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Best in Broadcast 2020
When you’re looking for the best tech in broadcast, you ask the experts. News networks across the world use GSS gimbals to capture the latest in current events.
Time and time again, our clients choose GSS Cineflex gimbals for their:
Lightweight and compact size
Rock-solid stabilization at the end of the lens
Stabilized look down in a smaller and lighter package
Fast installation
Reliability - they just work
Best Churchill Navigation moving maps integration in the industry, with Geo Pointing capabilities and adjustable heading for perfectly aligned maps
Still not convinced? Check out some of our clients with their ships and gimbal systems!
WKMG, via Parker Brown, Orlando, FL.
WLS, Chicago, IL.
WSVN, Miami, FL.
KTVU, via Ruben Campos, San Francisco, CA.
WKMG, Orlando, FL.
WPXI, via Ruben Campos, Pittsburgh, PA.
WCBS, New York, NY.
WABC, New York, NY.
Shot On GSS Highlight: Tony Monk Films
What do Australian Gran Prix, Budweiser, and Lord of the Rings films have in common? Some of their incredible aerial footage was shot by Tony Monk Films, the New Zealand and Austrialian-based aerial filming specialists. With decades of experience and trusty tech on their side, the TMF team films in stunning locations for the likes of action and adventure films, world-renowned brands, and the biggest sporting and news events on the planet. You name it, and there’s a great chance TMF has filmed it.
About Tony Monk Films
Since its inception in 2000, Tony Monk Films has captured jaw-dropping footage from the vantage point of skies. After selling his helicopter company Heletranz in 2013, pilot and CEO Tony Monk shifted his focus to Tony Monk Films full time. Now, it’s all about offering the complete package. Alongside cinematographers Blair Monk and Murray Milne, TMF offers stock footage and connections with helicopter services, including stunt flying, in companion to their custom work for the cinema, broadcast, and commercial industries. The TMF resume is impressive to say the least, and credits include work for BBC, Channel 10 Australia, Audi, and King Kong (2005).
Want to see more of Tony Monk Films?
Go direct to the source on Instagram @tonymonkfilms!
Flying TV captures the British Grand Prix and Spitfire!
Last month, our client Flying TV prepared 2019 British Grand Prix viewers with incredible footage of classic airmanship. Hosted by Steve Jones with special guests David Coulthard and Mark Webber, legends and former F1 racers, the opening scene of the July 14 race brings speed to the skies alongside the Spitfire.
From the vantage point of a Robinson R44, Flying TV’s Aerial DOP Monica Wyer used a GSS Cinema Pro, a full-size Sony HDC-P50 4K, and Canon 45x9.7 4K UHD Lens mounted on a GSS R44 Single Pole. In coordination with Whisper Films, the footage captures mind-blowing aerial maneuvers highlighted by Britain’s lush, green backdrop around Silverstone Circuit, a former WWII airbase in Northamptonshire.
First held in 1926, the British Grand Prix features 52 laps, and a phenomenal win by now six-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton capped this year’s race. The 34-year-old British racer completed his latest win at 1:21:08.452. Congrats, Lewis! He continues to build his legacy with more World Championship titles and more race victories than any other British F1 driver.
We’re excited to race in with you on your next exciting adventure, Flying TV!
Learn more about the GSS Cinema Pro and it’s capabilities here.
GSS at Cine Gear 2019
Cine Gear 2019 was a success yet again! Paramount Studios was an incredible venue to meet and greet both new and familiar faces. As always, we are so grateful to be part of this talented community. It was such a pleasure to catch up with friends and show off GSS tech in Los Angeles!
We can’t give enough thanks to Nathan Garofalos of Incline Dynamic Outlet, Patrick Longman from Active Camera Systems, and both Rob Drewett and Adam Sculthrop from Motion Impossible for the booth support. There’s nothing like working alongside friends and true experts in the field.
We’ll see you next year!
Into the Wild with Teton Gravity Research
GSS client Teton Gravity Research hit the ground running after their big win in December for the Powder’s Movie of the Year Award, for their film “Far Out.” This year, they continue to create incredible content with their GSS gimbal… Here’s a look into the history of TGR.
Started in 1995 by Steve Jones and Todd Jones, TGR set out to highlight the wildest sports on a global front. From surf to snow and everything in between, TGR wants to push boundaries and capture incredible stunts while also limiting their environmental impact. Through the production of thirty-two films, including their incredible 2018 releases “Ode to Muir,” “Mountain in the Hallway,” “Far Out,” and “Andy Iron: Kissed by God,” TGR has balanced on the edge of extreme with a passion for progress and awe of the world.
One of their coolest projects, “Far Out,” captures the athlete’s intensity to take on the world’s wildest slopes, from the Slovenian Alps, Alaska, Montana and more. Below are some of our favorite pictures and clips from TGR’s adventures.
Take a trip to Montana's Crazy Mountains during shooting for “Far Out.”
Fly over the Chugach Range.
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NAB 2019
We’re relishing in the success of this year’s National Association of Broadcasters Show! Thank you to everyone who visited our booth. This was definitely the most exciting NAB Show for GSS to date.
If you didn’t attend, you missed out on some major showstoppers at our booth! It was a privilege showing off our systems alongside our talented partners and clients, including the Sony HDC-P50 4K broadcast camera, the Canon 45X 4K and Fujinon 46X 4K broadcast lenses, and the XD Motion X Fly Vertical and Tethered Drone. Of course, Incline Dynamic Outlet’s incredible Huracam camera car raced in and took everyone’s breath away.
We also had the opportunity to bring out our 2001 original Cineflex V14. Our gimbals have come a long way, and this design has truly stood the test of time. This system marked the beginning of the Cineflex legacy and still continues today in our broadcast line of products!
This year continues to look bright! What are we excited for? Expect to see low-light broadcast cameras and augmented reality overlays change the game even further for live sports and electronic news gathering market segments.
If you couldn’t make this year’s NAB Show, we know we’ll see you at NAB 2020! Stay in-the-know by signing up for our email list below!
Aerial Cine Group Showcases Corail Helicopters
Journey to the stunning island of Mauritius in the latest video from Aerial Cine Group. Flying alongside Corail Helicopters, the island-based tour guides in the Caribbean and off the coast of South Africa, Aerial Cine Group explores the lush landscape off the eastern coast of Africa.
The video in this shoot was captured by Aerial Cine Group with our GSS 516 Red Helium and Angenieux Optimo 25-250. The results are phenomenal. This was a great way to market Corail Helicopters.
Aerial Cine Group, the Emmy-winning, Belgium-based aerial filming team, has gone global. You may have seen their work from the Red Bull Air Racing in Abu Dhabi, sailing in Miami, car chasing in Amsterdam, and more.
See more of Aerial Cine Group on Instagram @aerial_cine_group!
USAF Goes Gyro-Stabilized in Weapons Test
This past December, the U.S. Air Force released footage of a successful Flight Test Integrated-03, also known as FTI-03, shot with a GSS Cinema Pro gimbal. Watch the footage here.
Filmed with a Red DSMC2 Helium and a Canon 50-1000mm lens for day footage along with stunning night footage via a Midwave Infrared Camera, the video captured combined efforts of the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy.
The team operated the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex based out of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. According to Mark Wright of the Missile Defence Agency, “This was an operational live fire test demonstrating the Aegis Weapon System Engage On Remote capability to track and intercept an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) target with an Aegis Ashore-launched Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor.”
It is incredible to see so many different purposes and projects with GSS in action. We are proud to represent the U.S. military in their defense exercises.
Get more updates of GSS gimbals, and our client’s projects by signing up for our emails below.
The Clients of GSS
What does it take to create the incredible documentaries you watch on The BBC, Discovery Channel and more? It starts with the best tech, outstanding customer service and state-of-the-art designs from a dedicated team. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to these client testimonials from the most talented crews in the aerial cinematography industry.
“They are a step above...”
It’s all about the problem-solving abilities for Aerial Photographer Christian Turner from the US Air Force and Media Fusion. Our high-quality gimbal designs and 24/7 customer service speak for themselves, allowing Christian Turner to continue to capture the fastest aircraft around.
"It just made sense."
Emmy-winning Aerial Cameraman Skip Margetts of Helimedia wanted a partnership, not a sales pitch. With the ability to interchange cameras and lenses, Helimedia has created stunning footage on the Cape Town front for movies like Chappie (2015) and District 9 (2009) for over a decade.
“GSS is a group of excellence."
For IDO Aerials Co-Owner and Director of Photography Nathan Garofalos, accountability and consistency are crucial, and we can understand why. Since 2014, Incline Dynamic Outlet has created footage for the industry's biggest filmmakers: National Geographic, Warner Bros. Pictures and more.
“GSS has definitely set the bar high.”
Aerial Photographer Chris Higgins of the Edwards Air Force Base says his relationship with the GSS team boosts productivity. That engaging customer service really counts and makes a difference when he’s taking on the skies and capturing footage at jet speed.
"They care about my success."
Just like Winged Vision Founder Bob Mikkelson said, we do what others won't. Our partnership helps him capture awesome sporting event coverage of NASCAR, NHL, NFL and more. With stable footage, he gets in on the action both from land and in the air.
"GSS is a partner who we trust, and it works."
Alexander Brozek of CAMCAT-Systems agrees. GSS takes the time to answer questions. CAMCAT takes the European market by storm, taking on the 2017 British Golf Open and more with their remote-controlled cable system designed for aerial footage captures.
“It’s cutting edge, state of the art.”
Straight from Rogue Aviation Co-Owner Matt Barnes and Creative Director and Aerial Cinematographer Cory Hill, GSS is a family. Rogue Aviation has shot aerial work for The Mint 400 race and Pacific Flight Aviation flight school, and has been featured in commercial ads for all kinds of businesses and brands, like DuPont, BMW, and even in music videos!
Our amazing clients are the reason we do what we do. The art they continue to create inspires us to consistently innovate our gimbals for the best service and quality available.
See more testimonials here.
The GSS Cinema Pro+ captures United Arab Emirates National Day
Here’s one way to celebrate! In honor of December’s United Arab Emirates National Day and the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, an aircraft formation flew over Dubai in a spirit of unity, captured by a GSS Cinema Pro+!
In a collaboration between Navigation Films and Blue Sky’s Peter Degerfeldt, the plane formation, complete with eleven aircraft from Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and the Al Fursan Air Display Team, showcased color and teamwork in a course chartered by Sheikh Zayed. From the vantage point of an L39 Jet via the Baltic Bees, the video soared over Dubai and aircraft emblazoned with “Year of Zayed.”
The video, directed by Mike Charlton and produced by Akash Kingston, contains jet footage by Peter Degerfeldt and GSS technician Vicky Degerfeldt. Thanks to the Baltic Bees team members Valery Sobolev, Anatolij LIsenkov and Artyom Soloduha, this incredible fleet came to life.
UAE National Day celebrates the joining of the seven emirates in 1971 and the first president, Sheikh Zayed, typically celebrated with fireworks and air shows.
This was an amazing capture by Blue Sky Aerials and Navigation Films. We are so proud to see our technology used in ways that continue to push and innovate the filming industry!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see more.
Award-Winning Teton Gravity Research
Last year, Teton Gravity Research created an awesome new project with their Cinema Pro+ and took home Powder’s Movie of the Year Award.
Their film Far Out goes global, from the Albanian Alps to Girdwood, Alaska. What do the world’s most wild mountain ranges have to offer? More than 30 of the most daring bike, ski and snowboard athletes find out. This epic chronicle took one of the coveted awards during Powder Magazine’s 19th Annual Powder Awards in December, an event which honors the best athletes and artists in the ski community.
Check out the trailer for Far Out below.
We are a proud sponsor of this film. As we have seen time and time again with dozens of the team’s incredible films, TGR never fails to deliver. Our client’s amazing work inspires us to push gimbal technology to new levels so they can achieve new perspectives.
A huge congrats to the TGR crew on this awesome win!
What will TGR create next? Be the first to know by following us on Instagram and Facebook!
2018 With GSS
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Gyro-Stabilized Systems!
Thank you to all of our customers, partners, clients, users, and friends that make up the great GSS community. 2018 was a great year and we are very excited how the ENG, live sports, natural history, production and government markets are all evolving. During the last 12 months we have seen many incredible images captured with GSS systems. From filming the Winter Games and Discovery’s Deadliest Catch to live action aerial news/ENG sequences and SpaceX’s Falcon landing, we are eager to see how GSS gimbals are used to push the limits and find new perspectives in 2019.
Thanks again and best of luck in the New Year to all of our GSS customers, partners, clients, users, and friends worldwide!
Inter BEE 2018
GSS had a successful trip to Inter BEE 2018 last month, Japan’s annual broadcast electronic conference and exhibition. Totsu International, our sales partner for the Japanese market, shared our advanced gimbal technologies with the Japanese broadcast audience.
GSS Japan Sales & Support Partner Totsu International President Akira Ito, Koichi Ogata and Takeshi Sasadate.
Totsu International has represented Cineflex and GSS products in the law enforcement, government, broadcast and production markets for over a decade. Their experience and knowledge of the industry has allowed us to grow our presence and market share in Japan. At this year’s Inter BEE, we showcased our Cineflex Broadcast series gimbals specifically tailored for the Japanese market, the GSS Cineflex Premier and Cineflex T2.
Customers had a chance to try out our gimbal at the Totsu booth.
Inter Bee, formerly named the Broadcast Equipment Exhibition, has showcased the latest in broadcast electronics in Tokyo since 1965. It was a privilege to attend alongside some of the world’s most advanced technology. It has continued to be a great opportunity to share our systems.
Learn more about our Cineflex Broadcast systems here.
XD-Motion Soars After IBC
GSS client XD-Motion hit the ground running after an eventful weekend at IBC in Amsterdam. With their Cinema Pro + and an Arri Mini with Angenieux 24-290mm lens, the team completed an aerial shoot and made every minute count.
By 1 P.M. the next day, XD-Motion Founder and Aerial Operator Benoit Dentan and the aerial equipment traveled over 900 miles to the helicopter base, a journey that originally began at 3 A.M. when the equipment arrived in Paris.
By 3 P.M., Dentan was ready to shoot an Airbus helicopter from a bracket aircraft with his 290mm lens. With only an hour to film, Dentan captured beautiful sequences.
As some of the hardest workers in the industry, XD-Motion takes our products to new limits for air and 1D, 2D, 3D cable systems. The international aerial filming organization has created content for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games, Kia Motors and more.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more incredible client-created projects below.
Shot with GSS, By Blue Sky Aerial
Blue Sky Aerial & Specialist Filming has taken their Cinema Pro gimbal to great heights. Their latest showreel combines clips from feature films and internationally broadcasted commercials. From Eurovision and Director Paul Feig’s Spy (2015), big-budget projects have included Blue Sky’s aerial footage through urban and natural landscapes for stunning climactic scenes.
Blue Sky, founded in 1984 by Peter Degerfeldt and Göran Widenby, combines cinematography with incredible, innovative stunts and techniques. The team rigs their gimbal across all platforms–helicopter, car, boat and wire– and coordinates the wildest aerial stunts and captures. Their clients include the BBC, National Geographic, 20th Century Fox and more.
We are so proud to see one of our gimbals used for exciting feats.
For more of our clients’ projects,
visit Shot with GSS
From Old to New: A Look at Stabilized Improvements with Churchill Navigation
At GSS, we always look to evolve and improve. At our core, we are engineers that love to create, test and improve our gimbals and technologies to provide the highest quality and latest advancements that integrate with our gimbals. As we analyze old footage, we are proud to see how far our stabilized gimbals have come and are able to offer the best solution for IMU integration.
In this clip, we compared the original solution, External Novatel IMU, to the new, GSS Internal IMU. Both flights featured identical paths over Philadelphia and used Churchill Navigation’s BEAR mapping system with a GSS Cineflex series broadcast gimbal. Notice the incredible stabilization improvements; the street names no longer shake or bounce, and instead, glide smoothly.
What is IMU?
An IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit, detects linear acceleration using an accelerometer and rotational rate using gyroscopes. It reports pitch, roll and yaw status on a continual basis.
We use IMU data as part of an Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). The GSS INS uses the IMU measurements to calculate attitude, angular rates, linear velocity and position relative to a global reference frame. GSS IMU/INS reports the video’s location to Churchill for a live mapping overlay. An accurate IMU data feed results in a stable mapping overlay, as you see in this video.
Learn more about our development of our in-house INS here.
For more information on integrating GSS’s IMU with your system, contact us here.
For more information about our Cineflex Broadcast Series, click here.
Fitting the DNA of Teton Gravity Research
Earlier this year, GSS client Teton Gravity Research, an action sports media company, shared this custom feature about their journey with GSS their new GSS Cinema Pro +, and we are so proud to see our gimbal in these incredibly versatile projects.
“GSS really fits our DNA. It’s the best five-axis gimbal in the world.”
– TGR Co-Founder Todd Jones
TGR formed more than two decades ago and since created thirty-two sports culture-focused films with no signs of stopping.
Check out how TGR uses their GSS gimbal to capture winter sports across the globe in the video above and learn more about their award-winning films here.
Learn more about the Cinema Pro + and it’s capabilities here.
GSS Joins Forces With IDO For The World's Fastest Camera Car
GSS client Incline Dynamic Outlet tested its latest project: a gimbal-mounted RED Epic 8K on a Lamborghini Huracán.
Industry professionals are calling it the “World's Fastest Camera Car” performing zero-to-60-mph in 3.2 seconds with 610-horsepower. Dubbed The Huracam, the Lamborghini and camera combination captures video at the race line. The GSS Cinema Pro Gimbal, installed into the hood with a custom-made arm, can now reach speeds of 200 mph, unlike traditional SUV rigs.
Incline Dynamic Outlet, co-founded by cinematographers Nathan Garofalos and Wil Prim, utilizes the Cinema Pro with RED technology for commercial and motion picture projects with aerial and auto cinematography needs. Additions to the Huracam frame by Steven Grant and Tanner Hart make the stability of the 60-pound gimbal possible. Early tests of the design required an externally-run cable across the Huracám’s frame, but future updates will transition to a streamlined, internal look.
After months of design, IDO began testing mid-April and completed the first shoot at The Thermal Club, a motorsports country club based in Palm Desert, by the end of the month. The Huracam has since been featured by Top Gear and The Drive, who hailed it as, “a reality check for every GoPro-wielding weekend warrior with dreams of cinematic glory.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GSS CINEMA SERIES GIMBALS!
Cine Gear Expo Recap
Cine Gear Expo was a blast this year. It’s always an exciting time to check out how the production community is evolving and innovating. We had the honor of connecting with old friends and making new ones!
This year, we showcased an Interactive Cinema Pro + Universal Lens Kit and a static display of our Cinema Mini.
We also partnered with our customer, Rogue Aviation as they showcased their aerial cinematography capabilities with a Robinson R66 Turbine Marine Helicopter and a GSS Cinema Pro mounted with an Arctic Built mount.
"It was great to see many GSS customers, users and friends at Cine Gear this year," states GSS Managing Director Jason Fountaine. "Our new Cinema Mini was received well by the production community. The Cinema Mini is an extremely lightweight and small gimbal that includes GSS proprietary 6-axis VectorSteering™ technology. The new Cinema Pro+ Universal Lens Kit was also a hit as it has the ability to integrate hundreds of payload configurations. It was also good timing to be able to introduce our recent acquisition of Arctic Built, specializing in industry standard pole mounts for the Robinson R44 and R66 helicopters. GSS is positioned on the frontline and continuing development for utility camera mounts needed on the smaller helicopters. Our customer, Rogue Aviation’s Robinson R66 helicopter had an Arctic Built pole mounted on it for display. As a fun feature, there was a photo booth that was a highlight for all of the aspiring kids to sit in that want to one day be an aerial director of photograph or film pilot."
GSS Acquires Arctic Built, LLC
This week, GSS acquires Arctic Built LLC, the solution for Robinson R44 and R66 helicopter utility camera gimbal mounts.
With this addition, GSS will be the sole owner of these utility mounts and will further extend aerial cinematography capabilities to the cinema, broadcast and surveillance markets.
The FAA and EASA-approved mounts provide the necessary weight and balance when mounting a gimbal on these lighter helicopters. With a maximum load of 100 and 115 pounds respectively, the R44 and R66 mounts require limited installation time and do not require aircraft modifications.
Both mounts are fitted to the right side of the helicopter and have even weight distribution, so they may remain attached while flying with or without a payload. The mounts are compatible with 360 degree systems and LIDAR mapping. As an added bonus, the R44 mount is portable and separates into three pieces to make shipping easy.
Founded by GSS customer Daniel Zatz of ZatzWorks, Arctic Built has designed, tested and sold utility mounts since 2016. The Alaskan-based company worked alongside ZatzWorks for aerial filming.
“I’ve worked with the GSS team since the day I bought my first GSS and Cineflex and there isn’t a finer group of creative engineers anywhere,” states Daniel Zatz. “I’m extremely happy to transfer Arctic Built to GSS and let them continue to innovate and support the broadcast and production communities.”
We are eager to broaden our aerial cinematography service capabilities with this acquisition and offer Arctic Built mounts to the marketplace.