INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRONE OPERATORS

Members of the LFO team recently joined Rob Tilly of specialist drone operators IronBird (This City is Ours, House of Guinness, Tin Star) at LIPA to host an exclusive drone masterclass for final year film students as part of our Connected Campus outreach programme. Covering the basics of drone operating, the practicalities behind using the equipment and the creative opportunities drones can allow for, Rob gave students the chance to get up close with a range of drones and see first-hand how different equipment can achieve different shots.  

The masterclass marked the first stage of a collaborative project between LFO, LIPA and IronBird, which will culminate in a drone‑based video promoting The Depot studio site alongside some of Liverpool’s most prominent filming locations. Using insights gained during the masterclass, students were tasked with developing a creative brief to meet LFO’s promotional objectives through a drone‑led video project. Following review by LFO and IronBird, the most appropriate and realistic brief will be selected and brought to life, with the student(s) behind it given the opportunity to experience the production process firsthand by shadowing IronBird during shoot days. 

We are proud to be working alongside local production and educational partners to enrich students’ final weeks of education, giving them first‑hand experience of bringing a production to life while showcasing Liverpool City Region’s industry offer and helping bridge the gap between education and local industry. Watch this space!