Blog
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!
HAI Heli Expo 2019
GSS team members commit themselves to sharing our knowledge and expanding the incredible industry opportunities. What better place to do so than Helicopter Association International’s 2019 Heli Expo?
GSS Managing Director Jason Fountaine and Vice President of Sales Nick Ricciardi exhibited this year in Atlanta and had the chance to meet with industry customers, supporters, and friends. We are always grateful to share our systems with members of the helicopter industry and expand our network. The heli industry has been the largest proponent of our systems to date, and we look forward to new opportunities within the broadcast/ENG, utility inspection, and surveillance markets for gimbals. It’s a very exciting time to work with this tech!
While HAI’s membership has grown dramatically since its inception in 1948, its mission has stayed the same. Nearly 20,000 experts gathered this season to share knowledge, focus on safety standards, and of course, show off awesome new systems within the helicopter industry. We are truly fortunate to exhibit with the best in the business and can’t wait for next year!
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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.
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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!
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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!
Beyond The Helicopter: GSS Custom Design Services
Gimbals should go above and beyond the standard helicopter. When your project requires ground rigging from a ship or truck, as filmed during Deadliest Catch or a Teton Gravity Research project, a custom design should be within reach.
“We have mounted the C520 (Cinema Pro+) on cars, trucks, boats and small 4-wheel drive vehicles,” says Co-Founder, Executive Producer & Co-Director of Teton Gravity Research, Todd Jones.
“You can have it on a truck in the morning and move it onto a helicopter in under an hour.”
Decades of experience allow GSS engineers to develop gimbal systems which accommodate custom designs. We design every model with room for modifications as camera and lens technologies change and integrate systems to your needs.
After purchasing your gimbal, contact GSS who, along with companies including Paradigm SRP LLC, can develop unique systems fitted for your production, surveillance or broadcast needs.
Contact us about your custom design today!
The GSS Cinema Pro+
The GSS Cinema Pro+, formerly known as the C520, is the smallest and lightest gimbal in its class and supports the most popular cameras and lenses in the marketplace. This gimbal goes above and beyond competitors with fast installation time, a weather-sealed shell and the ability to house today’s most popular camera and lens configurations.
Weighing in at 85 pounds (without payload) and a width of 20 inches, this gimbal accommodates large cinema cameras and lenses for projects in all environments. The system has been used at sub-freezing temperatures above 24,000 feet in the Himalayas and in the sweltering heat in the Emirati desert. Unlike competitors, the Cinema Pro+ is completely sealed for safe operation in adverse climates.
Like all GSS gimbals, no gimbal tech is required for installation. Save time and money with our interchangeable systems, and swap between cameras like the Arri Alexa 65, Alexa SXT, Alexa LF, Sony Venice (and many others!) with hundreds of lens options within 30 minutes. This package can fly on a single pole mount, which will also save considerable time and money when compared to shipping, installing and using a dual pole mount.
With an expanded elevation of 30° to -205° from horizontal and six-axis of gyro-stabilized movement, the Cinema Pro+ has the most wide-ranging capabilities yet and may be operated in both standard and inverted mode. With VectorSteering™ look-down technology there is no gimbal lock.
Even with its large-scale capabilities, this gimbal still flies conveniently as excess baggage without ITAR or EAR export restrictions and easily breaks down to 70 lbs/32 kg per box in about one hour.
We have designed our future-proof open architecture systems to be compatible with upgrades as gimbal, camera and lens technologies evolve.
For all of the Cinema Pro+ details, check out the complete specs for more information about its expanded, interchangeable camera and lens options.
Download the complete specs 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.