Helicopter Films’ Jeremy Braben Assoc. BSC on capturing Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore

What was the Brief? 

Early in 2020, before Covid fully took hold, we flew to the Scotland Highlands to film VFX plates in snow-scattered landscapes around Fort William, Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan. We used our Airbus Twin Squirrel helicopter rigged with the Shotover K1 gimbal using our ‘Typhon’ 6-camera array which was equipped with six ARRI Alexa Minis and Zeiss CP.3 lenses and integrated lens control. We also flew with the Shotover F1 gimbal rigged with the ARRI Mini LF camera and Fujinon Premista 28-100 Full Frame zoom lens filming the background plates for Hogwarts and other sets. 

Our original brief, pre-Covid, had been to film sequences in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, China and Brazil. However, due to health and travel restrictions associated with the Covid19 pandemic, the aerial team only managed to film in Switzerland, Slovakia, Scotland and England at Leavesden Studios), the latter was made possible thanks to the skilfull ability of Production set design who built key elements from the original desired locations into the Back Lot at Leavesden Studios. This meant it was possible for us to use our drones, rather than helicopters.  

In March, the team flew to Slovakia and Switzerland to capture more snow scenes. In Slovakia, we used our helicopter from Germany with the Shotover K1 and our ‘Typhon’ 6-camera aerial array rigged with six ARRI Alexa Minis with Zeiss CP.3 lenses. In the Swiss Alps, we used a brand-new Single Squirrel H125 helicopter rigged with a Shotover F1 again, with the ALEXA Mini LF and the Fujinon Premista Spherical 28-100mm lens. It was whilst we were in Switzerland that we were told by the Studio to fly home, due to Covid restrictions.  

In early 2021, filming on the production resumed again in England, at Leavesden Studios. We used our Aerigon heavy lift drone with the ARRI LF Mini camera and Panavision Sphero 24mm lens to capture live action and plates on the various sets built onto the Back Lot. 

England:  

Drone with ARRI LF Mini camera and Panavision Sphero 24mm lens 

Slovakia: 

Helicopter: Airbus Twin Squirrel AS355N 

Shotover K1 with HFS’s Typhon 6-Camera Aerial Array with ARRI Alexa Minis x 6 with Zeiss CP.3 lenses x6 

Switzerland: 

Helicopter: Airbus Single Squirrel H125 (AS350 B3) 

Shotover F1 with ARRI LF Mini camera and Fujinon Premista Spherical zoom 

Scotland:  

Helicopter: Airbus Twin Squirrel AS355 

Shotover K1 with HFS’s Typhon 6-Camera Aerial Array with ARRI Alexa Minis x 6 with Zeiss CP.3 lenses x6 

Shotover F1 with the ARRI LF Mini camera and Fujinon Premista lens