Importance of Indoor Aerial Filming for Creative Industries (CIs): Looking Towards the Future

Aerial photography and filming represent an indispensable resource for the Creative Industries (CIs), deploying activities like registration of artwork and heritage sites. When filming in confined (indoor) spaces, auxiliary devices as cable cams, camera rails, jibs, scaffolds or lifting platforms are being employed, enabling film directors to obtain special camera shots or to perform graphical surveying and recording of heritage sites or buildings. With the rise of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones, film producers are increasingly focusing on their use for outdoor aerial photography and filming, since RPAS provide significant advantages over current photography and filming techniques such as the expansion of creative spaces and movements of the camera. Also classical filming equipment is normally not adequate when shorter distances to the object are required, and by using RPAS this can be overcome while adding more possibilities for free movement for the camera operator. It is also less risky, as there is no need to climb up a scaffold, ladder or lifting platform to get professional results, and given that RPAS, compared to classical equipment, are small sized, mobile and do not need any support equipment. Thus, in summary, RPAS do not invade the film set. We can also find other advantages such as that complex and bulky auxiliary infrastructure such as cable cams, jibs, scaffolds, etc. become unnecessary and, therefore, logistics are easier and assembly and disassembly is faster; that RPAS require less space than traditional equipment; and that they are cheaper, as prices have dropped significantly and this creative tool is more accessible for small companies. The benefits of using indoor drones have not yet been deeply studied, and in this paper, industry needs and expected characteristics to enhance its use are analyzed.