Cinema-first planning
The move, lens and edit drive the aircraft choice—not the other way around.
Start a project
Cape Town / South Africa / Worldwide
Aerial cinematography for film, television and commercials.
Big Bird builds aerial units around the shot: experienced pilots, camera operators, technicians, production support and the right aircraft for the movement, payload and location.
01 / Approach
A camera team that happens to fly.
Aerial work should cut naturally into the camera language of the production. We plan lensing, speed, height, movement and handover with the director and cinematography team before selecting the platform.
Based in Cape Town and working across South Africa and internationally, Big Bird supports feature films, television series, documentaries, commercials and branded productions with fully licensed aerial operations.
Pilot and camera team
Dedicated operators work as one unit to control flight path, composition and timing.
Permissions and safety
Each location is assessed around airspace, people, roads, production access and the required approvals.
02 / Systems
Aircraft matched to the move.
System / 01
Heavy-lift cinema
Alta X, Alta 8 and Alta 6 platforms configured for professional cinema cameras, lenses, gimbals and wireless monitoring.
System / 02
Custom cinema FPV
Phoenix platforms bring speed, proximity and dynamic movement to vehicle work, reveals and confined environments.
System / 03
Fast-deploying aerials
DJI Inspire 3 and compact systems provide a streamlined option for agile production schedules and smaller footprints.
03 / Production process
From brief to moving image.
Define the shot
Share the location, dates, movement, camera requirements and intended use.
Plan the operation
We assess airspace, permissions, safety, crew and the most suitable aircraft package.
Rehearse the move
The flight and camera teams align timing, framing and communication before principal takes.
Capture cleanly
We integrate with the production workflow from setup through media and wrap.
04 / Useful details
Before the cameras move.
Useful starting points for producers, directors and camera departments planning aerial cinematography.
Where does Big Bird provide aerial cinematography?
Big Bird is based in Cape Town and works throughout South Africa as well as on international productions.
Can you fly professional cinema cameras?
Yes. The fleet includes heavy-lift platforms for professional cinema packages, custom FPV systems and integrated options such as the DJI Inspire 3.
Do you handle drone permissions and safety planning?
Big Bird plans the operating and safety approach for each brief. The exact permissions depend on the location, airspace, people, roads and production requirements.
How early should production book the aerial unit?
Contact us as early as possible. Locations involving controlled airspace, roads, people or specialist permissions can require additional planning time.
Start a conversation
Bring us the shot. We’ll build the team.
Send the location, dates, intended move and camera requirements. Big Bird will recommend the right team and system.
hello@bigbird.tv ↗+27 (82) 309 1753 ↗