Insights
July 19, 2022
About a year ago, KG Media Factory reached out: they needed FPV drone specialists for two image films about the new Audi München GmbH dealership. The focus was meant to be the building’s special features. Tim and I said yes – and learned a few things.
The shooting day: first outside, then deep inside
We arrived in the morning and set up the gear first. Then we headed outside – first with the Mavic, later with the X8 Cinelifter, our Thicc. The weather didn’t make it easy: heavy cloud and fine drizzle. The shots still turned out very well.
Once the exteriors were done, we moved inside. We started in the showroom and worked our way down: basement, car depot, service station, car wash. As KG Media Factory requested, we shot there on the GoPro Hero 9.
Since then we’ve invested in larger indoor drones with better image quality, plus a stripped Blackmagic 4K that delivers cinema-grade footage. The reason has a name: color matching.
Quick explainer: what is color matching?
On set you usually run several cameras, ideally from the same manufacturer so every sensor is calibrated the same way. Cameras from different manufacturers record color differently. It would be distracting if the same scene looked bluish in one shot and yellowish in the next, just because two different cameras were used. Matching the images in post until you can no longer tell the difference – that’s color matching.
It’s far easier with the Blackmagic than with the GoPro. That’s generally true for cameras with a large sensor and high bitrate, because they record greater color depth.
How we split the work
At first Tim handled the exteriors with the Mavic and the X8 Cinelifter. On the interiors, he assisted me while I flew: swapping batteries, recharging them right away so we always had full ones ready. He also held the monitor and spotted the drones.
And yes, there was an excellent coffee machine on set. We didn’t overdo it, though – one or two at the start, one or two more once the work was done.
What stayed with me
For Tim it was the first time being part of a big production – before that, he was usually the only videographer on set. For me it was simply nice to be there with him. It’s more fun together, and you can see it in the result.
So long,
Nikolay Keller
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