Creative Potential of Remotely Piloted Helicams

Great film-making is about those infrequent, elusive moments when technical aspects (cameras, lighting, sound, editing) merge with creative aspects (compelling storytelling, great acting, engaging settings) to synergistically create something that is universally respected and admired as art. While strapping a camera to an RC helicopter with the expectation of graceful, flying imagery is certainly a technical challenge, that is not the focus of this discussion. The specific topic here is - how can this technology be used to its fullest creative potential?

A very powerful and effective use of aerials is in the creation of a "sense of place" or, in other words, an establishing shot that clearly and dramatically indicates the opening setting or, as the story progresses, a change to another location/setting. Some good examples of this would include skimming just above a glimmering ocean or lake, steadily gaining altitude to slowly reveal a tropical island or isolated lake house or some other prominent feature. This is an extremely effective means of sending the viewers mind racing with anticipation about what might follow in this new environment. Once setting is established, closer range aerials are also very effective in capturing unique and dynamic views of the characters movement and interaction within this new setting. For example, a parallel shot of a jeep driving down a curvy, cliff side road viewed from the POV of a following vehicle that suddenly veers of the cliff at a curve but then magically flies beside the insert car, out and over the gorge below. Another example is a tight overhead following shot of a convertible that slowly climbs and trails behind to reveal its steady progression down a narrow tree lined parkway.

Jib, crane and dolly shots can all be thought of as the lowest altitude "aerial shots" and are very effective also, however, in very remote areas they are often not feasible. A skilled helicam pilot can mimic many of the same movements as these camera tools while at the same time having the added benefit of increasing the range of use significantly. Use of a helicam in these situations is simply a matter of transport, either by off-road vehicle, watercraft or backpacking on foot. Once on location, a small clearing is all that is required for take off/landing. The helicopter can usually be in the air to start shooting in less than 15 minutes, making it a very productive time and money saving tool for film-making.

Effective use of close range aerials allows the film-maker to fully immerse the viewer in the world being created. In the past the use of this technology was limited only to big budget feature films but smaller, lighter cameras and more reliable aircraft designs are changing much of that. For a few thousand dollars, smaller budget productions can now incorporate these stunning camera views, adding a new level of quality to the production and captivating the audience in the process.

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