Bern at night. Empty streets, reflections of light on the asphalt, and a car chase winding its way through the city. Our camera is right in the thick of it. For the new SRF series “Blind,” we were responsible for all drone and Cinecar footage over the course of several days of filming.
A production that took us from the air down to just above the asphalt. It featured various cinema drone systems, fast-moving shots, night flights, and complex drone operations in Bern’s controlled airspace.
Exactly the kind of filmmaking we love.
The Right Camera at the Right Time in the Right Place
For us, a drone isn’t just a special effect. It’s a camera that can move freely through space.
That’s why a good drone shot begins long before the engines start.
For “Blind,” we worked with various cinema drone systems. We decided which system to use based on the scene, the desired movement, the camera, and the surroundings.
Some shots called for calm, controlled movements over the city. Others required speed and close proximity to the action. The key factor was always the same goal: the drone footage shouldn’t stand out, but rather become part of the series’ visual language. Ideally, when you see the final image, you don’t think about how the camera got there.
You're right in the middle of the action.
Flying Over Bern
Bern is a stunning film location. At the same time, the city presents a challenging airspace for professional drone filming. In many places here, simply taking off and flying is not an option. For the filming of “Blind,” we shot footage in areas where drone flights are permitted only under clearly defined conditions.
The flights required detailed planning, the necessary permits, and our SORA certification. On top of that, we had to coordinate closely with Skyguide and the Bern Belp Airport. Even before the drone is ready on set, a large part of the work has already been completed.
Risks are assessed, flight procedures are defined, airspace is coordinated, and permits are obtained. At the same time, the entire planning process must align with the creative and scheduling requirements of a film production. This combination of filmmaking and professional drone operations is a central part of our work.
We don't just fly where it's easy. We create the conditions for professional drone footage in locations—
—where others aren't allowed to fly without further ado.
A car chase through Bern
Then we moved from the air to the street. We used our Cinecar for a car chase through Bern.
The camera moves through the city just a few centimeters above the asphalt. Right next to the vehicles, close to the action, and always right in the thick of it. With this kind of cinecar footage, every camera movement becomes a choreographed sequence.
Vehicles accelerate, distances change, turns get tighter, and the camera has to be exactly where it’s needed for the scene. The driver, camera operator, director, and production team all work together with precision. After all, in a car chase, even a slight change in timing can alter the impact of an entire shot.
This is exactly where we see the strength of the combination of Cinecar and Cinema Drone.
From the air, we can show the speed, surroundings, and scale of a scene. Seconds later, the camera can dive right into the action at street level. Two completely different perspectives that come together to form a unified visual language.
Bern after sunset
As night falls, a city transforms. Streetlights trace lines across the scene. Light reflects off vehicles and the asphalt. Bright windows disappear among dark facades.
For “Blind,” we shot some of our drone footage and Cinecar footage at night. Technically, shoots like these are more challenging. At the same time, they produce images that wouldn’t be possible during the day.
It’s especially at night that you see just how important the interplay between the camera, the lens, the drone system, the radio system, and the crew is. The technology has to work without limiting the creative process.
Because in the end, it doesn't matter how complicated a shot was. All that matters is the picture.
When Technology Becomes Movement
A camera move that lasts just a few seconds can take hours of preparation.
Which cinema drone system is best suited for the scene? What camera and lenses do we need? What permits are required? How do we coordinate airspace? How does the cinecar move through the scene? How do we achieve the desired camera movement without unnecessarily complicating the workflow on set?
All of these questions are part of our work. In the finished film, they should no longer play a role. What remains is a camera movement that feels natural. For the SRF series “Blind,” we were able to achieve exactly that—from sweeping aerial shots to complex drone flights in Bern’s airspace to a car chase with the Cinecar right through the heart of the city.
A project that perfectly illustrates what Birdviewpicture is all about. Professional cinema drone footage and cinecar filming for productions where it’s not just about moving a camera—it’s about getting it where the story needs it to be.
Cinema Drone and Cinecar for Film Productions in Switzerland
Birdviewpicture produces professional drone footage, cinema drone footage, FPV footage, and cinecar shots for films, TV series, commercials, and commercial productions throughout Switzerland.
From the initial technical assessment—including SORA compliance, permits, and airspace coordination—all the way through to the actual day of filming, we handle even the most complex drone operations and integrate them into the workflow of professional film productions.
In the air, on the street, and in places the camera normally can't reach.