FAA Approved
ALTA X Heavy Lift Drone
In the ever-evolving landscape of movie-making, technological advancements continuously push the boundaries of creativity and visual storytelling. One of the most groundbreaking innovations in recent years has been the use of heavy-lift drones. These specialized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized the film industry, offering filmmakers unparalleled possibilities to capture breathtaking shots and elevate cinematic experiences to new heights. At the forefront of this cinematic revolution is Atmosphere Drones, with its state-of-the-art FreeFly Alta X drone, catering to the needs of major film studios and online video streaming services worldwide.
Heavy Lift Drone Pilots
The FreeFly Alta X is a heavyweight champion among drones, renowned for its remarkable payload capacity and incredible stability. With the ability to lift and maneuver heavy cinema cameras like the RED or ARRI Alexa, it empowers filmmakers to capture cinematic shots that were once unimaginable. From sweeping aerial panoramas to dynamic chase sequences, the Alta X seamlessly integrates into movie productions, providing the ultimate combination of precision and creative freedom.
Unleashing Creativity with the Heavy Lift Drone
The FreeFly Alta X is a heavyweight champion among drones, renowned for its remarkable payload capacity and incredible stability. With the ability to lift and maneuver heavy cinema cameras like the RED or ARRI Alexa, it empowers filmmakers to capture cinematic shots that were once unimaginable. From sweeping aerial panoramas to dynamic chase sequences, the Alta X seamlessly integrates into movie productions, providing the ultimate combination of precision and creative freedom.
Atmosphere Drones: Unrivaled Expertise and Innovation
As pioneers in the field of cinematic drone technology, Atmosphere Drones is synonymous with innovation and excellence. With a dedicated team of experienced pilots and cutting-edge equipment, the company continues to redefine the boundaries of movie-making. From flying over iconic cityscapes to capturing breathtaking landscapes in remote locations, Atmosphere Drones is uniquely suited to cater to the diverse needs of filmmakers across the globe.
On Set with a Heavy Lift Drone
Leading film studios and streaming platforms have enthusiastically embraced the power of drones in their productions. Marvel Studios, renowned for its blockbuster superhero films, has utilized drones to film awe-inspiring action sequences and establish dramatic aerial views of their iconic sets. Disney, a pioneer in family entertainment, employs drones to create immersive visual experiences that transport audiences to magical worlds.
Major Film Studios and Online Video Streaming Services Embrace Drones
HBO, the trailblazing network behind iconic TV series, has harnessed the capabilities of drones to capture sweeping landscapes and intricate set designs. Additionally, top online video streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have extensively incorporated drones to enhance the visual appeal and narrative depth of their original content.
Why Heavy-Lift Drones for Movie Making?
The application of heavy-lift drones in movie-making is not solely limited to capturing stunning aerial shots. These UAVs offer a multitude of advantages that significantly contribute to the success of film productions:
- Flexibility: Heavy-lift drones can adapt to various shooting environments, from urban landscapes to remote wilderness, providing filmmakers the flexibility to capture shots from unique angles and perspectives.
- Cost-Effective: Using drones can reduce the cost of hiring helicopters or other traditional aerial filming methods, making them a cost-effective solution for ambitious cinematic projects.
- Time Efficiency: With their nimble mobility and quick setup, drones save valuable time during shoots, allowing filmmakers to maximize their shooting schedule.
- Safety: Heavy-lift drones boast advanced safety features, minimizing the risks associated with aerial filming and ensuring the safety of crew members and equipment.
- Unprecedented Shots: Drones grant access to elevated vantage points and dynamic movements, enabling filmmakers to create visually striking sequences that leave lasting impressions on audiences.
Atmosphere Drones
heavy lift drone Pilots for film and video
Phone: 225-395-1556
info@AtmosphereDrones.com
Red Epic Drone for Movies, Films and TV
The camera is designed for use in high budget feature films, television shows, and commercials, and is widely seen as Arri’s answer to the growing acceptance of the Red One camera, along with lower resolution cameras like the Sony CineAlta (35 mm, 1080p), Panavision Genesis (35 mm, 1080p), Thomson Viper FilmStream (2/3″, 1080p) to shoot feature films.
Model range
The range of models has been expanded through the camera’s lifetime. In 2012, there were five basic models of the Alexa:
Alexa
The first camera of the Alexa product family.
Alexa Plus
The ALEXA Plus adds integrated wireless remote control, the ARRI Lens Data System (LDS), additional outputs, lens synchronization for 3D, and built-in position and motion sensors.
Alexa Plus 4:3
The ALEXA Plus adds integrated wireless remote control, the ARRI Lens Data System (LDS), additional outputs, lens synchronization for 3D, and built-in position and motion sensors and a 4:3 sensor making it ideal for anamorphic cinematography.
Alexa M
The Alexa M has its imaging and processing unit broken down in two parts to be small, compact and lightweight for 3D rigs and other uses where size is a concern.
Alexa Studio
The Alexa Studio features an optical viewfinder, mechanical shutter, and a 4:3 sensor making it ideal for anamorphic cinematography.
Alexa XT
In February 2013,[4] the range was renewed as Alexa XT (XT standing for extended technology). This range is upgraded versions of the original Alexa cameras, which are equipped with a so-called XR module, which replaces the SxS module on the cameras, and allows direct RAW recording without the need for an external recorder. This module records on dedicated SSD drives. Further improvements are an internal ND filter unit, a 4:3 sensor and a quieter cooling fan. The range accordingly comprises the Alexa, the Alexa XT, the Alexa XT M, the Alexa XT Plus, the Alexa XT Studio, and the Alexa Fiber Remote. Existing cameras can be upgraded with the XR module for internal RAW recording.[5]
Alexa 65
On 21 September 2014 at the Cinec convention in Munich, Arri announced the Alexa 65,[6] a 6k 65mm digital cinema camera. The camera will be available for rental only, like those from competitorPanavision. Arri announced details of the camera on their Arri Rental Group website:
At the heart of the ALEXA 65 is the A3X sensor; the largest high-performance motion picture sensor available on the market today. The sensor has a 54.12 mm x 25.59 mm active imaging area, which is even larger than the film gate of ARRI’s 765 65 mm film camera.
— ARRI Rental Group, arrirentalgroup.com
The first production to use the camera was Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation, which was used to shoot the underwater sequence. Additionally, the Alexa 65 will be used to film sequences in the upcoming Star Wars spinoff film, Rogue One, The Huntsman and The Divergent Series: Allegiant.
The first feature films to be shot entirely with the camera were The Revenant, Snowden and The Great Wall.
In April 2015, it announced that Captain America: Civil War would feature 15 minutes of footage shot using a version of the camera built in collaboration with IMAX. In May 2015, Marvel Studiosannounced that the two-part Avengers: Infinity War will be shot entirely with the new camera, marking the first time a full-length theatrical film will be shot entirely with Imax/Arri 2D digital cameras. [7]
Alexa Mini Red Epic
On 24 February 2015 Arri announced the Alexa Mini. It has the same sensor as the other Alexa cameras. It features in-camera recording to CFast 2.0 cards, 200 FPS and 4K UHD in-cameraupscaling.
Alexa SXT
On 18 March 2015, Arri announced the SXT line of Arri Alexa cameras which will support in-camera upscaling of Apple ProRes to 4K resolution and Rec. 2020 color space.[8][9] Arri also announced the SXR module which can upgrade XT, XT Plus, and XT Studio cameras with the SXT features.[8][9]
Sensor information Red Epic
Arri Alexa being used on the set ofLaw & Order: SVU
The Alexa’s ALEV III sensor has 3392×2200 effective pixels used for generating an image, 2880×2160 pixels are generally used for recording on the Alexa Studio and M in 4:3 mode, and 2880×1620 pixels are used for recording on the regular Alexa and other models in 16:9 mode, the rest of sensor is used for lookaround in the viewfinder. Alternately the full sensor resolution may be employed in ‘Open Gate’ mode for resolution demanding situations.
Director Robert Tur with an Alexa-Plus camera equipped with an 18 mm Master Prime lens on the set of SIS.
Recording media
The Arri Alexa can record to 1920×1080 ProRes 422 or ProRes 4444 on SxS Cards or 2880×1620 ARRIRAW to external recording devices. The Arri Alexa Firmware 7 increases the resolution on the SxS cards to 2k ProRes 4444 (previously 1080p)
ArriRaw
ArriRaw is a raw codec similar to CinemaDNG that contains unaltered Bayer sensor information, the data stream from the camera can be recorded via T-link with certified recorders like those from Codex Digital or Cineflow.
The ArriRaw format (along with the other recordable formats) contains static and dynamic metadata. These are stored in the header of the file and can be extracted with the free web tool metavisor[10] or with the application Meta Extract provided by Arri. Of particular importance for visual effects are the lens metadata, which are stored only when Arri’s lens data system (LDS) is supported by the lens used.
Reception
According to cinematographer Roger Deakins, the Alexa’s tonal range, color space and latitude exceed the capabilities of film. “This camera has brought us to a point where digital is simply better”, says Deakins.[11] Deakins used the camera to shoot the James Bond film Skyfall.
Due to the camera’s simplicity of use[according to whom?] and high image quality, quite a few network television shows have been shot with the Alexa.[12]
Red Epic