ONE MILLION DRONES TO BE GIVEN AS GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Getting a drone for Christmas? Here’s how to use it to make a mind-bending movie in five easy steps
NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 3, 2015 — The FAA estimates that as many as one million drones will be making an appearance under the Christmas tree this holiday season.
If you’re one of the good boys and girls getting a drone this year, you might not realize how quickly and easily you can turn your new personal robot into a high-flying, movie-making machine.
Randy Scott Slavin, founder and director of The New York City Drone Film Festival — the world’s first film festival dedicated exclusively to movies filmed using drones — has compiled a list of five easy steps to use your new drone to create a cinematic masterpiece.
“Drones have been instrumental in capturing some of the most iconic cinematography in recent memory, from the Oscar-winning opening sequence of Skyfall to the infamous Hamptons party scene in The Wolf of Wall Street to many of True Detective‘s most breathtaking images,” said Slavin. “Drones are the most important cinematic tool to come around since the tripod. The creative possibility of a million people getting drones this holiday season is a reason for all movie lovers to celebrate.”
5 Easy Steps to Make a Movie with Your New Drone
Step 1. Read the directions! Despite their appearance, drones are complex machines that have lots of flight modes, controls and fail-safes. Get to know your machine. You’ll enjoy your drone much more if you don’t crash and destroy it on your first flight.
Step 2. Practice, Practice, Practice. All drones have different flight characteristics and the only way to get better, especially when shooting video, is to practice. In a big field and away from people, learn how to hover and then practice all the controls. Once you’ve put in practice time, you’ll be able to focus on creativity.
Step 3. Know your rules! Stay below 400 feet, keep your drone in your line of sight, don’t fly near people or airports. When people do irresponsible things with drones it ruins the amazing fun and creative capabilities of drones for everyone. Go to www.knowbeforeyoufly.org for more info.
Step 4. Use your imagination, show something we’ve never seen before and tell a great story. Drones enable us to move cameras in a new way, but great stories will always be the cornerstone of an impactful film. Explore the power of drone movies by viewing the mind-bending trailer for the 2016 NYC Drone Film Festival and by watching past festival winners.
Step 5. Go to nycdronefilmfestival.com and submit your movie to the NYC Drone Film Festival, where it could be screened at the festival March 4 – 6, 2016 in New York City and win amazing awards. The world is watching. Let’s see what you can do!
The NYC Drone Film Festival is the world’s first event exclusively dedicated to celebrating the art of drone cinematography. The festival provides a platform for aerial filmmakers to showcase their work, shot anywhere in the world, emphasizing innovative flight technique and aesthetic beauty. The festival offers an international platform for filmmakers from every corner of the globe to exhibit their work in front of industry professionals and the drone cinema fan community.
In its inaugural year in 2015, NBC News was the presenting sponsor of the festival. The festival was also the focus of a 90-minute TV special on AXS TV hosted by Slavin. The festival has been featured on VICE, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Mashable and Le Monde as well as dozens of other media outlets.
Submissions for the festival are due by 11:59pm on December 31, 2015. Tickets for the festival will go on sale in January.
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