VidMuze Cinema
VidMuze Cinema
CAMERA MOVEMENT SPECIALISTS
Providing cinematic shots since 2011 VIDMUZE CINEMA are covering camera movement requirements by utilizing leading edge technology combined with years of experience.
FILMMAKAZ Redaction
based in Asheville, North Carolina. By using tools like camera cars, cinema drones, cable cams, gimbals and more VidMuze Cinema offers a large range of dynamic camera movements and bridges the world of cinematography with the ground-breaking technology ca-mera movement requires.
They have worked for all
V
idMuze Cinema is a camera movement specialty team
major networks and studios like Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Warner Brothers, NBC, Discovery Channel, ESPN and they are known for their involvement in films like Venom, Queen&Slim, The Evil Inside Her, Defending Jacob and The Nest, to name just a few. Also brands like Porsche, Audi, BMW, IBM, Ford Performance, Honda and more have been already supported by VidMuze Cinema.
Mike Gentilini Jr., founder and owner of VidMuze Cinema has answered our questions ...
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT UTILIZING DIFFERENT FOCAL
LENGTH LENSES TO CREATE DYNAMIC, CINEMATIC COMPOSITIONS.
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Camera Movement Specialty Team based in Asheville [NC]
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Operating nation wide
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Offering Drone, Crane Car, Arm Car, Cable Cam, Gimbal Operations and more
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FAA certified, IATSE Local 600 Member
THE TEAM
MIKE GENTILINI JR.
2nd Unit DP / Drone Pilot / Arm Operator / Founder / Owner
Mike has been camera operator since 2000. He wanted to bridge the world of cinematography with the ground breaking technology that
dynamic camera movement provides.
Mike and his team are passionate filmmakers who love the challenge and thrill of capturing cutting edge cinematic images through the art of camera movement for the Film/TV industries.
RYAN ATKINS
Camera Operator / 1st AC
Ryan began working with VidMuze in 2012. He and Mike benefit from the communication and
synchronization of nearly a decade of working together. Ryan got to know drones
from the ground up as a tech before transitioning to gimbal operator. He enjoys taking a director's artistic vision and translating it through these specialized tools to help realize a practical and creative shot.
JAYSON BARBER
Driver / Tech & Safety Officer / Trolley Operator
As a camera car driver, Jayson has driven on many raceways throughout the southeast, while working with top NASCAR drivers and other world renowned racing drivers and
stunt professionals. Jayson's passion for camera movement comes from a love of racing and filmmaking. As a driver and 15 years as a dolly grip/rigger, this joins the worlds of camera movement allowing Jayson to help attain a shared vision.
You are Camera Movement Specialists. What does that mean? What services do you offer?
Being a camera movement specialist means I get to use specialized tools to move the camera in dynamic ways. We provide four main platforms to move the camera in different ways depending on what the shot requires: Heavy lifter drones, arm cars, cable cam and ground gimbal
We use a three-axis gimbal with each of these platforms, and we're passionate about utilizing different focal lenses to create dynamic, cinematic compositions. To get that really "cinematic" look, we like to pair long lenses with camera
movement on 1 - 3 axes, moving the camera left to right, up and down and forwards and backwards, typically all together depending on the shot.
Where are you based and what's
your main working area?
We are based in Asheville, NC and work nationwide. The bulk of our work is throughout Eastern US.
OUR CAMERA MOVEMENT PLATFORMS CONSIST OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, IN ADDITION IT'S A FORM OF ART.
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What is your company's story?
When did you start it and what is the
VIDMUZE'S SHOWREEL
meaning of the company name?
I started working with cameras at the early age of 15 back in 1998. My passion for camera movement started a few years after that. When I decided I wanted to specialize in camera movement, I created Vid-Muze Cinema back in 2011.
The origin of VidMuze is made of two parts. First part, "Vid" meaning video or cinema. Second part, "Muze" comes from the Greek mythology, "inspiration of art and sciences". Our camera movement platforms consist of science and engineering, in addition it's a form of art. We take pride in being inspired artists as we create video / cinema with science. Hence, VidMuze Cinema.
How many people are part of your
crew? Who is responsible for what?
We have a minimum of three crew members. We are all well versed in each camera movement plat-form and our roles change depending on the gear we use. When using drones, we have myself as drone pilot, Ryan Atkins is my camera operator and Jayson Barber is my drone tech and safety officer.
When using the arm car, Jayson is our driver, I am the arm operator and Ryan is our camera operator. We would then have a 1st AC to pull focus in the arm car with us.
When using cable cam, Jayson or I operate trolley, and Ryan is camera
operator. When using ground gimbal, I will operate MoVI, Jayson will be my spotter and make sure I remain safe, and Ryan will be my 1st AC and pull focus.
What have you guys done before in the film industry? Which departments do you come from?
I started in the broadcast depart-ment back when I was 15 years old. I was a camera operator, editor and a VFX artist.
Ryan joined VidMuze back in his college days in 2012, and he's been part of the team ever since. Jayson has been a grip for over 12 years now and I met Jayson on a feature film back in 2015.
After working with Jayson I learned of his racing experience and desire to become a stunt driver. Once VidMuze started working more with camera cars, Jayson was the perfect fit.
Since Ryan and I came from camera department first, this has given us such an advantage of knowing what the shot should look like. A lot of drone pilots I know don't have the film / cinema background and so this makes them more limited on knowing all of the "ins" and "outs" of camera composition and camera blocking (camera placement).
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WE'RE NOT IN THIS LINE OF WORK BECAUSE WE LIKE IT.
WE'RE DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE WE LIVE FOR IT.
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YOU DEFINITELY NEED AT LEAST ONE TECHNIE ON THE TEAM.
What are the most important characteristics of a person that is part of a Camera Movement Specialty Team in your opinion?
A crucial element to being a camera movement specialist team is our passion behind the shot. We're not in this line of work because we like it. We're doing this work because we live for it.
I say without hesitation, I love my job. Every new production is another adventure. Our team works so well because of this passion that drives us! We're always striving to improve so we can become more dialed and work more in sync
I say without hesitation, I love my job. Every new production is another adventure. Our team works so well because of this passion that drives us! We're always striving to improve so we can become more dialed and work more in sync as a team. If one of us was not passionate about this, it would not work.
You definitely need at least one technie on the team. I'm definitely the "tech nerd" in our group. There's a lot of gear and parts that need to be accounted for, along with camera building on gimbal. It's an art and I take pride in it.
Jayson and I share the same "engineering" mindset which helps maximize rigging our gear correctly and safely.
THE GEAR
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Flight times: 12 -14 min
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Diameter: 7.5 ft
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Max Payload: 35 lbs
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Max Speed: 65 mph
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Setup time: 30 minutes
FREEFLY ALTA X
FREEFLY ALTA 8
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Flight times: 6-8 min
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Diameter: 6.0 ft
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Max Payload: 20 lbs
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Max Speed: 55 mph
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Setup time: 20 minutes
MOTOCRANE ULTRA ARM
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Effective Reach: 12 ft
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Max Payload: 65 lbs
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Top Speed: 75 mph
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360° Swing: 7 sec
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90° Lift: 3 sec
CUSTOM SALEEN MUSTANG
CUSTOM DOGDE RAM MEACA CAB
PORSCHE CAYENNE TWIN TURBO
DRONE LIGHTNING RIG
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Brightness: 126 k Lumes
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Runtime: 11 minutes
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Compatible with: Alta 8, Ultra Arm, Ultra Arm, Cable Cam and Black Arm
FLYLINE CABLE CAM
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In forests, ravines, close to waters, over people, indoors, audio-sensitive enviroments, extra close proximity subjects
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Speed up to 40 mph
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Max Payload: 60 pounds
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Motion Control
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3-Axis Dampening System
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Compatible with MōVi Pro, Ronin 2, Shotover G1 and more
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Mountable on any vehicle like cars, ATV's, boats, bikes etc. via speed rails
FLOWCINE BLACK ARM
MODIFIED MōVI PRO
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Tilt Offset Modification allows to operate Front Heavy Packages
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Without Counterweights for a longer flight time
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Over 20 lbs Payload Capacity
Are you more requested on feature or commercial shoots?
There are two parts to a camera movement system. You need a platform and a remote head.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO A CAMERA MOVEMENT SYSTEM. YOU NEED A PLATFORM AND A REMOTE HEAD.
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DRONES GIVE US THE MOST FREEDOM FOR A SHOT SINCE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE IN 3D SPACE.
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It's about 50/50.
What are the tools you are using to cover all the different kind of camera movements you are offering? Do you have favorites?
We use our various platforms to move the camera in the most stabilized way that can physically be done, and then we use a 3 air gimbal to provide the rest of the stabilzation, while giving us the camera control needed to create the shot.
Out of all of our platform, drones are my favorite. Drones give us the most freedom for a shot since we're able to move in 3D space.
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?
Most times directors and DPs have a good sense of the shot they want. It's our job to ensure we can create the shot safely and practi-
I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO THINK 10 STEPS AHEAD. TO DO THIS, I HAVE TO TRUST MY TEAM AND MY TEAM HAS TO BE ON POINT 100% OF THE TIME.
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cally. A lot of times we will provide suggestions that will improve the shot. Since we do this work every day, we know what works and what doesn't work. Most of the directors and DPs we work with know this, and look to us for best angle of attack for the shot.
You are working with massive gear and heavy payloads at high speeds in altitudes. Are there stressful situations? How do you cope with?
When flying a 50 lbs drone with a surface area of 7.5 ft wide at 70mph and 3ft off the ground,
yes, it can be stressful at times. Or when driving a racing arm at 100+ mph, while swinging an arm with over $150,000 worth of camera gear a few inches off the pavement of a racing picture car, yes, my heart rate does increase at times.
The best way to cope with these stressful situations is to think through the process from A to Z. I'm always trying to think 10 steps ahead. To do this, I have to trust my team and my team has to be on point 100% of the time.
When we complete this process over and over again for years, it becomes second nature and you stop thinking about the bulk of
the stress. This is where putting trust in your gear is another huge factor and having dependable gear that is heavily tested before and after we're on set, also helps minimize my stress.
A lot, too many to remember. :) We work for all the major networks and studios, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, Warner Brothers, etc.
How many shows have you approximately supported so far?
Names and references if you like.
IT'S ALWAYS VERY REWARDING WHEN YOU GET TO MOVE SOMEONE TO THIS LEVEL OF JOY FROM A SHOT YOU CREATED FOR THEM.
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What are extraordinary shoots you have experienced that you can share an anecdote about?
We worked on a NatGeo show and the director was very passio-nate about the documentary which was about birds in the wild. We had to fly our drone close to these birds as they were released back into the wild.
The footage we captured moved the director to tears where she yelled with excitement during the shot. She then gave all of us a hug. It's always very rewarding when you get to move someone to this level of joy from a shot you created for them.
What are your upcoming projects?
We have some fun commercials and a few features coming up. That's all the info I can share.
THIS KIND OF JOB IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO BY YOURSELF, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND OTHER LIKE MINDED AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE TO WORK ALONG SIDE OF YOU.
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If a kid read the article, and wanted to become part of a Camera Moving Specialty Team like yours, what advice do you have?
I would tell them nothing comes easy. If it did, everyone would be doing it.
It takes passion and you have to give it your all, 100% of the time. This kind of job is nothing you can do by yourself, so you'll have to find
other like minded and passionate people to work along side with you. Keep moving forwards. Think of yourself like a shark figuratively... if you stop moving, you'll drown, so keep pushing forwards!
