ON THE ROAD WITH

ON THE ROAD WITH… SOUTH TYROLEAN SERVICE PROVIDERS Alpsvision

Delivering images from the heights: modelmaker Michael Schmalzl and cameraman Alexander Fontana are Alpine drone specialists

On the Road with… Alpsvision

By MARIANNA KASTLUNGER

Photography MICHAEL PEZZEI

ON THE ROAD WITH… SOUTH TYROLEAN SERVICE PROVIDERS Alpsvision

“Drones are already able to replace expensive helicopter shots or elaborate dolly shots.” Pilots Schmalzl (left) and Fontana preparing for a shoot in the Dolomites.

“The workday always starts with an espresso,

irrespective of how varied our job otherwise is,” says Michael Schmalzl, licensed drone pilot. The athletic Val Gardena native is a self-confessed modeling enthusiast with a keen fascination for manual flying, especially in the film industry. His fellow pilot and cameraman Alexander Fontana nods appreciatively, smiling, when he hears the word “espresso.” The two became acquainted in 2016, when Schmalzl was looking for a fellow pilot for his company Alpsvision, which he had founded two years earlier. Now they’re business partners and their aerial shots for documentaries, TV and feature films are increasingly in demand. They mainly operate in South Tyrol, but assignments outside the region are becoming more frequent. Their congenial, conversational tone suggests a strong, friendly bond on both a human and professional level. The Alpsvision duo combines expertise in model flying with an understanding of moving images. “It’s something quite standard for drone pilots today, yet it takes a shared notion of space and time to really work well together,” says Schmalzl. “And that’s what makes us tick.” On this early summer morning – which is still a bit lacking in warmer temperatures – the Alpsvision team leads us up to the Falzarego Pass, amid the still-cloudy Dolomites, where Schmalzl and Fontana were often on the road last year to capture chase scenes for the Magenta.TV series Wild Republic (►TAKE #12). At the moment, there is little activity on the still-somewhat-wintry pass between Cortina and Val Badia – the ideal place for some panoramic shots from above. Time to let the drone soar. A DJI Inspire 2 drone with X7 camera is scheduled to take off today: Fontana explains that it’s a “medium-sized model that has been successful in filmmaking because it can be used flexibly and is prepared for launch quickly,” as he unpacks it and fits it with the propellers. Flight time depends heavily on the specific flying style but can be as short as fifteen minutes. Ample charged batteries have been packed, in preparation for further flights.

A TECHNOLOGY FULL OF ARTISTIC POTENTIAL The Alpsvision pilots prepare for takeoff, discussing their flight route: “It’s crucial to clarify everything in advance, and always consult closely with the director and DoP,” says Fontana. As the aircraft sets off in the direction of the Dolomite peaks, Schmalzl and Fontana are now intensely concentrated, steering and filming in silence. It doesn’t matter whether they’re capturing Alpine panoramas, as they are today, or filming actors on set: teamwork is always paramount. “Flying as a pair is much more efficient, creative and, above all, safer,” says Schmalzl. They know exactly

ON THE ROAD WITH… SOUTH TYROLEAN SERVICE PROVIDERS Alpsvision

Alpsvision's various models include a racing drone with VR goggles. But this is “a technique that has yet to become established in terms of cinematic narrative.”

ON THE ROAD WITH… SOUTH TYROLEAN SERVICE PROVIDERS Alpsvision

what to do, exchanging at most only brief inputs during navigation. Occasional high-mountain gusts are no problem for these pilots, who have plenty of Alpine experience: “Movement within a three-dimensional space is very complex, but it also allows for a lot of wiggle room. You can see that clearly when a particular shot looks unexpectedly good,” Fontana says after landing. The cameraman holds drone technology in high regard: “The technology is becoming more and more stable, and many things are possible with little effort. In addition, this field also has great development potential as regards artistic and visual language. When necessary, we also use more motorized drones that carry heavier cameras with cinema lenses,” he says.

ALPINE EXPERIENCE AND STUNNING LOCATIONS One change of location and equipment later, and Schmalzl is now sitting in the countryside near the Capanna Alpina lodge, close to St. Kassian in Val Badia. He’s piloting a racing drone using VR goggles. This provides dynamic images with a “feeling of really being in flight,” during which the horizon also rotates. “It’s a technique that has yet to become established in terms of cinematic narrative, though”, Fontana explains. International productions value the Alpsvision duo above all for their expertise in Alpine terrain. Schmalzl and Fontana love to introduce their film partners to the most beautiful places they know and suggest unusual locations, such as they did recently for a South Tyrol segment of the ORF documentary Über Österreich. But they’ve also worked on a whole series of feature film projects, including Hill of Vision, Tramonto a Nord Ovest and Dreamcatcher, as well as for TV productions such as ARD’s Bozen Krimi, Blackout and, most recently, Mordach (►Shot in South Tyrol, p. 12). Not all film productions rely on drones, of course. Therefore, the sector still ekes out a niche existence. But with every completed project, it becomes clearer to Schmalzl and Fontana what else drones could do: “There’s a whole host of possibilities, some of which could even now replace expensive helicopter shots or elaborate dolly shots,” they note. How does the saying go? The sky’s the limit. T#13

“Flying as a pair is much more efficient, creative and, above all, safer,” which is why Fontana (left) and Schmalzl always work as a team.

GREEN SHOOTING A major benefit of filming using a drone is that it is both cheaper and more sustainable than shooting from a helicopter. As a film location, South Tyrol is increasingly advocating sustainable film sets as a way of protecting the sensitive parts of its Alpine landscape. To reward projects for being climate friendly, IDM Film Fund & Commission has been taking “green” measures on set into account during its funding decisions since 2021. IDM’s updated funding guidelines (► p. 14) now include the Green Shooting Certificate for sustainable filming in South Tyrol. This important new initiative was developed by IDM in close cooperation with other funding institutions, filmmakers and local service providers. When they apply for funding, production companies can voluntarily choose to comply with selected guidelines from a list of criteria, such as sustainable energy on set or climate-neutral transport. If they fulfill the requirements, they will be awarded the certificate. An independent institute checks compliance with the criteria. More information: film.idm-suedtirol.com