The Phantom & Mavic Filmschool Killer shots handbook

It seems like you've compiled a comprehensive list of creative drone shots that drone pilots can use to enhance their videography. These shots are designed to tell a story, create a sense of movement, or provide unique perspectives. Here's a brief explanation of each shot and how it can be achieved:

1. Killer shot 5: The Forward Reveal - This is a tracking shot where the drone moves forward towards an object or subject, revealing it in frame as it approaches.

2. Killer shot 6: The Backward Reveal - Similar to the forward reveal but in reverse, where the drone moves away from the subject, gradually bringing it into focus.

3. Alternative method for the Backward Reveal using Focus mode - Instead of moving the camera, you can use focus mode to shift the focus plane towards or away from the subject while keeping the drone at a constant distance.

4. Killer shot 7: The Corkscrew - This involves the drone following a spiraling path around a subject, offering a dynamic and visually engaging perspective.

5. Alternative method to the Corkscrew with Active Track - By using ActiveTrack mode, you can lock the drone onto a moving subject and create a corkscrew pattern by manually adjusting the drone's altitude or speed.

6. Killer shot 8: Course Lock - This shot allows the drone to fly along a pre-set course while avoiding obstacles, keeping the camera steady on the subject.

7. Killer shot 9: The Rise - A shot where the drone ascends vertically towards the subject, creating a sense of scale or grandeur.

8. Killer shot 10: The Lookdown twist - The drone flies at a lower altitude and looks upwards at the subject, creating a unique angle that's not commonly seen.

9. Killer shot 11: The Rise and Pan - A combination of rising and panning movements to follow a subject while maintaining its focus in the frame.

10. Killer shot 12: The Rise and Reveal - The drone ascends to reveal a scene or subject from below, often used to showcase the extent of an area or the scale of a subject.

11. Killer shot 13: The Lookdown Approach - Similar to the Lookdown twist but with a smoother approach, allowing the subject to come into frame gradually.

12. Killer shot 14: The Pan - The drone stays at a constant altitude and pans horizontally across a scene or subject for a wider perspective.

13. Killer shot 15: The Selfie - The drone captures its own image in the frame, often with a subject beside it, creating a 'selfie' style shot.

14. Killer shot 16: The Up and Over - The drone flies over an object or scene and then descends on the other side, offering a full view of the area.

15. Killer shot 17: The Pullback shot - Starts with a close-up of a subject and then pulls back to reveal more of the surrounding environment or context.

16. Killer shot 18: The Lookdown Flyby method 1 with Litchi - A high-speed flyby where the drone looks down onto a subject, capturing it in a dynamic way using the Litchi app.

17. Alternative method for the Lookdown Flyby with Litchi Tapfly (Mavic, P4 and I2 only) - A tapfly maneuver where the drone quickly dips down towards the subject before pulling up again.

18. Killer shot 19: The Opener with Tapfly - An opening shot that sets the tone for the video, often using tapfly mode to create a sense of movement or action.

19. Killer shot 20: The Railcam - The drone flies alongside an object or person, keeping the camera trained on them as if it were mounted on a rail.

20. Killer shot 21: The Sports Railcam - Similar to the Railcam but used specifically for capturing action in sports, with the drone moving at a speed that matches the pace of the activity.

21. Killer shot 22: The Train Railcam - A variant where the drone mimics flying alongside a moving train, often used to create a cinematic effect as if the camera is on rails.

22. Killer shot 23: The Eye of the Storm - The drone flies directly into or through an environmental element like fog, rain, or dust, creating a dramatic and immersive visual effect.

23. Alternative method for the Eye of the Storm using Follow Me mode - Instead of manually flying into the element, the drone can be set to Follow Me mode as it moves through or towards the environmental feature.

24. Killer shot 24: The Slow Motion Pan - A pan with a slow-motion effect applied during post-production, allowing for smooth and artistic movement across the scene.

25. Killer shot 25: The Parallel Path - The drone flies alongside a moving subject at the same speed, keeping the subject in frame and creating a sense of synchronization.

These shots demonstrate the versatility and capabilities of modern drones equipped with high-quality cameras and intelligent flight modes. Each shot requires careful planning, piloting skills, and often post-processing to achieve the best results.

🌟 Overall Course Review 🌟

Course Content and Structure:

• The course offers a comprehensive handbook that serves as a reference manual, combining the essence of Phantom Filmschool 1-3.
• Pros:
  • The handbook is well-crafted and serves as an excellent last-minute check or reminder for filmmakers planning and preparing for flights.
  • Laurence's detailed attention and the sharing of small tips and tricks are highly appreciated by the users.
  • The information provided is clear, concise, and beneficial for skill development, especially in video making, and is available in a printable format suitable for field use.
• Cons:
  • A few users found only 5 out of 22 moves particularly interesting, which may indicate that the content is not universally appealing.
  • Some users felt that the course was not as useful for professionals looking for more advanced material.
  • The course covers a vast number of topics, some of which are subjective and reflect the artistic nature of filmmaking.
  • The repetition of information across various sections might be seen as redundant by some learners.

Practical Application:

• The photography tips were found to be to the point and useful for a variety of photography applications, not just cinematography.
• The explanation of how to use the histogram was highlighted as particularly informative and applicable.

Target Audience:

• The course seems to cater best to individuals seeking a comprehensive guide or refresher, especially those who are new to the field or need a solid foundation in high-speed photography and filmmaking techniques.
• Pros:
  • The PDF booklet format is practical and user-friendly for those who value having concise, reference material on hand.
• Cons:
  • Those expecting more detailed video content on obtaining specific shots may be disappointed if the videos do not cover this aspect in depth.

Final Verdict: The course receives a high rating of 4.50 out of 5 from recent reviewers, indicating widespread satisfaction with its contents and utility. The hands-on manual approach seems to be highly valued by users who find it useful for both learning and application purposes. However, professionals looking for specialized content or those expecting extensive video material on certain techniques may need to look further based on the feedback provided.