Is drone aerial photography expensive?

The craze caused by drones continues, and more and more fields are beginning to use this small aircraft to complete tasks originally performed by humans. Among these fields, film and television aerial photography has attracted much attention. Because it involves the entertainment industry, film and television aerial photography is the most popular drone application in terms of topicality and public opinion exposure. With curiosity about this field, Henan Lingyun Technology found a senior practitioner, Mr. Damu, who has been engaged in film and television aerial photography since 2000, remote control gimbal, designing routes, flight scenes, communicating with directors and business work I have done this before. I once followed the military to shoot on the Qinghai-Tibet line, and I also photographed ancient buildings under the supervision of the cultural relics department. I am currently looking for a job at a drone manufacturer.
Lei Feng.com: Before the emergence of drones, domestic film and television aerial photography generally used manned aircraft. So, how much higher is the cost of such manned aircraft than drones?
Damu: For example, for an ordinary helicopter that can carry two people, the rental is calculated by the hour, and it costs 20,000 yuan an hour. For example, if you rent a helicopter from Guangzhou to fly to Nansha, from leaving the airport to the destination It takes time. After arriving at the destination, you still have to wait for the director to wait for the shot, and all the time spent in the middle will be charged.
In addition, the biggest problem with manned helicopters is that you have to apply for airspace, and the application must go to civil aviation or the air force, and this must be done at least six months in advance. Will you be able to shoot the movie after all the steps are completed? Therefore, manned flights take a long time and cost a lot. The direct cost is at least 10 times higher, and the indirect time cost is even more.
Leifeng.com: Are there many film and television aerial photography teams in China now? How many people does a film and television aerial photography team usually have, and how are they configured?
Damu: There are many, but there are only a few that have a reputation. Let’s talk from north to south. The boss of Beijing’s Peter Pan is called Chu Cancan, and the pilot is called Awen. They usually fly BMWs, advertisements for these cars, and public relations activities. They are famous because of the filming of "A Bite of China" in Shanghai. Then there is Fengyu Aerial Photography. The owner Zhang Songhua is a three-time champion in China and is considered the best in flying in China. He usually shoots commercials for cars. Shandong has a team that shoots "Where Are We Going, Dad". The owner's surname is Lou. Guangzhou has Tianxiang. The boss's surname is Zhu, and he is now engaged in drone manufacturing. These companies generally have relatively fixed names, but changes in team members are not ruled out.
In terms of number of people, the smallest team is just one person, who can control both the pilot and the gimbal. A typical team will be equipped with three people, a pilot, a gimbal operator, and a ground crew and lookout.
Leifeng.com: What requirements does the film crew generally have for these aerial photography teams?
Oki: Every director has different requirements. Some people understand aerial photography as an empty shot, while others understand aerial photography as a moving shooting platform. Then there are many such requirements, many of which are one shot to the end. The shots are a test of skill, some require multiple flyers to relay, and some require crossing dangerous areas.