Frequently Asked Questions About Drone Cinematography

GENERAL

Q: What types of drone services do you offer?
We provide full-stack aerial cinematography, including:

• Heavy-lift drone ops for ARRI, RED, and other cinema cameras

• High-speed FPV drone platforms (GoPro & Cinelifter)

• Inspire 3 (dual operator or single operator)

• Spotlight drones, and custom aerial rigs

Q: Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — all Shifted Cinema pilots are FAA Part 107 certified, fully insured, and union-authorized. We carry $5M in aviation liability coverage, with the ability to adjust to fit your production needs within 48 hours. COIs available upon request.

Q: What kinds of productions do you work on?
We work with feature film studios, commercial agencies, streaming platforms, and high-end content creators. Credits include Netflix, Red Bull, Nike, MGM, TBS, and more.

GEAR & CAPABILITIES

Q: What cameras can you fly?
Our heavy-lift drones can fly:

• RED Komodo X, V-Raptor, Gemini

• ARRI Alexa Mini & Mini LF

• Sony FX6 / FX3

• Blackmagic 6K / Pocket Cinema
  We also fly DJI Inspire 3 with Zenmuse X9/8k camera w/RAW capabilities.

Q: What’s the max speed of your FPV drones?
We fly a variety of FPV Platforms. Speeds range from merely a creep for slow, calm, intimate flights to CineLifters and 5–7" FPV drones capable of speeds pushing 100 mph. These platforms are ideal for action scenes, automotive tracking, and one-take indoor fly-throughs.

Q: Can you fly indoors or through tight spaces?
Yes. Most of our drone platforms are capable of operating indoors. We’ve flown through moving vehicles, narrow hallways, warehouses, and even between people mid-action. Ultimately, the scene helps determines the best platform.

BOOKING & LOGISTICS

Q: What do you need from production to prep for a shoot?
Just the basics:

• A brief on the scene(s) or project

• Location & date

• Camera system preference (or footage spec)
  We’ll recommend the best platform and crew accordingly.

Q: How far in advance should we book?
We recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks in advance, especially for union shows or out-of-state travel. However, we often accommodate rush requests when possible.

Q: Do you travel or only work in Seattle?
We’re based in Seattle but fly worldwide. Our crew has worked in over 15 countries and is available for domestic and international productions.

PERMITS & SAFETY

Q: Do you handle airspace permissions and film permits?
Yes — we handle all necessary FAA airspace authorizations (LAANC or Manual) and can assist with film office permitting, especially for restricted or urban areas.

Q: Are your drones safe to fly over talent?
Yes, within reason. We operate in a safety-first approach and in accordance with all FAA guidelines. Many of our drones can accommodate propeller guards to add yet another element of safety.

Q: What happens if the weather is bad?
We’ll monitor forecasts with production and reschedule as needed. Many of our platforms are weather-resistant, and our operation is one of the few in the world that have the ability to operate in rain and snow by utilizing our drone specific rain-spinner.

FILE DELIVERY

Q: How do we receive the footage?
We can offload on set to your DIT, or we’ll double back on-site to a high-speed SSD.

Q: Can you shoot ProRes or RAW formats?
Yes — we support ProRes, ProRes RAW, R3D, and BRAW, depending on the camera mounted.