Below is a list of the questions we are most commonly asked. But, if you have any other questions at all, please shoot Robert a text, call, or email.
407-462-7794
robstar1@starlingproductions.com
Explore our work and see for yourself.
Yes, of course we can. We're known for our fantastic location work and bringing the best crew, production gear, camera, and lighting equipment to any location, including the Caribbean.
Those days might start out filming on the beach, shooting from a yacht, chasing cars on a race track, a sit-down celebrity interview, corporate videos, a remote mountain top, and end up on a 100x100 sound stage with cyc walls and green screens big enough for a truck or cozy enough to interview a celebrity or sports figure.
Just like our camera and lighting packages, if you need a studio, we'll either create one on your location or rent the perfect studio for you and your client. Need a small green screen studio for a quick product shot or an on-camera spokesperson? Need a colossal studio or soundstage to shoot a semi-truck or an automotive commercial? We've been there, done that, and will find the right sized stage to suit your needs and budget.
As a native Floridian and 25-year veteran filming in Florida, whether Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Sarasota, or Jacksonville, we know hundreds of unique, film-friendly locations we can suggest.
However, many locations require a professional location manager's specialized talents and knowledge. As a result, they play a critical role in film and video production in Florida and every other state. A seasoned Location Manager has a catalog of thousands of the best and most challenging to get filming locations, shooting locations, and owners they've cultivated trust and access with over the years. Professional video production Location Managers have all the right people on speed-dial. They also will handle the ins and outs of permitting, parking and access.
Starling Productions complies 100% with all FAA, Federal, State, and local municipality guidelines related to the operation of drones and traditional aircraft such as helicopters. In addition, we follow industry best practices for operation, maintenance, and safety, including those outlined in our UAV / Drone Operations Manual.
Please call or text us at 407-462-7794 with the date, time of day, location, job name, and a description of what you want to accomplish. The address, or at least across the street, is mandatory for us to ensure it is a legal and safe airspace for drones.
Yes, we have small, medium, and large drones suitable for any size project and any camera.
Yes, we can. However, we do not fly directly over humans or moving cars that are not part of the shoot! It's simply not worth the risk to the people, our company or yours. Note, with our wide selection of drones, lenses, and cameras; we can fly slightly offset above and safely away while still looking like we're overhead.
Up to roughly 65mph, and with a good tailwind, we've seen 84mph. The maximum speed allowed by the FAA is 100mph.
The drones can fly quite high, but the FAA limits legal flight to 400 ft above ground level. We are allowed to use the tops of most buildings and structures as our "ground level," with a few specific exceptions depending on the location and time of day. With enough time and planning, we can request special authorization from the FAA for higher altitudes. It's not hard; it just takes time and experience. We've legally flown as high as 1600 ft AGL, even on the Las Vegas Strip.
Drone flights are limited to Visual Line of Sight (VLOS). That means if we can see our aircraft with an unaided eye, we can fly that far. With a visually cluttered background of trees, buildings, or mountains, that might be 800-1000 ft away from us. In the wide-open blue sky with good light, we've been out as far as 5000 ft +/-.
Battery life depends on temperature, windy conditions, fast flights chasing vehicles, and the aircraft itself. Most flights are roughly 20 minutes, except with heavy lift drones that trade their impressive lift capacity for flight times of 6-10 minutes. Our safety policy and good practices dictate we begin returning to base at 30-35% and land at 20-25% capacity. We have enough battery sets to fly for at least two hours without recharging.
We do! We're your Easy Button and will work with and notify all entities as needed.
We have complete backup systems with us for our jobs. And, in most cases, we have a backup for our backups.
In most cases, we already have authorizations, unlocks, and waivers in place 24/7/365. However, when a shoot does require special FAA authorization, there are a few automated online options with the FAA. And then, there are the completely custom requests that need to be reviewed by FAA agents at the Federal and Local levels. Those can be approved in less than an hour or take a week. Again, we will do everything to make it happen for you, but approvals at this level are up to the FAA.
Yes, that is possible as long as they have experience and only if we are there as the Remote Pilot in Charge. Your pilot will need to show their current license and competence in a controlled test flight.
Absolutely! We love working with other camera operators! It is beneficial if they have experience operating with remote heads, gimbals, and joysticks. Even if they are not, we're happy to let them give it a try.
Yes, of course! We have a stable of some of the best camera operators in the world! This is the most common approach for the best results and fewest takes. The aerial choreography between the drone pilot and camera operator is a finely tuned dance. Each shot is designed and developed before launch and continues as the drone operator pilots the aircraft through the three-dimensional airspace. The camera operator follows and focuses on the subject and scene. In addition, we can arrange non-union and union operators.
The more eyes on the drone and the flight area, the better in complex and heavily populated locations. The FAA usually won't stipulate X number of VOs, but they'll expect us to plan accordingly when reviewing the flight plan. Most jobs don't require a VO, but some situations like big music festivals with 100,000+ attendees might need 6-8 VOs. But, again, it is all about safety, and we don't cut corners on that for you or us.
No, most standard production policies specifically exclude drones. However, we carry up to $5m of dedicated UAV General Liability coverage 24/7/365.
No worry, we have your back. We carry the highest levels of specialty drone insurance of $5m UAV General Liability. Our policies are in full force year-round through a dedicated aircraft insurer and broker. We do not take shortcuts with low-rated insurers offering hourly or daily policies purchased through mobile phone apps. We take care of everything for you, including issuing drone-specific Certificates of Insurance to you, your locations, clients, and municipal permitting agencies as needed.
We cannot fly in the rain, a light mist, or even heavy fog. The strong downward pressure of the drone prop wash compresses the air and moisture to such a degree that it becomes supersaturated air and water droplets that foul the drone motors. In areas around Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Palm Beach, Miami, Daytona, Kennedy Space Center / NASA, Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, and Charlotte —afternoon storms are a fact of life. Therefore, all productions in the areas should plan for wind, rain and weather delays regardless of location.
Yes, we can! Our drones are powerful, GPS stabilized, and very stable. Our baseline safety limit for wind speed is roughly +/- 20 mph in urban areas and around +/- 25-30 mph in open or rural areas. Keep in mind that while working near buildings, an ordinarily safe 15-20 mph wind funneling between the buildings creates a venturi effect that can pressurize a 15-mph wind into 30 mph gusts with insane currents and eddies blasting out between the buildings. If we can fly safely, we will fly. But the pilot always has the final say about the safety of a flight.
Another aspect of high wind is that it shortens battery life and flight times due to the motors working harder to stabilize the aircraft.
We get this question all the time. Any of the DJI consumer drones are an excellent place to start. The DJI Mavic Mini version is a great product, easy and fun to fly, and is just below the FAA weight limit for registering it as long as it is for fun only.
There's so much misinformation about the when/where of drones, and there are thousands of pages of FAA rules and regulations, local laws, state laws, and of course, that thing called gravity! The good news is we've figured all of that out for you, and you don't have to worry about it.
Robert and his team brought a level of creativity and professionalism to our production with their aerial drone work. Robert’s knowledge of the ever-evolving drone rules and regulations made the production run smoothly. It also allowed his team’s creativity to take center stage. We look forward to working with Robert and his team in the future.
Producer/Director
Quite Film
I would highly recommend Robert Starling and his team for any production needs. We have used them for everything from a simple interview using two basic cameras to filming high-speed video on a Phantom 1610. Every shoot is completed with above expectation results and a professional approach unmatched in today’s film industry. We have hired them several times in the past, and plan to do so several more times in the future.
Executive Producer
Two Saints Films & Steve’s Outdoor Adventures TV
Robert understands that “show business” is an equal part discipline, spread between the “show” which is the creative, craft, and story elements of our industry, combined with the “business” which is how you conduct yourself, how you prepare for every possible scenario, and how you politically manage situations both on and on off set. Robert’s a professional with a great eye and a great heart. He’s a great drone operator and he’s become a favorite vendor in a short time.
Producer/Director
VEMO