Drones For Dummies

Half a decade ago, filmmaker Paul Soriano was answering curious questions from film students of the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde about his movie Thelma—a Filipino sports drama that tells the story of a young Ilocano woman (Maja Salvador), who takes her running talents to Manila to help her family.

- Patrick B. Alcantara

The film’s money shot sees Thelma running in the middle of a field in Ilocos with the camera tracking in front of her and eventually flying away to establish the astonishing location.

An undergrad asked Soriano how he did it. The reply was expected: the film director had to ride a helicopter to create the shot he wanted, making it the most expensive scene of the movie.

Today, drones or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle), have found a way to allow not only professional videographers and photographers, but also amateurs and hobbyists, to capture aerial images in a less costly manner. Flying a drone may seem daunting, but it’s undoubtedly easier than riding a helicopter. In fact, it’s as simple as answering what, where, when, and how.

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