Here is a very interesting fact about Top Gun: Maverick. It appears that due to Tom Cruise’s instructions, no CGI effects were utilized, and all the crazy aerial shots are real. The team shot tons of aerial sequences. Thus, Tom needed to teach the actors how to operate the four (yes…four) Sony VENICE cameras while flying inside a fighter jet.

Top Gun: Maverick- The longest release in motion picture history

Top Gun: Maverick is the longest film release in motion picture history due to a nearly three-year gap between its first trailer and its official release, and four years from the actual filming began. At the point that the end of the pandemic was not visible, streamers (Apple TV+ and Netflix) were putting their eye on Top Gun: Maverick. However, (luckily) Paramount refused to sell the film to any streaming services due to its box office potential. Finally, Top Gun: Maverick is due in cinemas from 25 May. We can’t wait. Expect a pure dose of adrenaline sauced in ultra-meticulous cinematography.

No CGI but real aerial shots

Tom Cruise’s involvement in this movie was predicated on the condition that real aircraft be used in the aerial sequences, not CGI. Due to the insistence of Tom Cruise, there are no green screen or CGI aerial shots in the film, and even the close-up cockpit shots are taken during real in-flight sequences. This meant that much of the cast had to undergo extensive G-force training sessions to withstand the physical demands of the G-force pressures during flights and get a solid cinematography education so it can operate these sophisticated cinema cameras inside the fighter jet cockpit.

Four ‘IMAX Certified’ Sony VENICE inside a fighter jet cockpit

This is not the first time we discuss this. But a reminder — The shots inside the fighter jets were delivered by an apparatus of four Sony VENICE. We’ve been reporting on six cameras, however, in the BTS we found ‘only’ four —three bodies and one Rialto (VENICE sensor that is separated from the camera body). Most probably that two other Rialto devices were located outside the cockpit (Read: Top Gun: Maverick – Six Sony VENICE Cameras Inside a Fighter Jet Cockpit). Furthermore, Top Gun: Maverick is one of the first films (together with DUNE which was shot on the ARRI ALEXA LF) to participate in the “Filmed in IMAX” program. It was developed for IMAX as the Sony VENICE is one of six cameras that are  ‘IMAX Certified’. Hence, go and see it on the huge canvas and not less than that. Here’re the cameras and lenses according to IMDB Tech Spec:

• Sony CineAlta Venice IMAX, Zeiss Master Prime, Loxia, Sigma FF High Speed, Voigtländer and Fujinon Premier Lenses
• Sony CineAlta Venice Rialto IMAX, Zeiss Master Prime, Loxia, Sigma FF High Speed and Voigtländer Lenses
• 6K X-OCN (Original Camera Negative)

Huge amount of shooting materials

“Out of a 12- 14-hour day, you might get 30 seconds of good footage,” said director Joseph Kosinski to Empire Online. “But it was so hard-earned. It just took a very long time to get it all. Months and months of aerial shooting. We shot as much footage as the three Lord Of The Rings movies combined. I think it was 800 hours of footage” he explained. Well, when six cinema cameras shoot simultaneously, you will get a ton of footage for sure. Do the math: If every fighter jet has its own six cameras, then you will get a lot of these 6K X-OCN files. Nevertheless, the production didn’t skimp on the footage, which is a plus, especially if your location is a tiny space that moves with the speed of sound.

Tom Cruise taught actors how to operate the cameras

In continuation to Kosinski’s remarks, Tom Cruise is also elaborating on the making of Top Gun: Maverick. “We had to teach the actors about lighting, about cinematography, about editing,” says the star and producer. “I had to teach them how to turn the cameras on and off, and about camera angles and lenses. We didn’t have unlimited time in these jets. If they were going up for 20-30 minutes, I had to make sure that we got what we needed”.  Now, let’s think about this for a moment. What’s it like to operate a sophisticated cinema camera during a combat flight? Note that the actors were responsible for the precise and seamless operation of the four Sony VENICE inside the cockpit, which is a task that can be complicated even to professional cinematographers. That sounds impressive.

Adding to the article the most recent BTS video Paramount Pictures released where it clearly states Tom Cruise: “I had to really teach them (the actors) cinematography“. Watch it below: 

Wrapping up

Top Gun: Maverick must be seen in an IMAX theater. It was planned and developed for the biggest screen you can find. Glad that this film hasn’t been wasted by streamers to be watched on home TV. There’s no doubt that the aerial sequences are the highlights of the movie. With no CGI, we can expect real and authentic aerial action shots crafted by utilizing a new and meticulous cinematographic methodology that deserves moviegoers’ attention. Just let’s hope there will be no further delay.

Update (16/04/22)

Sony has just contacted us with a small but important correction about the format recorded by the cameras inside the jets. According to Sony, the team did not shoot 6K X-OCN in the cameras in the jets because it wasn’t enough room in the jets for the raw recorders. Indeed,  you can see that in the photos. As such, they shot 4K XAVC Class 480 to SxS cards. Top Gun Maverick was shot on the original VENICE which, as opposed to VENICE 2, does not record X-OCN internally.

Product List

Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.

• Sony VENICE 2 Digital Motion Picture Camera (8K)
  • BUY on B&H
• Sony VENICE 2 Digital Motion Picture Camera (6K)
  • BUY on B&H