The Project
Location: Glen Coe, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Date: 2018
The Drone
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Robert The Bruce
All the plans came together seamlessly as we met up with director, Richie Gray, and all the cast and crew from Yellow Brick Films. We’d arrived on Scotland’s remote Rannoch Moor a few miles South of Glencoe with our Alexa Mini drone and DJI Inspire 2 drone with X7 camera to start filming the feature Robert The Bruce. That was the easy bit. Fresh from months filming in Montana’s deep snows, the LA film crew had decamped to Scotland to capture some atmospheric shots of Robert the Bruce’s native homeland.
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Richie wanted to recreate Bruce’s struggle against the gruelling hardships of daily life in 14th century Scotland. Worried that the UK’s unusually mild winters wouldn’t match the shots from Canada, Richie was praying for a cold snap. He needn’t have worried. Little did he know that “The Beast from the East” as they aptly named the storm was on its way in. Already hyperventilating against its bite, Storm Emma roared in too, creating the harshest winter for 30 years, with wind chill temperatures plummeting to -15C.
Given Aerialworx’s experience operating in the harshest of conditions in the Arctic Circles, we were all too accustomed to operating in these extreme environments. But, even so, it was hardly a walk in the park!
Unfortunately, the wind was so stong (The Beast from the East) that we ended up not being able to fly the Alexa Mini, so the Inspire 2 came to the resuce. The light and agile DJI Inspire 2 with the new 6K X7 camera which is perfect for high-end filmmaking in demanding and remote conditions. The camera can shoot 6K RAW, so the shots would complement well with the Alexa cameras’ used on set. With the DJI pull focus feature, we’d be able to get close-up on the actors, and then fly out to capture the epic vista of the landscape.
Excellent in principle, but in the harsh reality, trying to fly near the actor’s in strong, freezing winds, with fingers turning blue, fingertip micro-movements become not only vital, but also a bit of a challenge. Time to concentrate.
As the actors rode on horse-back across the wilderness. The drama of icy wind was hard to show on the camera. So, as luck would have it, driving snow started blowing across the frozen river, which gave real depth and authenticity to the scene. In our 21st century thermal gear, it made us shiver just looking at the cast, who, only dressed in period costume, were having the genuine 14th century experience.
Horses can be skittish and twitchy, especially when faced with the threat of a large drone. Another reason for using the Inspire2, which allowed us to get the close up action shots of the riders, without getting them buckarooed by spooked steeds.
Despite all it could throw at us, we beat the Beast and without any frost bite casualties. On the final night, in the toasty hotel lounge, the director and producer were ecstatic with the results.
The next morning everyone said farewells and headed off, nervously picking our way through deep drifts of snow on the treacherous journey home. Our American friends hunkered down in the pub next to the log fire to enjoy some extended Scottish hospitality. The bars where open but the airports were all closed. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it……. They might be home by now!
