HeliCam is a Drone Services Company. We provide aerial video and photography for Movies, TV Series and Corporate Advertising. We have been one of the top Drone Companies in Atlanta for seven years.
We are currently rebranding and our new name is Helicam Cinema Drones, LLC. Ever since Multirotors/Drones came on the scene I have wanted to change the name to reflect the major equipment shift from remote control Helicopters to Drones. You can check out our new website here www.helicamcinemadrones.com
Give us a call to discuss your project at 336-339-9205 or email us at: [email protected]
We started HeliCam in 2004. We have 333 exemption, our part 107 Certification and we are a member of the Local 600. Our Chief Pilot has almost 30 years experience as a professional Remote Control Helicopter Pilot with the US Team and now 20 years working in the film industry providing high end aerial video with Drones.
DJI Inspire 3
HeliCam has added another drone to our fleet of drones. Happy to now have the DJI Inspire 3 in the fleet. What a major upgrade from the Inspire 2. It flies like it's on rails and some of the new features make it such a powerful tool on set. Finally being able to overcrank and do slow motion is a wonderful thing. You get up to 75 fps in 8K and 120 fps in 4K...so cool. The new three channel follow focus unit combined with DJI's High Bright Monitor also allows the focus puller to do iris pulls when flying from bright conditions, like above the forest in direct sunlight to below the forest canopy in the shade. There were so many times with the Inspire 2 that we needed this feature and it just was not possible. The image quality coming from the new 8K sensor is amazing and the dual native ISO of 800 and 4000 now gives you excellent low light capabilities. The last new and very exciting feature that has everyone talking is the repeatable moves that are now capable with waypoints and 3D dolly. With the RTK unit the drone can perform the same preplanned flight route, with camera moves as many times as necessary. Check out the photo below of the Inspire 3 along with the two RC controllers, 3 channel follow focus unit and the RTK station.
Jamie Hamlin and myself with the Inspire 3 on set.
HeliCam is Currently on the Approved Vendors List and Meets the Insurance Requirements for:
NBC Universal Studios
20th Century Fox Pictures
Netflix
AMC
Sony Pictures
ABC Disney
ESPN
Discovery Channel
FX Network
Mercedes Benz Stadium
Film and TV Credits:
Film
Black Adam DC Films
Black Water / ABC Studios / Sean M Stuart / Drone Operator
Fear Street 20th Century Fox
After We Collided
Uncle Frank Uncle Frank Productions Filmed in Wilmington, NC
LoveBite Iron Helmet
Circles Jerry Keys
Love Bite Iron Helmet Zombie Movie
Venom Sony Pictures with Tom Hardy, Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams/ Feature Film/ Sony Pictures Entertainment/ Drone Operator with LED Light Panels
Night School with Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Keith David/ Feature Film/ NBC Universal/ Drone Operator
Little NBC Universal Studios
Stuber 20th Century Fox
Superfly/ Sony Pictures
Love Simon with Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner and Nick Robinson/ Feature Film/ 20th Century Fox Pictures/ Drone Operator
Edge of Fear (Bleed) with Robert Patrick, Robert Knepper, Jodi Lyn O'keefe/ Feature Film/ Hollywood Media Bridge and RRE Media/ Drone Operator
A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson/ Feature Film/ Route One Films/ Drone Operator
Legacy of the White Tail Deere Hunter with Josh Brolin and Danny McBride/ Feature Film/ Rough House Pictures/ Drone Operator
Nameless Feature Film with Lou Esteban/ Drone Operator
Beyond the Blue/ Peeping Toms/ Drone Aerials
One Last Sunset/ Peeping Toms/ Drone Cinematography
Super Bowl Adds
2019 Super Bowl Ad for Kia
TV Series
Grosse Point Garden Society NBC
The Walking Dead 3 Spinoff AMC
Hostile Planet Netflix
The Resident Season 1 20th Century Fox TV
The Resident Season 2 20th Century Fox TV
Night on Earth Netflix
The Passage Season 1 20th Century Fox TV
Homeland Season 7 Drone Operator
Raising Dion Season 1 Netflix
Atlanta TV Series with Donald Glover / FX Network/ Drone Operator
Turn: Washington Spies Season 3-4 / Drone Operator
The Morning Show Drama 2019 Apple original series
Ink, Paper, Scissors BET / Drone Services
Fast and Loud with Richard Rawlings, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano / Discovery Channel / Season 5 / Mega Race / Drone Operator
Revolutions Planes / BBC
Traxxas Torch Series/ History Channel / Drone Crew
Documentaries and Corporate
HubSpot Head Quarters Promo
Rollin Rookies Hyundai
Muhammad Ali Documentary What's My Name / HBO Sutter Road Pictures/ Drone Operator
Monday Night Football with ESPN / Hyundai Genesis half time car commercial
Airbus We are Lakota Helicopter Commercial / Kossover and Company/ Drone Operator
Aquarius / Verizon TV Commercial / Drone Operator
Dominate the Day: Siri X with Dwayne the Rock Johnson / Drone Operator
6 Lack Documentary with Apple/ Drone Operator
Microsoft How Fast is Fast-The Desktop Bridge for Windows/ Commercial/ Car Racing Video at Road Atlanta / Drone Operator
Audi TV Commercial FL Keys / Drone Rental
Because Nobody Else Would / Drone Pilot
YellaWood Big Bang Pictures
Facebook Stink Digital USA
Film
Black Adam DC Films
Black Water / ABC Studios / Sean M Stuart / Drone Operator
Fear Street 20th Century Fox
After We Collided
Uncle Frank Uncle Frank Productions Filmed in Wilmington, NC
LoveBite Iron Helmet
Circles Jerry Keys
Love Bite Iron Helmet Zombie Movie
Venom Sony Pictures with Tom Hardy, Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams/ Feature Film/ Sony Pictures Entertainment/ Drone Operator with LED Light Panels
Night School with Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Keith David/ Feature Film/ NBC Universal/ Drone Operator
Little NBC Universal Studios
Stuber 20th Century Fox
Superfly/ Sony Pictures
Love Simon with Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner and Nick Robinson/ Feature Film/ 20th Century Fox Pictures/ Drone Operator
Edge of Fear (Bleed) with Robert Patrick, Robert Knepper, Jodi Lyn O'keefe/ Feature Film/ Hollywood Media Bridge and RRE Media/ Drone Operator
A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson/ Feature Film/ Route One Films/ Drone Operator
Legacy of the White Tail Deere Hunter with Josh Brolin and Danny McBride/ Feature Film/ Rough House Pictures/ Drone Operator
Nameless Feature Film with Lou Esteban/ Drone Operator
Beyond the Blue/ Peeping Toms/ Drone Aerials
One Last Sunset/ Peeping Toms/ Drone Cinematography
Super Bowl Adds
2019 Super Bowl Ad for Kia
TV Series
Grosse Point Garden Society NBC
The Walking Dead 3 Spinoff AMC
Hostile Planet Netflix
The Resident Season 1 20th Century Fox TV
The Resident Season 2 20th Century Fox TV
Night on Earth Netflix
The Passage Season 1 20th Century Fox TV
Homeland Season 7 Drone Operator
Raising Dion Season 1 Netflix
Atlanta TV Series with Donald Glover / FX Network/ Drone Operator
Turn: Washington Spies Season 3-4 / Drone Operator
The Morning Show Drama 2019 Apple original series
Ink, Paper, Scissors BET / Drone Services
Fast and Loud with Richard Rawlings, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano / Discovery Channel / Season 5 / Mega Race / Drone Operator
Revolutions Planes / BBC
Traxxas Torch Series/ History Channel / Drone Crew
Documentaries and Corporate
HubSpot Head Quarters Promo
Rollin Rookies Hyundai
Muhammad Ali Documentary What's My Name / HBO Sutter Road Pictures/ Drone Operator
Monday Night Football with ESPN / Hyundai Genesis half time car commercial
Airbus We are Lakota Helicopter Commercial / Kossover and Company/ Drone Operator
Aquarius / Verizon TV Commercial / Drone Operator
Dominate the Day: Siri X with Dwayne the Rock Johnson / Drone Operator
6 Lack Documentary with Apple/ Drone Operator
Microsoft How Fast is Fast-The Desktop Bridge for Windows/ Commercial/ Car Racing Video at Road Atlanta / Drone Operator
Audi TV Commercial FL Keys / Drone Rental
Because Nobody Else Would / Drone Pilot
YellaWood Big Bang Pictures
Facebook Stink Digital USA
What to Look for When Hiring a Drone Company
Hiring a drone rental company doesn't have to be a complicated process, but there are a ton of people trying to pass themselves off as drone professionals claiming decades of "combined experience" and you have to weed your way through them. Multirotors or drones as they are now commonly called are, for the most part easy to fly. I can't count how many times I have heard people say, even very experienced operators: Drones are easy to fly, you don't need ex professional R/C (remote control) pilots to do high level aerial filming anymore. To do basic filming...no. To do it safely and be able to handle emergency situations in the event of an equipment failure, absolutely you need someone with a lot of experience. To do complicated shots, long distance shots, shots where the drone is going to be hard to see because of mountains in the background, high speed at very low altitude shots, operating near obstacles and Talent; you can't have a drone pilot and camera mount operator with too much experience. We have done work for a lot of production companies that have used drone rental companies that claimed "decades of combined experience", but they weren't able to get the shots that production needed or they wound up crashing on set causing major safety issues. We also loose a lot of work to drone rental companies who will do work for really cheap rates and again production, nine times out of ten, doesn't get what they need and they wind up wasting time and money. When it comes to drone rental companies, you really do get what you pay for. Drone services companies that have been around for years should have several demo reels and finished client projects on their site for you to view. If not move on. Chances are if they don't have a shot very similar to what you need for your production, they probably can't get that shot safely if they can even get it period. They should have a back up drone and camera mount as these things are mostly electronic and things will fail occasionally. Do they have their FAA 333 Exemption or Part 107. If they do not have either of these their insurance, if they have any is totally useless. Regarding insurance, if the PIC (Pilot in command) does anything illegal with the drone and something happens, their insurance is null and void. There are a lot of operators doing a lot of illegal stuff with drones. Hopefully this info will help some of you wishing to hire a drone rental company.
Shooting aerial video with our Drones has taken us to exciting shoot locations like: Los Angeles CA, Savannah GA, Orlando FL, Omaha NE, Dallas TX, New Orleans LA, Jackson MS, Vancouver and Montreal Canada, New York City NY, Palm Springs CA, Atlanta GA, Maui, Kona and Hilo Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Seattle WA, Dominican Republic and Santo Domingo just to name a few.
HELICAM'S PHILOSOPHY IS SIMPLE
Create the highest quality aerial video and photos possible while operating in a safe manner. If HeliCam does it's job to their full potential, the Client will be ecstatic at the end of the shoot and that, to us, is what makes the years of learning and growing to try and perfect our craft worth while. Working this philosophy has gotten HeliCam a ton of referrals and repeat business, which is great advertising.