Technological Advances in Cinematography: Heli Video and RoboKopter Opening Up New Vistas
By Rain Noe - Nov 16, 2011
RoboKopter footage of Warsaw riots from last weekRoboKopter footage of Warsaw riots from last week
Last year we wrote about the disruptive technology of flying cameras as developed by Eric Austin, a videographer, RC pilot and founder of Heli Video Productions. To refresh your memory, Austin combines sick flying skills, cutting-edge remote-control technology and high-end Canons to pioneer an entirely new type of cinematography. Since last year he's been busy with both a forthcoming ABC show and commercial projects. Check out the following footage, where you get to see both his rig and a demonstration of serious skillz—he's flying the thing in and out of a jungle canopy in Puerto Rico:
(Warning: If in an office, turn your sound down, extremely loud soundtrack.)
It's not surprising that technology this cool is seeing parallel development overseas. A Poland-based YouTube user known only as latajacakamera ("flying camera") has built his own "RoboKopter" heli-based shooting rig, which enabled him to capture footage of the Warsaw riots four days ago. It's stunning, particularly when seen full-screen:
While the unnamed Warsaw shooter's footage is not as refined as Austin's, the raw immediacy and sweeping, broadstroke views make for compelling footage. You feel like you're there—and flying. The following vid stays a little tighter and is hard to take your eyes off of:It reminds me a bit of Alfonso Cuaron's insanely complicated plano secuencia one-camera single-shot sequences in Children of Men. Although some of those sequences were actually multiple takes blended together by CGI, their seamless presentation provided your eyes with things they had never seen before.
We look forward to seeing more from Austin and perhaps one day learning the name of the Warsaw shooter. In the meantime, you can check out Austin's ever-evolving reel here and see Warsaw guy's experimental footage here.
Rain Noe
Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.
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