Sony has released the behind-the-scenes featurette of Gran Turismo, demonstrating the advantages of the VENICE 2 Rialto 2 extension units, which were located inside race cars’ cockpits. A very similar shooting method was implemented in Top Gun: Maverick. Explore the BTS footage below.

The VENICE 2 inside a race car cockpit

If you think that the title is familiar, you are right. A similar title was given when we reported on the cinematography techniques used in Top Gun: Maverick. It seems that more lessons were learned and applied to the newly released high-octane action movie, Gran Turism. The movie is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling working-class gamer that takes on the most elite sport in the world —From a video game to a real racing car. The team was eager to deliver the most immersive shots. Hence, Sony VENICE cameras were located inside race cars’ cockpits, just like in Top Gun: Maverick. However, this time the VENICE 2 Rialto 2 extension units were utilized. Director Neill Blomkamp, Director of Photography Jacques Jouffret ASC, and the crew shed more light on the camera setup. The BTS pictures are in front of you.

One of the first productions to use the Rialto 2

Sony has mentioned that Gran Truism is one of the first productions to use the Sony VENICE 2 Rialto 2 Extension System. According to Sony, up to 20 cameras were operated at a time to bring the “visceral feeling of racing to audiences in theaters”. Although there’s a similarity to the methodology implemented in TGM (Top Gun: Maverick), there are also significant differences. For instance, in TGM, the lenses and cameras were controlled by the actors, inside the fighter jet. As compared to the setup in Gran Turismo, where the cameras were controlled from outside the car. As proof, we can clearly notice the Zoom and Iris wheels are operated remotely by dedicated engines. Another interesting fact is that the team has decided to unstabilize the VENICE 2 cameras that were attached outside the cockpit, in order to grant shaky and epic shots when the car drives more than 200mph.

VENICE Rialto is a powerful high-end action cam

TGM, and now Gran Turismo, are solid references for the strengths of the VENICE Rialto Extension system. These action shots are good enough to be delivered into an IMAX screen. Nevertheless, it appears that there’s another race movie, that mimics similar techniques but with an unreleased 6K Sony camera. The project is rumored to be titled ‘Apex’ starring Brad Pitt. However, in Apex the mysterious 6K cinema cameras are fully operated remotely, most probably like PTZ (a new version of FR7?). We are very curious about this project, as we think it’s a higher level project as compared even to TGM, in terms of camera kinetics methodologies, and immersiveness. In our opinion, ‘Apex’ (the name may change) will be the next TGM but on the ground, as the camera team is taking all the things that worked on TGM, and making them better… a lot better.