AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY SPECIALISTS & LOW ALTITUDE EXPERTS
Aerial cinematography specialists and low altitude experts!
AIRWOLF DRONES are covering all requires of cinematic aerial and FPV shots. A long list of productions has already relied on their skills, from Emmy nominated features to TV shows and commercial shoots.
FILMMAKAZ Redaction
WOLFGANG WEBER
Founder
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UAV pilot
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FAA part 107 operator
company specialized on aerial cinematography based in Sarasota, Florida, with other branches in LA and Atlanta.
Since they started in 2014, their professional team of versed pilots and camera operators has already accomplished cinematic aerials for a wide range of productions by providing their expertise and drone technology.
They have worked for major studios like Warner Bros, Lionsgate, HBO
A
irwolf Drones is an industry trusted camera movement
max, Amazon Studios, Netflix and National Geographic to name a few and also covered aerial require-ments for brands like MayBay yachts, Kia, Subaru, Panasonic, Google, Adidas, Srixon, Universal Music and more.
Films and TV shows where they have been involved are Ruthless Realtor, Full Bloom, Heavy Weight, Bad Impulse, Every One Has Their Secrets, Body Cam, Interpreters, Selling Sunset Season 5, My Mom, Your Dad, Stoker Hills, Cynthia, Border Line for example.
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Based in Sarasota [FL], Los Angeles [CA] and Atlanta [GA], operating world wide
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FAA certified camera movement company specialized on aerial cinematography
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Offering cinematic aerials and FPV drone services
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Low altitude experts
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Highly skilled team of professional pilots, camera operators and AC´s
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2 Emmy nominated films
You are aerial cinematography specialists. What does that mean?
What services do you cover?
We have asked Airwolf Drones to give us some insights about their work as aerial specialty team...
Yes we are! It means that we specialized in camera movements utilizing drone technology. We’ve been providing services primarily in the creative industry since 2014.
Where are you based and what is your main working area?
THE TEAM
AIRWOLF'S SHOWREEL
IT JUST SORTA TOOK OFF AND WE HAD TO JUST JUMP ON AND RIDE THE WAVE.
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We just recently relocated our main HQ to Sarasota, Florida, after spending 14 years in Los Angeles.
Thankfully we still service the greater Los Angeles area with a location in Studio City. But have decided to expand to the east coast. Bringing our expertise to Atlanta, Tennessee, Miami and more. We tend to travel with productions quite a bit.
What is your company's story? When did you start it and what is the meaning of the company name?
Well to be quite honest with you, we started accidentally. After purchasing a drone back in 2014 for fun. We started uploading footage to social media platforms and productions became very interested in the technology, wanting to incorporate it into their projects.
From music videos, features films, commercials and more. It just sorta took off and we had to just jump on and ride the wave. So we upgraded our fleet as technology improved and were fortunate enough to land bigger jobs.
The company name was also accidental. Our chief pilots name is actually Wolfgang. So directors and producers would always refer to him as AIRWOLF! So we trade-marked the name, formed an LLC and ran with it.
How many people are part of your crew? Who is responsible for what?
Our crew size typically depends on the scale of the production. Some jobs require an extra set of hands help with the flow. But we typically run with a 2-3 person crew consisting of a pilot, camera operator and VO/AC. When we fly heavier payloads we like to have an additional 4th person to assist with battery maintenance and the overall production flow.
What have you guys done before in the film industry? Which departments do you come from?
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FOCUS ON WHAT YOU ENJOY.
We all come from different parts of the film industry, some were actors, some AC’s, camera operators, grips and engineers. Which all bring value as a whole.
What are the most important characteristics of a person that is part of an aerial cinematography specialty team in your opinion?
Confidence in what you're bringing to the table. We’re a team and we work together, but know you're specialty. Whether it’s piloting or camera. Know it well. That defini-
tely doesn’t mean you can’t be a hybrid and be excellent at both. But most times you tend to enjoy more of one thing than the other. Focus on what you enjoy.
Are you more requested on feature or commercial shoots?
ANYONE WHO FLY'S FPV UNDER-
STANDS THE RUSH BEHIND IT.
IT'S AWESOME!
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We cover both no more than the other. From HBO Max, Netflix to car commercials and independent films. If your project requires cinematic aerials we can cover you.
What are the tools you are using to cover all the different kind of camera movements you are offering?
Do you have favorites?
Our most requested drone is the Dji Inspire 2, followed by the Mavic 2 Pro. We do offer flying different payloads but its very project dependent. Lately with the explosion of FPV industry, we’ve been getting a lot of request to fly those. And honestly it’s probably one of our favorites. Anyone who fly’s FPV understands the rush behind it. It’s awesome!
When you work with DPs and directors, do they usually have an exact idea of how they want their shot to be realized or not?
It really depends on the project. But for most commercials and narrative films we’re typically given a mood board/shot list of what they’d like
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94kmh max speed
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27min max flight time
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Compatible with Zenmuse X7, X5, X5s, X4s
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4K/60 FPS, HD/120 FPS
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72 kmh max speed
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31min max flight time
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1,5 kg payload
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110 kmh max speed
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Compatible with Red Komodo,
Zcam, BMPCC and others
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2 kg max payload
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130 kmh max speed
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Compatible with Red Komodo,
Zcam, BMPCC and others
DJI INSPIRE 2
iFLIGHT TAURUS X8
CINELIFTER
DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
iFLIGHT PROTEC60
PRO CINEFILTER
THE GEAR
us to achieve. And we’ll discuss if there’s complications that we may encounter.
If a shot is complicated in a perfect world scenario we’d like to take a day to rehearse a shot without talent just our drone crew to nail down a move. But, that doesn’t always happen and you kinda just have to go for it. I’d say it’s a 70-30 split.
Some directors know exactly what they want but occasionally they don’t. So it’s up to us to audition
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WE DEAL WITH IT BY JUST TRUSTING IN OUR SKILL SET AND EVEREYTHIONG ALWAYS WORKS OUT. WE JUST HAVE FUN!
looks to help achieve a vision for them.
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WE'RE DEFINITELY GRATEFUL TO HAVE MADE OUR MARK IN THE AERIAL INDUSTRY.
You are working with massive gear and heavy payloads at high speeds and altitudes. Are there stressful situations? How do you cope with?
Well, after doing this for about 7 years. Every time we get booked to this day there’s always a bit of anxiety that seems to sink in. But it’s good anxiety, it keeps you focused.
Every set is different and we don’t always work with the same group of people so that definitely contributes
How many shoots have you approximately supported so far?
Name some references if you like.
to that. But we deal with it by just trusting in our skill set and everything always works out. We just have fun!
Fortunately we’ve been able to cover a broad spectrum of work from, Full Bloom on HBO Max, The Baha Mar Resort, Mag Bay Yachts, U2, Adidas, Magnaflow, Toyota, Subaru a variety of triathlons and more. We’re definitely grateful to have made our mark in the aerial industry.
What are extraordinary shoots you have experienced that you can share an anecdote about?
One that comes to mind was our shoot with Mag Bay Yachts. We were contacted by production company Blacksail Media to collaborate with the yacht manufacture to help capture aerials of their latest 42ft Yacht. Well we ended up yachting from ft.
Lauderdale Fl to Bimini Bahamas then continued to a private island called Chub Cay. It was by far one of the best experiences we’ve had. So much fun, that we may be doing another run from Los Angeles to Cabo.
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GET A DECENT DRONE AND START FILMING!
What are projects you have been involved in that will be released soon?
Thats a loaded question. Well what we can talk about is a new YouTube Original show called #1 Chicken that just premiered about a month ago on FaZe Rugs channel.
We’ll have some commercial work coming out soon for the Baha Mar Resort, a new docuseries coming to Netflix and Season 5 of Selling Sunset. We also covered a feature film earlier this year in New York, but are under an NDA so we unfor-
THERE IS NO SECRET, GO FILM AWESOME STUFF, GET CREATIVE BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!!!
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If a kid read the article, and wanted to become part of a aerial cinemato-graphy specialty team like yours, what advice do you have?
tunately can’t talk too much about that and other shows we’ve been working on. But super thankful to be on them.
Our most important piece of advice is to go out and get a decent drone and start filming. Watch movies and commercials and see how drones are being utilized. Mimic that and add your own flavor to it. Gather as much amazing footage as you can and cut it together into a demo. It’s literally how this company was birthed. There’s no secret, go film awesome stuff, get creative but most importantly HAVE FUN!!
