

DRONE AREZZO
AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY SPECIALISTS
Specialized on aerial works, DRONE AREZZO is a team of experienced pilots providing advanced cinematic drone
solutions, based in Italy and operating worldwide.
FILMMAKAZ Redaction
supported several productions in the film industry by providing the latest technology combined with their expertise in drone operating. Founded in 2013 by David Mariottini, Drone Arezzo is a team of versed experts on the field of aerial cinematography.
They have been involved in films and TV series like Mission Impossible 7, 6 Underground,
T
rusted by the major studios, Drone Arezzo has already
THE FOUNDER
DAVID MARIOTTINI
Drone Pilot / Owner / CEO

Red Notice, House of Gucci, Cyrano, Tutti per 1- 1 per tutti and more. They also have covered documentary productions like Ensolved with Samuel Jackson and worked in the commercial sector with brands like Ferrari, Porsche, Ferreti Yachts, AB Yachts, Mercedes etc.
Besides of that, Drone Arezzo is also working in the industrial field and is furthermore giving drone teaching courses.
We asked David Mariottini, CEO and founder, to give us a glimpse of their work as Aerial Cinematographers...
You are Aerial Cinematography
Specialists. What does that mean?
What services do you offer?
As specialists of Aerial Cinemato-graphy we offer any kind of drone services for cinema, TV shows, documentaries, sports and broad-casting.
In detail that means we're covering drone services for cinema cameras like Arri Alexa Mini LF, Red Cameras, Sony Venice etc. with the possibility to install heavy cinema lenses, like anamorphics thanks to our heavy lift platforms such as Hammer X8 coaxial or FreeFly Alta X that allow payloads up to 18/20 kg.

-
Aerial Cinematography Specialists based in Arezzo, Italy
-
Operating worldwide
-
Offering cinematic and industrial drone services
-
ENAC certified, specialized on critical operations
For smart and efficient services we rely on integrated cinema drone systems like Inspire2 X7 camera.
Further we offer FPV drone services with the possibility to install payloads up to Red Komodo and drone lighting services with a 65.000 lumens led system installed in a moving head to obtain special light effect for advertising and filming.
Besides of that we also cover drone services for photogrammetry and 3D modeling, LIDAR, Thermal Cameras Radiometric, VR with Titan 11K or Insta Pro2 8K and we have
a RC Buggy for cinema cameras or VR applications.
We are based in Italy but we supply services worldwide. We have some clients that want to work with us in all around the world for the confidence and quality they expect from us.
I founded Drone Arezzo in 2013 and we are mainly specialized in shooting aerial footage. Originally I'm a sport pilot flying helicopters and ultralight aircraft, with a passion for music and video.
My first experience of aerial video shooting, in 2010, was piloting a helicopter during the production of documentaries for the region of Tuscany in central Italy.
However, drone technology rapidly evolved during the recent years, and so I immediately invested in this method of footage and data gathering to meet the market demands, in line with the company's philosophy.
Where are you based and what's your main working area?
What is your company's story?
How and when did you start it?
ORIGINALLY I'M A SPORT PILOT FLYING HELICOPTERS AND ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT.
"
DRONE AREZZO'S SHOWREEL
Drone Arezzo has the latest drone models available on the market, ensuring the highest levels of image stabilization. Nonetheless, the company is always striving to select and identify available cutting-edge equipment as well as test new technologies.
In less than two years, Drone Arezzo was recognized inter-nationally as one of the leaders in drone aerial footage, engaged by the most important Italian national
WE INVEST IN OUR TEAM, EMPOYING EXPERIENCED AND QUALIFIED PILOTS, ALL UNITED BY A SINGLE IDEAL AND THE PASSION FOR THEIR JOB.
"
television stations, video production houses, cinema, music video clips, commercials, documentaries, etc.
To ensure the highest level of quality and end result, we invests in our team, employing experi-enced and qualified pilots, all united by a single ideal and the passion for their job.
In January 2015, Drone Arezzo was elected as Elite Content Partner for DJI Innovation in Italy.
In 2016 we obtained the ENAC certification for critical operations, introducing multicopter platforms for cinema and films heavy lift up to 17 kg take-off weight, able to stabilize cameras such as Arri
Alexa Mini and Red Dragon with the follow focus system and iris control.
In 2018 Drone Arezzo introduced the heavy lift platforms which allow DOPs and productions to select from an even larger variety of camera/lens pack-ages to install.
After short time Drone Arezzo began working with major film and commercial productions.
We opened a new commercial and operational headquarter in
Arezzo, Tuscany, for sales, repair and service.
We are 5 pilots, every one of us is also a camera operator for the drone, all of us work side by side to improve day by day the technical settings and piloting skills.
I worked in my father's company, a forwarding agency for 7 years. By side, with the passion for tech-nology and flight, I started to build my job and actual company. The other pilots are mainly coming from the TV sector or modelism.
"
How many people are part of your
crew? Who is responsible for what?
AFTER SHORT TIME DRONE AREZZO BEGAN WORKING WITH MAJOR FILM AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTIONS.
What have you guys done before in the film industry? Which departments do you come from?
What are the most important characteristics of a person that is part of a Aerial Cinematography Specialty Team in your opinion?
Are you more requested on feature or commercial shoots?
What are the tools you are using to cover all the different kind of camera movements you are offering? Do you have favorites?
Passion, determination, sacrifice due to the long trips and hours of job, formation.
Let's say 50% between feature and commercial.
My favorite drones are the Hammer X8 and Freely AltaX due to the
THE GEAR
-
Max Payload: 15 kg
-
20 min Flight time with 9 kg
-
Compatible with: Movi Pro, Ronin 2 etc.
-
Camera options: Arri Alexa Mini / Mini LF, RED Dsmc1 / Dsmc2 / Dsmc3, Sony Venice, Insta 360 Titan 11k etc.
-
Lens options: spherical / anamorphic cinema primes and zooms, for example: Arri Zeiss Master Prime, Cooke S4, Leica Summilux, Atlas Orion, Scorpio Lens Anamorphic, Angénieux Optimo 15-40 / 28 - 76, Angénieux EZ Zooms etc.
DJI INSPIRE 2
-
Flight time: 27 min
-
Max Speed: 108 km/h
-
Camera options: Zenmuse X7 / X5R / X5S / X5
-
Lens options: DJI DL primes, small MTF mount lenses
KOPTERWORX HAMMER X8B



FREEFLY ALTA X

-
Max Payload: 15 kg
-
18-22 min Flight time with 10 kg
-
Compatible: Ronin 2, Movi Pro etc.
-
Camera options: Arri Alexa Mini / Mini LF, RED Dsmc1 / Dsmc2 / Dsmc3, Sony Venice, Insta 360 Titan 11k etc.
-
Lens options: spherical / anamorphic cinema primes and zooms, for example: Arri Zeiss Master Prime, Cooke S4/i, Leica Summilux, Atlas Orion, Panavision Ultra Panatar, Scorpio Lens Anamorphic, Angénieux Optimo 15-40 / 28 - 76, Angénieux EZ Zooms etc.
DJI MATRICE 600
-
16 min Flight time with 6 kg
-
Compatible with: Ronin MX, Gremsy H16
-
Camera Options: RED Dsmc2 / Dsmc3, RED Komodo, Arri Alexa Mini, DSLR cameras
-
Lens options: Small cinema primes, photography lenses
INSTA 360 TITAN 11K

FREEFLY MōVI PRO

-
8x Micro Four Thirds Sensors
-
11 K VR Video
-
9 axis gyro and advanced FlowState Stabilization

DJI RONIN 2
-
Max Payload: 6,8 kg
-
Max Payload: 13,6 kg
GREMSY H16

-
Max Payload: 4,5 kg

-
Max Payload: 7,2 kg
DJI RONIN MX
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?
performance, but in certain situations, when you have to move in difficult environments, it's easier to use an Inspire2, light to transport.
Most of the time they don't know the drone possibilities. In this case you have to explain to understand what is better for the project.
YOU NEED A STRONG DETERMINATION TO DELIVER A GREAT QUALITY FOOTAGE AND BE TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED TO DO THIS.
"
You are working with massive gear and heavy payloads at high speeds in altitudes. Are there stressful situations? How do you cope with?
Yes, you need a strong deter-mination to deliver a great quality footage and be trained and experienced to do this.
In the last years we shooted for an average of 500/700 working days per year. Some of the main projects are: 6 Underground by Michael Bay, Mission Impossible 7, House of Gucci by Ridley Scott, The Wheel Of Time, From Scratch, Succession 3, Red Notice, Cirano,
How many shoots have you approximately supported so far?
Name some references if you like.
DRONE AREZZO'S FILMOGRAPHY
What are extraordinary shoots you have experienced that you can share an anecdote about?
What are your upcoming projects?
Enslaved with Samuel Jackson etc.
I remember with good memories the shooting for DJI WRC Sardinia. It was the beginning of a new drone use in my opinion.
Unfortunately we sign NDA for incoming projects, especially for the biggest we cannot say anything before the release. Anyway we have a big project that started a few weeks ago that will bring us in several different countries, may be 11 or 12 all around the globe.
Never stop dreaming. The limits you think are the limits you have, so never think about the limit and focus on what you really want in life.
If a kid read the article, and wanted to become part of a Camera Moving Specialty Team like yours, what advice do you have?
THE LIMITS YOU THINK ARE THE LIMITS YOU HAVE, SO NEVER THINK ABOUT THE LIMIT AND FOCUS ON WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IN LIFE.
"