in your production to get some outstanding shots of the location, or just to add a unique perspective to your footage, here are some crucial things you need to consider before you take to the skies.
Safety first is a good phrase to live by when out on a production. Yes, getting an epic shot or piece of footage is crucial but not if it means sacrificing your drone safety! Let's be clear, drones in the wrong hands are dangerous - but, big BUT right there, drones can be safe and awesome when you have a smart drone operator.
It may seem like a bore or a touch pedantic but an expert drone operator will consider all these things before they set their drone soaring. If you have a drone safety savvy operator you will not only get amazing shots but you won't have to risk your neck for them either.
Image by LA Media
You Must Respect the Drone Danielson!
Take the wise words of Mr. Miyagi to heart! A typical misconception about drones is that they can go anywhere, right? True, to an extent, yes they can physically go most places, drones are very versatile and nimble but unless you want to find yourself in hot water with the law, here are key considerations for drone safety every production manager should consider before the day of the shoot. Just because you can fly it doesn't mean you should!
Cowboy drone operators will risk it, but if the CAA is notified you could find yourself under investigation for reckless flying or worse charged by the police for endangering the public. Drones are a serious piece of machinery, just because some can be bought cheaply as toys you shouldn't lower your guard when operating one as they can do damage.
Do you have production control over the required drone flying area?
The law is quite specific about this and covers people, property, and roads. If you have full control of these elements then you should be good to go flying. Make sure that you get a completed risk assessment form from the drone pilot in advance of your flying date. If you do not have full control then you will need a control method statement from the drone company. All drone flights should be operated within areas that are under the control of the production or which have been made safe using the practices suggested in the control methods statement.
Image by LA Media
Buyer Beware: Is it legal and am I liable?
The drone company should advise you regarding the legal requirements of any flying you intend to undertake and investigate the nature of the airspace you are intending to fly. The drone company should make all relevant contact with CAA, NATS, and any air traffic control (military and civilian) that may be operating in the area you intend to fly and keep you informed regarding any issues.
IMPORTANT: One-man operations will often ask for production assistance when implementing control measures in a flying zone. Be aware that compliance with this request can create an insurance liability to the production.
Cleared for landing?
Does your location have safe landing and take-off areas for the drone operators to use? More importantly, is there an area that can be considered an emergency fly away zone should it be required? The drone company will advise you as to the suitability of any areas you might suggest for these purposes.
Image by LA Media
Best laid plans
Where possible, and affordable, it is advised to take the drone operators out on a location recce with the production Director, DOP, production manager, and health and safety adviser.
Houston, we don’t have a problem!
It is critical when flying the drone that any pilot has ‘Line Of Sight’. They must see the drone clearly at all times when flying, no excuses! So, when considering locations it is important to anticipate any possible obstructions to the pilot's “Line Of Sight’. Obstructions can be as simple as trees, other buildings, a change in the ground levels when flying low and, most commonly, distance from the pilot.
This may seem obvious but it is worth saying, Drones become very small as they fly away from the pilot and even, therefore, become riskier when, and if, the drone disappears into the background they are flying against. Crossing in front of bright sunlight for example will be very challenging for most pilots.
Image by LA Media
Although this may seem a little scary, if you are working with a good and reputable drone operator they will help you through this experience and make it as straightforward as possible. If you keep these 5 key drone safety considerations in mind when picking your location you will avoid some of these easily made mistakes.
Check out the rest of our website to see some of the drone projects we've worked on and if you have any questions e-mail us at louise@lamedia.co.uk or just give us a call on 0131 622 0220.
If you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Wishing you happy and safe flying!
Drones really are everywhere - in almost all high-quality commercials, films and videos you see there will be some element of aerial cinematography involved. As technology advances and drones get smaller and more powerful, media production is no longer reliant on helicopters to get that unique bird’s eye view. Even if you don't think you need a drone for your next production we have five compelling reasons why you do need to consider adding a drone to your next production!
Drones add amazing views
The first, most obvious, reason why you should use a drone is to add a unique perspective to your production. With orbital views and a limitless reach, a drone can do what no land-based camera can. No need for a crane or spiderman-like camera operator. Technology has made such leaps that now drones can safely lift most high-end production cameras with ease; which for you means more breath-taking shots and majestic panoramic sweeping views. By using drones your audience/ target customers will be treated to some spectacular-looking footage.
Drone hire won't break the production budget
Using drones is much more cost-effective than hiring a helicopter for a shoot. Not only is it much cheaper but you can also fly a drone all day with fewer restrictions. With a helicopter, there will be a limited window to get your ideal shot; but with a drone it's all much simpler. If you have a good drone operator they will be able to switch batteries in and out easily, ensuring that your drone stays in the air and you get the most out of your investment.
Greater mobility
Hands-down, drones are more mobile than helicopters and mounted cameras. Over cliff-tops, houses, through arches, over water, and down where the action is happening: drones are highly versatile. The only limit is the skill of the drone and camera operators you employ. You can take awesome moving shots without having to lay down tracks to achieve outstanding footage. The possible perspectives are limited only by your imagination (and the skills of your drone crew).
Did we mention drones are versatile?
Not only can they swoop and soar more ably than most birds do, but you also have the freedom to change which camera and what lens you are using with ease. With a mounted camera – such as the ones used in helicopter flight - you need a special mounting for each one. The time to land the helicopter and make the changes is considerable when compared to changing the equipment on the drone.
Don't get left behind!
Drones are high-tech and innovative in terms of media production. Drones are no longer the exclusive toys of big-budget movie directors like Lucas and Speilberg. Getting high-quality drone footage is now obtainable for most productions. A good drone operating company will be able to help you pick which drone and camera are best to meet your needs. So to keep your footage looking fresh and cutting edge you need to embrace this new shift towards using drone footage.
Here at LA Media, we've been flying drones for over 8 years! We've flown almost everything there is: from custom built Quads to large heavy lift Octo-copters. So if you have any questions or would like to know a bit more about what we do, e-mail us at louise@lamedia.co.uk or give us a call on 0131 622 0220.
LA Media was thrilled to be asked once again by MTP, one of Scotland's leading commercial production companies, to come out and do some exciting drone filming. We were asked to film the aerials for a new action-adventure promotion for bottled water brand Highland Spring.
This involved us flying two drones simultaneously in the air. One drone was to be chasing a fearless stuntman over lumpy and treacherous terrain while the other drone was busy catching the train in motion as it crossed the famous and historical Glenfinnan viaduct at the same time. No small feat!
We also worked with the London agency’s visual effects people to achieve a shot from above where the stuntman leaped from a great height onto a green screen inflatable landing area.
This shot would eventually composite to make it look as if the stuntman had jumped onto the moving train we had filmed earlier. Milk Tray Man eat yer heart out!
This shoot was all about timing. We had a narrow window of weather, train availability, and non-gusting winds in which to achieve a series of complex shots.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Glenfinnan Via Duct'
The Challenges: Two Drones One Train!
On this shoot, the challenges were that we had to fly two drones in the same airspace at the same time without the pilot having a line of sight to each other. So we could see the drones but the two pilots couldn’t see each other. You see how that was a problem. We just had to be extra careful and put more control measures in place.
Getting to the location where they wanted us to fly from was no picnic either. We started on a road below the viaduct and climbed a meandering rough path (over water at times) to reach a sort of base camp.
From this base camp, we went on further up the hills to various locations traveling over bumpy, muddy, boggy-ridden terrain. It was no fun believe us.
At one point Justin vanished up to his knees in a sinking cold bog and had to be rescued by his fellow team members, no easy task! We could have used a few Sherpas and donkeys.
However, the production company we worked with was truly amazing. They did the bulk of the carrying and were helpful in keeping us going. The rain was persistent, the wind was billowing and the train was on a schedule with narrow windows of one hour time for its availability.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Glenfinnan'
Get that Drone a Sweater!
You may not know this about drone batteries but they don’t like the cold and it was freezing. This meant shorter flight times and more battery changes, which ultimately meant more stress for everyone! Oh, the glamour of show biz!
Despite the weather, the location, and the batteries having a hissy fit we nailed the shots and the production were delighted with the final product.
Fourth Time's the Charm!
So before we rocked up on location three other drone companies had tried and failed (melted their drones) by attempting to fly through the steam of the train! It was -as they say - Scorchio!
Armed with this knowledge of previous attempts we selected our flight path very carefully through the steam. However, it was still a hair-raising experience but luckily our drone survived.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Glenfinnan Via Duct'
It's Going to Be a Bumpy Ride...
Owing to the terrain we couldn’t land the Inspire 1 on the ground. The Vulcan Raven was OK because it had its own landing platform wherever it went. But with the Inspire 1, we resorted to hand launch and hand recovery.
Here’s a handy tip, when recovering by hand make sure you don’t cover up the landing sensors which lower the landing gears. If you do happen to do this you run the risk of having your finger crushed by the landing gear winding mechanism.
Justin found this little handy tip out the hard way and nearly lost his thumb in the process.
Credits
Client: Highland Spring
Agency: Whitespace
Production: MTP
Director: James Brown
Creative: Neil Walker
Drone Pilot: Peter Maughan
Gimbal operators: Justin Adams / Iain White
Location: Glenfinnan Viaduct
Big Star: The Steam Train
We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
LA Media was chuffed to be asked by ITV Studios to film drone footage for their landmark drama The Loch. The Loch is a six-part murder mystery thriller starring Laura Fraser (Houdini and Doyle, The Missing, Peter & Wendy), Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Benidorm, Downton Abbey), and John Sessions (Upstart Crow, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Rack Pack). You watch the trailer here and already spot some of our shots.
Image by LA Media 'Drone photography of Carn Mohr'
This is an exciting project which was supported by Creative Scotland’s Production Growth Fund. The drone filming took place over a number of days last Autumn in Scotland's majestic Highlands.
If you watch the series you will be able to spot many iconic Scottish backdrops such as the rugged valley of Glencoe, the forking paths of Carn Mohr Mountain, and the deep mystical waters of Loch Ness.
Image by LA Media 'Drone photography of Loch Ness'
Of course, this means our poor drone team had to ascend all these heights lugging their equipment. Luckily there was help at hand from the ITV crew.
LA Media used its Inspire 1, mounted with a 5XR Camera to capture the shots needed. We had to get lots of action shots while ensuring that we also featured the stunning Scottish scenery.
It was a really awesome experience working with the ITV team and everyone else who was involved with filming.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
LA Media's drone team was recently booked by David Taylor Production Services to use our drones to film Eilean Donan Castle. The client in question was soft-drink giant Schweppes. Working alongside a Spanish crew and Norwegian director we brought our Scottish drones to the mix to help bring together this project.
The Location
It simply doesn't get more iconic or more Scottish than Eilean Donan Castle. Eilean Donan is world-renowned as one of the most scenic and historic Highland castles.
Nestled in the very heart of Scottish history the castle is located on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet. Surrounded by traditional Scottish scenery, it's little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited attractions in the Highlands.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland'
Originally built in the 6th century, it became the first fortified castle to be built in the mid-13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.
When you stand there on the location you can't help but get a real sense of history. It's hard not to be impressed by the castle. With majestic backdrops and moody ever-changing skies, it's basically a photographer's dream!
The mission!
The director wanted to capture the beauty of the castle at sunrise and sunset, which meant a 5 am call time! It was a very long shoot day but we did get a mini siesta between flights.
This was a heavy lift job and required ultras prime lenses on an Arri Alexa Mini recording at 4K. The flying rig was a SKYJIB octocopter with a Movi 15 gimbal.
Image by LA Media ' Drone Filming at Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland'
The shoot
It was surprisingly cold at 5.00am and the day's weather featured sporadic rain all day long. This resulted in the usual conflict between client and pilot, deciding whether it was in fact raining or not....this happens more often than you'd believe.
It is an understandable conflict, the client wants value for their money and the drone in the air while the pilot has the responsibility of deciding if it is safe to fly or not. After all, if the drone comes down the responsibility will lie solely on the operator.
Even if the rain is a light mist you still risk a major catastrophic failure in flight. It can be torture for the ground crew: we're in the perfect location with the right backdrop but not the right weather.
But rain is rain, water plus delicate electronics simply isn't safe and our pilot Pete did a great job of sticking his guns. In the end, we waited and but got the shot safely. The client was still happy at the end of the shoot and we flew our rig safely.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Dusk at Eilean Donan Castle'
Rainy Loopholes
With misting rain and sporadic showers, you will often find there is a small break in the rain. That break is your window - you will be able to get the drone up and get the shot your client wants without being dangerous.
The most difficult aspect of this shoot was that the castle had been double booked! As we've mentioned the castle is a popular highland destination but is also a highly sought-after wedding venue.
This meant that we had to get in and get our drone shots without disturbing the wedding that was happening at the venue! Luckily everything went smoothly - and without a hitch - and we had a happy client.
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming at Eilean Donan Castle'
There's no I in TEAM!
We'd like to extend big thanks to David Taylor who did a great job on location and looked after us very well. We'd also like to thank Pete Maughan (drone pilot) and Richard Elliot (gimbal operator) who both did outstanding work on this shoot.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
LA Media has been at the forefront of commercial drone production since drones have been around. Naturally, we were thrilled to be asked by 422.tv, a Glasgow-based production company, to fly drones over Celtic’s iconic football stadium.
This was a historic first in terms of drones, as previously no other drone operation has been allowed to fly over this hallowed football turf!
Making Celtic Drone History
Built-in 1888, Celtic Park is one of the biggest football stadiums in Europe. This was an exciting and challenging project for us. We were tasked with getting a 180 down shot of Celtic Park using our drones.
Our footage would then be used for the end of a video that 422.tv was directing for the marketing team at Celtic Football Club. Brendan Rodgers, former professional football player, and the current Celtic manager was to be featured in the shot too.
Image by LA Media 'Outside Celtic Park'
Too much steel for GSP Goose, I'm switching to Accro
For this shoot, we used our Inspire 1, mounted with our X5R camera. As mentioned earlier this was the first time a drone had been allowed to film inside the Celtic Stadium. Here are some surprises we encountered on location!
Our first surprise was the interference the metal of the stadium had on our drone’s GPS. This meant that our GPS was unreliable and sporadic. Lucky for us we aren’t dependent on GSP and our drone pilot John Banks is an ace at flying in Accro mode. Therefore, this didn’t present us with a problem but it was something we hadn’t thought of before.
Our second surprise was that the 12mm Olympus prime we had on the camera was not enough to get the full width/length of the stadium - top-down, even from 400ft (our legal height limit). To get the whole picture would have required hiring a helicopter!
We needed to rethink the final shot on our feet!
Image by LA Media 'Drone Filming Inside Celtic Park'
Waste not, want not!
So, while some of the team had a rethink about the final shot, the other half of the team kept working and went to capture GV’s in and around the stadium. These GV’s would be used by the Celtic marketing people in various other marketing projects. However, this threw up another surprise, wind!
We quickly became aware of how the wind would swirl around the seating creating a vortex.
Image by LA Media 'Statue Outside Celtic Park'
Don’t crash into the talent!
The final shot agreed upon was for us to fly towards and then over the head of Brendan Rodgers as he was walking off the park and back towards the player’s tunnel. We were to finish on an end frame showing the Celtic stand. With the untrustworthy GPS and random whirlwinds naturally, all were concerned for Brendan’s safety.
When you add people to the drone mix you need to be on your “A” game as you don’t want anyone getting injured. However, the shot went well, Brendan survived and it was used in the final video to end the film.
We’d like to extend a big thank you to all the staff at Celtic who welcomed us into their sacred ground and to the team at 422.tv for giving us the opportunity to fly for them.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
LA Media was excited to be invited to be part of THINK ON’s latest collaboration project using drones to film a stunning Golden eagle named Diesel. The final project looks amazing and we are proud to have been a part of this collaboration.
The purpose of this short-film was to capture 'why' the eagle handler (Steven Mallice) loves flying Diesel, a handsome and majestic-looking eight-month-old male Golden Eagle. Words just can't describe how amazing Diesel looks up close and in person.
A large element of the film was to show Steven’s relationship with Diesel and have him demonstrate how he built their unique bond from Diesel's birth.
Using our DJI Inspire 1 drone, mounted with an X5R camera, we got some amazing footage of this magnificent eagle in motion! The Inspire 1 was the perfect drone option for this shoot as it is a nimble and swift machine that produces high-quality footage. Capturing high-quality 4 k aerial footage has never been easier.
Image by LA Media 'Steven holding Diesel'
What could possibly go wrong?
But I guess you are wondering, just like we did, how would Diesel react to the drone? We took it in baby-steps to make sure nobody, especially the eagle, was injured.
We were worried that maybe Diesel would be unsettled by the noise of the drone propellers when in flight. We were also concerned that Diesel might very well think the drone was prey…and attack the drone.
Diesel may have also attacked had he perceived it as a threat. We also wanted to be sure that the eagle didn’t collide with the drone as the eagle’s flight path could be unpredictable.
Image by THINK ON Collaborations ' LA Media's Drone'
What did we do?
We decided to first introduce two at a safe distance (the drone and eagle we mean), while Diesel was tethered on his handler’s arm.
Step by slow step we gradually brought the two closer together. Eventually, we were able to operate the drone while the eagle was still on its tether. We tested his reaction to the drone taking off and slowly flew around his position.
We are happy to say he was a total pro and wasn't bothered by the buzzing of the drone. When Steven, Diesel’s handler, was convinced that the eagle was comfortable with the drone and its noise while in flight we were both finally ready to take to the air!
Image by LA Media 'Steven and the Eagle'
What we'd like to share
Here are a few pictures we captured while filming. Stay tuned to see the full video and you can let us know what you think.
This production was truly a team effort and we’d like to thank everyone who was involved and especially a big thanks to Diesel the eagle who was a consummate professional.
Image by THINK ON Collaborations
Diesel is probably the only star who can get away with looking directly into the camera, apart from maybe Kevin Spacey (think Frank Underwood).
The Team
Eagle Handler/ Subject: Steven Mallice
Producer/Director/Photographer: Carrick McLelland
DP: Danny Bonnar
Drone: LA Media
Gimbal Operator: Alistair Girvan
Location: Cambusbarron Quarry near Stirling
We hope you liked our blog! If you enjoyed it don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
As we stride into the New Year we here at LA Media feel buoyed up by the Government’s release of a new consultation document on the Benefits of Drones to the UK. How can the drone market Benefit the UK? Well, PwC has estimated that the emerging global aerial market for business services using drones is over £102 billion, which is why the UK Government is keen to grab a slice of that pie.
The Teal Group’s 2015 market study estimates the global aerial drone market over the coming decade will grow from £3.22 billion to £11.27 billion by 2025, totaling £74.85 billion in the next ten years – pretty exciting stuff!
On 21 December 2016, the Department of Transport within the UK Government released a consultation document titled “Unlocking the UK’s High Tech Economy: Consultation on the safe use of drones in the UK”. Essentially, they are seeking opinions on how to harness the positive benefits of drones for the public and commercial services. In this blog, we will review some of the key points they tackle and share our two cents on the issue.
The UK Government wishes to identify a safe path to ensure that the UK captures a large share of this global drone market. They note that the UK already has a significant share of the registered drone operators in the EU and globally, and that the UK’s proportionate risk-based regulations are already viewed favourably by industry worldwide.
The UK Government believes that the new drone business will bring lots of other benefits too. The drone market will contribute to taxes to the public purse, boost local economies, stimulate job growth and lure more investors to the UK. The ultimate goal is to make Britain the global go-to place for new technologies such as drones.
For the full document please visit their website. We have picked out some of the points discussed in the document which we feel able to comment on after nearly four years of commercial drone flying within the UK.
Why we are so happy!
As drone code-abiding citizens here at LA Media, we were really pleased to see the government take this step. Firstly, because it acknowledges what we’ve been saying for years - that the drone market has a huge potential for growth and could be quite the money maker for the UK. It is a sector that could keep on expanding while other sectors are still reverberating from Brexit.
Secondly, we are thrilled to see they are tackling the issue of drone safety as this will help shape up some of the cowboy drone operators out there. There needs to be a much clearer guide for drone operators, particularly domestic users.
As Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Aviation at the Department for Transport 2016 states in the consultation document: “The vast majority of drone users are law-abiding and have good intentions…it is likely that some are not aware of the rules."
Thirdly, we are happy that the government isn’t putting out a dictate. With this document, they are seeking consultation from the public/drone community to ensure that legislation is approached sensibly. But it is an important step as drones are developing so fast, it’s hard to keep up with them.
Each month a new drone appears on the market and it feels like every day people are finding new and innovative ways to use them.
Key Points Addressed
To provide greater drone safety assurance to the public
Address the increasing demand for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flying in the commercial sector
To increase engagement with future drone pilots
To increase Dronecode awareness at the point of sale
To facilitate a supportive innovative environment for drone projects
Improve the application of geo-fencing as a safety net
Increase the use of the NATS free drone safety app ‘Drone assist’
Update drone guidance rules
To implement a drone traffic management system to improve security and safety
Introduce a mandatory drone registration scheme (possible drone registration cost)
To find a solution so as to create more drone testing zones
What we think needs further consideration
Better Drone insurance
The government has addressed drone operators' concerns with regards to insurance but we feel they need to take a more flexible and comprehensive look at drone insurance. As drone enthusiasts will know not all drones are made equal.
While some are tiny sparrow-sized things that won’t cause any damage there are the heavy-lift rigs which are essentially huge sky predators. The government needs to decide what size of drone merits what type of insurance.
Another issue that must be addressed with regards to drone insurance is liability: namely how to assess if it is drone failure or pilot error. For example, if you had a flyaway and the drone was not recovered (it may have plunged into the North Sea) how will you figure out where liability and responsibility lie? Even if you do get the tatters of your rig back it can still be a real challenge to figure out exactly what went wrong.
Drones are becoming increasingly fail and idiot-proof, but, mechanics can - and will - fail at some point.
Drone registration & electronic identification
A big thing that they have adequately addressed is the issue of drone registration. For larger drones - more than 250 grams - all drones may need to be registered. We applaud this move because it will encourage hobbyists to be more careful!
Safer drone flying will help improve the current public perception of drones and keep everybody safe; like having trackable license plates on your car, the police will be able to scan your drone from the ground and find out who exactly flew dangerously near an airport.
Image by LA Media 'Drone photography in Scotland'
However, we feel that this doesn’t solve the problem of many bespoke self-built drones. Like Bruce Wayne ordering all the batmobile parts from different countries, a skilled drone builder can make his /her drones untraceable by ordering from various international distributors. We think that it would make more sense for drones to carry an identifier that is specific to the operator/ pilot rather than the drone. This way builders can chop and change as much as they like without having to register each new thing they might build whilst still retaining traceability.
Get involved in the great drone debate
The Public dialogue on drone use in the UK was used to inform the government’s consultation proposal. The closing date for this consultation closes on 15 March 2017. So if you have a bee in your bonnet or think there is something they haven’t addressed about the drone market make sure you respond.
This is your chance to make an impact on the way the UK develops its drone market. You can respond by writing to the address given below:
OR
Write to Drones Regulation and Policy Lead
Drones consultation
IASE 1/26, Aviation Directorate
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 4DR
We hope you’ve found this blog helpful! Let us know what you think in the comments, tell us if we’ve missed something out. If you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220
LA Media is super excited for the 3rd annual New York City Drone Film Festival, which is taking place this year on 17, 18 & 19 March 2017. The New York Drone Film Festival is considered to be the world's first event exclusively dedicated to celebrating the art of drone cinematography.
A Drone Film Festival?
This is a new version of this event. Just ten years ago there wouldn't have been a demand for this sort of festival and probably nobody would have taken drone footage so seriously. Director, landscape photographer, and aerial cinematographer Randy Scott Slavin founded the Festival in 2014 with a desire to change the perceptions of drones. "I'm tired of drones being synonymous with questionable legality, FAA regulation...I want to celebrate the art of aerial cinematography". The goal of the festival is to offer drone operators/ filmmakers from every corner of the globe an opportunity an international platform to exhibit their work in front of industry professionals and the drone community.
The Who?
Although you've missed the 2017 deadline, if you think you’ve got serious drone cinematography chops, you should start thinking about submitting your work next year. The jury is comprised of a select group of film & television professionals and drone cinematographers. Some of those include Creative Producer Sam Scheffer at Mashable, Director of Product Experience at DJI Randy Jay Braun, and many more.
This year the festival selections will be announced on or around January 22nd, 2017 and all successful applicants will be notified.
The What?
Wondering what type of footage they are looking for? Well, good news for all the drone lovers out there, it’s got more categories than the Golden Globes. There really is something for everyone. See below for the different categories you can enter in the drone film festival.
Drone Categories
NARRATIVE - A great film always centers around a great story and a drone film is no different.
LANDSCAPE/ARCHITECTURE - There's no question that drones are an ideal tool for shooting landscapes and architecture. Show the judges how you are taking it to the next level?
SHOWREEL - Aerial cinematographers tend to collect a lot of footage. This category is for those who wish to showcase a wide variety of their work.
NEWS & DOCUMENTARY - Aerial Cinematography used to shoot unscripted subjects. This is about real people in real situations.
TECHNICAL - Getting great drone shots is always technically difficult to achieve. However, sometimes you're flying in extreme weather conditions, flying $100k worth of gear on your drone, or dealing with intricate choreography. This category is for those truly exceptional technical achievements in drone cinema.
FREESTYLE FPV - FPV pilots, this is your category. Have footage of an outstanding freestyle run? Submit here. Have some high-octane race footage? This is the place. This category is not about picture quality… it’s all about flying skills.
DRONIE - The "drone selfie." Enough said.
EXTREME SPORTS - Extreme sports are best seen via drone and we want to see the best extreme sports footage in the world. Mountain biking, wing suits, motocross, skateboarding, and everything in between - show us what you've got.
X-FACTOR - Does your film not fit into the other categories but is still f@&ing awesome? You can still get involved and submit.
FEATURING DRONES - This category is for films that feature drones. This includes stories about drones or starring drones. Films submitting to this category DO NOT have to be shot using drones.
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY - Motion picture photography and still photography are completely different arts. Finalists in this category will their work printed and displayed at #NYCDFF 2017 screenings and events.
The Rules
The submission guidelines are as follows: all films must be 5 minutes or under in length and at least 50% must be shot using a drone or UAV. All "Dronie" entries must be less than 1 minute in length. All "Showreel" entries must be 3 minutes or under in length. Films submitted to the "Featuring Drones" do not have to be shot with drones.
Why you should do it?
Well one, what have you got to lose? It is a great opportunity to get your drone work noticed by some of the big players. Greater exposure for your work means generating more opportunities for you to fly professionally. You might even win a new drone in the process! Also although drones are awesome how cool would it be to be part of New York’s biggest drone film festival? See no excuse needed. See what last year's winners had to offer. If you think you can top it then you should definitely make a note in your diary to submit your work next year. Follow the action online this year with the hashtag #NYCDFF.
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