Due to COVID, the hot jargon (for now) is Remote Cinematography. That means, being able to shoot and broadcast remotely under social distancing restrictions. One of the popular high-end devices to allow that is the Motion Impossible’s AGITO that can be paired with Shotover and the ARRI SRH-360. Examples are demonstrated below.
Remote Cinematography
Everyone in the industry is talking about the options of working remotely. And I’m not talking about working from home, but maintain maximum social distancing on-set and production, due to COVID restrictions. Obviously, it’s a bit tricky, since filmmaking is about people working together closely as a team, as a part of the creative process. However, many companies have seized the opportunity to adapt their dedicated product for utilization in those conditions and limitations. For instance, have a look at the “VENICE Remote Operation Cinematography Guide” which focuses on the new era of social distancing methodologies in film productions. Also, there is “ARRI’s Ready-to-Go Remote Solution”. Both of them (and there are many more) focus on their product and their utilizations to adapt social distancing on a movie set.
For educational reference, check out this video by Mission Impossible which demonstrates the utilization of the AGITO together with ARRI SRH-360 in order to get cinematic professional shots and still remaining “COVID-Compliant”.
Remote Broadcasting
Although it’s not a new concept, the implementations of remote camera systems are being well established in current broadcast productions. For instance, the Portland Timbers became the first team in Major League Soccer (MLS) to feature Motion Impossible’s AGITO Sports modular dolly system as part of live broadcast coverage. The AGITO Sports enabled the broadcast team to keep pace with the action for the whole 90-minute game, as well as providing the flexibility for a range of other shots, all in a safe and remote manner.
World’s first multi-terrain robotic dolly system
Using the Sports drive ends, allows the AGITO Sports to effectively become the world’s first multi-terrain robotic dolly system, its four-wheel-drive adjustable suspension providing top speeds of 32mph. Being fully remote-controlled, it also means that a remote camera can run a touchline without worrying about rails or other fixed equipment proving a hazard to players or coaching and broadcast staff. Here, the AGITO Sports was used at Providence Park mounting a Shotover G1 gimbal and flying a Sony HDC-P1r box camera package. Unfortunately, we don’t have access to the final results, however, we expect it to look very epic, especially when compared to other conventional broadcast solutions.
Final thoughts
COVID forces producers and filmmakers to think out of their box. And the AGITO, which was designed to get those ultra epic impossible shots, is being utilized to help the team maintain social distancing during production. Hopefully, in the upcoming 2021, we’ll get to employ AGITO as it was built in the first place, which means, for pure cinematography purposes not related to COVID.
