Team Work
Why Collaboration is Crucial for Drone Teams
In the competitive world of aerial cinematography, teamwork plays a pivotal role in achieving cinematic excellence. Capturing stunning aerial footage requires the coordinated efforts of a dedicated and skilled team. In this blog post, we’ll explore why teamwork is essential for drone film crews and how collaboration can lead to remarkable and efficient film productions.
Section 1: Diverse Expertise for Complex Shots
- Highlighting Different Roles:
- There are many various roles within a drone film crew, such as drone pilots, camera operators, directors, and visual effects specialists. Each role plays a critical aspect within the entire aerial team. The Pilot is the person that specifically directs the aircraft in the air. Camera Operators are needed with certain platforms such as our gimbal drones to operate the camera completely separate from the piloted aircraft. Directors work closely with the drone pilot and/or camera operators to establish shots promptly for the film. Visual effects specialists are required to work with drone pilots in order to perform maneuvers that allows VFX artists to work closely on the film.
- Leveraging Expertise:
- Being able to operate as a team allows us to mitigate risks and establish more challenging shots. Having a visual observer with our FPV Pilots ensures not only safety for people, but for the safety of the aircraft by being a spare set of eyes on the aircraft at all times. VO’s allow for an easier flight operation for the pilot.
Section 2: Enhanced Safety and Risk Management
-Safety in Numbers:
-Typically, the drone pilot is focused on flying the aircraft as well as capturing footage dedicated to the production. A visual Observer aids the pilot with drone maintenance and safety protocols such as keeping the pilot ensured about obstacles or clearing the flight path for the pilot. The visual Observer aids in spotting hazards and allows the pilot to maintain situational awareness while operating the aircraft.
Section 3: Improved Efficiency and Productivity
- Streamlined Workflow:
- Allowing different team members to be on set with different roles creates a faster workflow for the job to be completed. The pilot focuses on flying the aircraft, the camera operator focuses on capturing the footage, the Visual Observer ensures situational awareness and safety, as well as communication with others and managing equipment.
- We constantly operate with teams of 2-3 minimum per production to ensure things go smoothly.
- Multi-Tasking Capabilities:
- A well-coordinated team can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, such as piloting the drone while another member handles gear prep, communication, and clearing the area for potential hazards of the flight path.
Section 4: Enhanced Creativity and Problem Solving
- Collaborative Brainstorming:
- Team collaboration fosters creativity, allowing for diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to emerge.
- We really enjoy the team work operation of our Gimbal drones. the pilot and the Aerial Camera Operator work together in order to capture a specific shot. The pilot may fly a certain route that can aid the camera operator, while the camera operator tracks a subject or scenic area. With that being said, the pilot and the camera operator can bring up different perspectives and ideas in order to capture a certain shot. Some shots may be better to capture if the pilot flies lower and slower versus being further away. with the communication between the two, some more complex flights can now become possible.
Section 5: Communication and Coordination
- Clear Communication:
- Clear and effective communication within the team to ensure everyone is on the same page is EXTREMELY Crucial. Ensuring everyone apart of the team understands their role and what to do in order for things to go smoothly is a highlight to a team. Strong communication between the visual observer and the pilot themselves is what makes a drone flight safe. Ensuring that the Visual observer and the pilot have direct communication over everyone else is something we personally establish. Our pilots and visual observers wear headsets on set to communicate every detail of movement with flight path. It also allows the pilot to make sure that the Visual Observer/Tech is prepared for the aircraft to land in order to swap batteries or make any necessary changes prior to taking flight again. Lastly, regular briefings, updates, and debriefings can enhance coordination and minimize misunderstandings during the shoot.
- Coordination and Synchronization:
- Well-coordinated efforts ensure that all team members are working towards common cinematic goals. This includes synchronization during complex shots, such as multi-drone flights or intricate aerial maneuvers. The visual observer may aid in the flight path for the pilot, while the pilot may aid the camera operator with a better viewpoint of the talent or subject they are filming. Ensuring smooth synch between everyone establishes a better team and a safer operation for everyone.