Costa Rica: Aerial Filming of Volcanoes, Waterfalls, and Tropical Rainforest

Aerial Filmworks just wrapped 3 projects in Costa Rica including a documentary on Carolina Marin, a world class kickboxer, and a new film by Hernán Jimenez, the director of El Regresso. Dramatic nature footage of the Costa Rica landscape will be used as establishing shots for the film on Marin, and late afternoon and night scenes of San Jose for the Jimenez documentary.

Volar Helicopters provided the Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger for all of the filming. Christian Cerdas of Volar Helicopters coordinated the helicopter schedules for the Film Pilot Pedro Vega and crew. Fuel trucks needed to be arranged as only the major airports have Jet A helicopter fuel available.

Nico Ghersinich provided excellent local production expertise, arranged for customs, transportation, and the multitude of logistics for many locations.

“The footage is simply breathtaking. I am absolutely thrilled by it. You’ve made me see my own city
in whole new way. Thank you for your work. ”

~Hernán Jimenez, Director, El Regresso

Volar Helicopters provided the Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger for aerial filming.

Looking into the Poas Volcano.

Arenal Volcano. The top of the volcano is usually obscured by clouds.

Looking through the skids of the Volar Helicopter Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger towards Arenal Volcano.

San Jose, Costa Rica in late afternoon light.

One of the many waterfalls accessible only by helicopter.

About Aerial Filmworks

Aerial Filmworks provides high-definition video Cineflex V14HD camera systems and aerial filming services to the international entertainment, documentary and corporate marketplace. Highly regarded by award-winning clients, the Cineflex V14HD provides the highest level of image gyro-stabilization. Our dedicated, experienced camera operators have thousands of hours using the Cineflex for clients including Disney, Discovery Channel, BBC, CBC, PBS/Nature, National Geographic, History Channel, Planet Green, Freeride World Tour, Red Bull, Burton Snowboards, Amazing Race and CBS/Survivor. Aerial Filmworks is a highly responsive company with over 25 years of aerial photography experience. Dedicated to providing Cineflex V14HD systems and services, our experienced aerial filming crews specialize in location work all over the world.

Aerial Filmworks delivers Google Earth pre-flight visualization, GPS preparation and flight logistical planning; Geo-coded HD video and images for land survey or mapping; Google Earth integration of video, stills, 360 interactive panoramas, podcasts, historical imagery, topographic maps and data.

With in-house HD video suite utilizing Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Aerial Filmworks also delivers professional editing and color-grading, and BluRay/DVD output using robust 12-core MacPros, over 120 Terabytes of online RAID, Snell ArchAngel restoration, AJA Kona3, HDCAM/HDCAM SR Decks, and fast h.264 encoding.

“Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap” Premieres to Rave Reviews at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Rolling Stone magazine has named “Art of Rap” as one of the ten best music films at the Sundance 2012 Film Festival. Ice-T’s new documentary on the “Art of Rap” premiered at Sundance on January 21. Ron Chapple, Aerial Director of Photography, filmed the New York City and Los Angeles scenes while Gray Mitchell of Aerial Filmworks was the camera operator for the Detroit sequence. Aerial Filmworks provided the complete Cineflex V14HD camera system and Sony SRW1 HDCAM SR record deck.

Directed by Ice-T and produced by Paul Toogood, the aerial crew worked with Director of Photography Andy Baybutt to create the unique aerial look.

“I am overjoyed with the results of our filming days. The contrast of street shots and helicopter are working tremendously, establishing our artists very well. Thank you again for your outstanding work!”

~Andy Baybutt, Director of Photography, Art of Rap

Director of Photography Andy Baybutt during aerial filming.

“Neon-colored aerial shots of New York and LA, scenes of graffiti art
and bustling inner-city streets provide dynamic B-roll footage.”

~The Hollywood Reporter

“This is one of the most visually sumptuous docs… those shots
from the sky of New York and Los Angeles are some of the best I’ve seen in any movie.”

~Sebastian Gutierrez, Film Critic

“The sweeping, stylized overhead shots of New York, Detroit and Los Angeles practically pulse off the screen…”

Katie Calautti, Spin Online

Intertwined are loving aerial shots… New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit, beautifully captured skylines
energized by the loops of hip hop classics…

~John Wellington Ennis, Huff Post Entertainment

New York City aerial from Bell 206-L3 Long Ranger helicopter provided by Mercury Aviation and flown by Film Pilot Coyt Bailey.

Los Angeles aerial from Bell 206-B3 Jet Ranger helicopter provided by Corporate Helicopters and flown by Film Pilot Garner Shepherd.

Sunset scene from “Art of Rap” Documentary by Ice-T. Filmed with Cineflex V14HD.

More Articles and Reviews

Rolling Stone Magazine: The Ten Best Music Films at Sundance 2012

Movie Line: Ice-T, Director, Talks Sundance Hip-Hop Doc

Sundance 2012 Film Guide

This Beat Goes: Ice-T Talks About “The Art of Rap”

The Salt Lake Tribune: Lifestyle

Rap Radar: Ice-T Speaks On Art of Rap Documentary

Billboard Exclusive: Watch Ice-T Discuss His ‘Art of Rap’ Documentary

Hip Hop DX

The Hollywood Reporter: Sundance 2012: Ice-T Talks Filmmaking and His Festival Debut (Q&A)

Film Threat: Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap

About Aerial Filmworks

Aerial Filmworks provides high-definition video Cineflex V14HD camera systems and aerial filming services to the international entertainment, documentary and corporate marketplace. Highly regarded by award-winning clients, the Cineflex V14HD provides the highest level of image gyro-stabilization. Our dedicated, experienced camera operators have thousands of hours using the Cineflex for clients including Disney, Discovery Channel, BBC, CBC, PBS/Nature, National Geographic, History Channel, Planet Green, Freeride World Tour, Red Bull, Burton Snowboards, Amazing Race and CBS/Survivor. Aerial Filmworks is a highly responsive company with over 25 years of aerial photography experience. Dedicated to providing Cineflex V14HD systems and services, our experienced aerial filming crews specialize in location work all over the world.

Aerial Filmworks delivers Google Earth pre-flight visualization, GPS preparation and flight logistical planning; Geo-coded HD video and images for land survey or mapping; Google Earth integration of video, stills, 360 interactive panoramas, podcasts, historical imagery, topographic maps and data.

With in-house HD video suite utilizing Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Aerial Filmworks also delivers professional editing and color-grading, and BluRay/DVD output using robust 12-core MacPros, over 120 Terabytes of online RAID, Snell ArchAngel restoration, AJA Kona3, HDCAM/HDCAM SR Decks, and fast h.264 encoding.

21,500 Foot View of Mt. Everest and the Himalayas. Amazing Kathmandu and Nepal Adventure

A new documentary project took Aerial Filmworks to Nepal for aerial filming of the Himalayas, Mt. Everest, and Kathmandu. Cineflex operator Mark Gerasimenko rigged the camera system to an Astar AS350-B3 for the Kathmandu and Mt. Everest aerials. Ram Krishna Pokharel of Icefall Productions was the excellent local coordinator who arranged the helicopter, filming permits, and ground transportation.

The Cineflex V14HD is the newest generation gyro-stabilized system with the enhanced Sony HDC1500-R camera and Fujinon 42x 9.7mm lens. Aerial Filmworks provided the Sony SRW1 deck for primary 4:4:4 dual-link recording to HDCAM SR tape and back-up 4:2:2 “digital daily” recording to the AJA KiPro with Solid State Drives.

Rebecca Giblin of Aerial Filmworks arranged for the international export of the Cineflex system from LAX through Thailand to Nepal. Special US State Department licenses are required for use outside of the USA.

Mt Everest from 21,500 feet altitude.

Mt Everest view from inside the Eurocopter AS350-B3.

Cineflex V14HD frame grab of the Himalayas.

The Streets of Kathmandu

The Cineflex V14HD was also rigged to a 1978 Toyota Corolla using the Airfilm Shock Mount! The crew drove through the narrow streets and alleyways of Kathmandu to capture a unique view of this fast-paced city. Note the 2K generator in the trunk!

Cineflex V14HD rigged to a 1978 Toyota Corolla on the streets of Kathmandu.

About Aerial Filmworks

Aerial Filmworks provides high-definition video Cineflex V14HD camera systems and aerial filming services to the international entertainment, documentary and corporate marketplace. Highly regarded by award-winning clients, the Cineflex V14HD provides the highest level of image gyro-stabilization. Our dedicated, experienced camera operators have thousands of hours using the Cineflex for clients including Disney, Discovery Channel, BBC, CBC, PBS/Nature, National Geographic, History Channel, Planet Green, Freeride World Tour, Red Bull, Burton Snowboards, Amazing Race and CBS/Survivor. Aerial Filmworks is a highly responsive company with over 25 years of aerial photography experience. Dedicated to providing Cineflex V14HD systems and services, our experienced aerial filming crews specialize in location work all over the world.

Aerial Filmworks delivers Google Earth pre-flight visualization, GPS preparation and flight logistical planning; Geo-coded HD video and images for land survey or mapping; Google Earth integration of video, stills, 360 interactive panoramas, podcasts, historical imagery, topographic maps and data.

With in-house HD video suite utilizing Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Aerial Filmworks also delivers professional editing and color-grading, and BluRay/DVD output using robust 12-core MacPros, over 120 Terabytes of online RAID, Snell ArchAngel restoration, AJA Kona3, HDCAM/HDCAM SR Decks, and fast h.264 encoding.