Aerial Imaging & Media

Service Description

MLDR Training Course: Film, TV & Commercial Drone Production Course Level: Intermediate to Professional Duration: 6 Weeks (Online + Practical Training) Certification: MLDR Film & Commercial Drone Production Certificate Course Overview This MLDR training course is designed to teach pilots, cinematographers, and production crews how to operate drones safely, legally, and creatively for professional use in film, television, and commercial advertising. Participants will learn how to capture cinematic shots, follow FAA Part 107 rules for production flights, coordinate with production teams, and use FPV and gimbal systems for storytelling. ⸻ Week 1: Introduction to Aerial Cinematography • Overview of drones in the film and TV industry • Types of productions using drones (film, TV, music videos, commercials, etc.) • Understanding production set hierarchy and communication • Aerial storytelling: framing, perspective, and motion Hands-On Exercise: Create a 30-second cinematic aerial clip using slow, controlled gimbal movements. ⸻ Week 2: Equipment, Gear & Setup • Choosing the right drone for production: FPV vs. cinematic drones (Inspire, Mavic 3 Pro, FPV systems) • Camera payloads, lenses, ND filters, and codecs • Drone camera settings (ISO, shutter, aperture, white balance) • Battery management and safety procedures on set Lab: Equipment prep checklist and setup for a commercial shoot. ⸻ Week 3: FAA & On-Set Safety • Part 107 operations for production flights • FAA waivers for closed-set filming • Airspace coordination, LAANC, and local authority permissions • Crew and crowd safety (set boundaries, visual observers, coordination with ADs) • Risk assessment and insurance requirements Simulation: Conduct a preflight safety briefing for a TV production set. ⸻ Week 4: Cinematic Flight Techniques • FPV vs. GPS cinematic flight • Orbiting, reveal shots, tracking, top-down, crane shots, and chase sequences • Coordinating multi-drone setups (A-Cam / B-Cam) • Matching drone motion with ground cameras (gimbals, dollies, cars) Practical Flight: Record a 60-second cinematic chase or tracking sequence. ⸻ Week 5: Post-Production Workflow • Transferring and organizing drone footage • Color grading aerial footage (Log, D-Log, LUTs) • Stabilization and editing for cinematic output • Audio syncing and integrating drone footage into multi-camera edits Lab: Edit and color grade your aerial footage using Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.