Drone Filming Biberach: ZDF “Winterjagd”

For the ZDF thriller “Winterjagd” starring Michael Degen – the opener of the series “Stunde des Bösen” – VR-Copter flew the aerials in the district of Biberach in Upper Swabia, south of Ulm: country roads through forest and fields, a top shot that became the film’s title image, and a lead character followed from above.

Original ZDF press release on “Winterjagd”

Project details

Location: Ochsenhausen and Maselheim, district of Biberach (Upper Swabia), near Ulm, Germany
Project: ZDF TV film “Winterjagd”
Client / production: Venice Pictures for ZDF / Das kleine Fernsehspiel
Director / DoP: Astrid Schult / Eva Katharina Bühler
Cast: Michael Degen, Carolyn Genzkow
Producer / commissioning editor: Sebastian Sawetzki (Venice Pictures, Ludwigsburg) / Burkhard Althoff (ZDF)
Awards: Micki Moore Award (Toronto Jewish Film Festival), nominated for the German TV Crime Award (Deutscher FernsehKrimi-Preis) 2018
Services: Aerial filming in 4K
Shoot date: Pre-shoot on 10 October 2016

Brief and execution

“Winterjagd” tells the story of young Lena, who confronts an old businessman with his past – a cat-and-mouse game with shifting power. The drone shows the forests and country roads of Upper Swabia as a dense, remote setting and follows Lena as she drives through the forest and stops.

Filming took place on district roads between Zillishausen, Heggbach, Eichen, Gutenzell-Hürbel and Laubach and in the Reinstetter Holz forest near Ochsenhausen. Schloss Sommershausen plays the estate where Lena arrives at dusk – with a fog machine for atmosphere. The top shot of Lena turning off the country road into the forest carries the film’s title “Winterjagd”.

On TV films the drone works to the script: director and DoP decide which shots come from the air. Freedom and threat at the same time – that is what the view from above is meant to convey.

Equipment and permits

DJI Inspire 1 with Zenmuse X3 in 4K.

Pilot and camera: Jochen Riehm. For the driving shots, the district roads were closed at intervals in coordination with the road maintenance depots in Laupheim and Ochsenhausen and the police.

FAQ

How does the drone work on a TV film?

To script and schedule: director and DoP decide which shots come from the air. The drone delivers establishing shots and tracking shots, for example when a character drives through the forest.

Can you film with a drone in a forest?

It depends on the location: nature reserves and some forests are off-limits or need a permit. VR-Copter checks the areas in advance and obtains any permits needed.

Do drone shots on country roads need a road closure?

For top shots with a picture car, usually yes. District roads can be closed at intervals in coordination with the road maintenance authority, the district office and the police. VR-Copter plans this together with the location manager.

What does a drone shoot for a TV film cost?

A shoot day with a drone crew starts at €1,300 net, with Inspire 3 and cinema setup from €2,400 net, and as a combined drone, FPV and car-to-car package from €3,900 net – each including pilot, equipment, insurance and permit coordination.