Local Business Uses Drones To Add Production Value To Documentary Film Work Through Aerial Photography

A local public relations firm and media production company has been utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems or ‘drones’ to add production value to their video and photo work for the past couple of years, and their clients are benefiting in several ways from the addition to the work.

‘Real Florida Media’, the media production subsidiary of The Goulding Agency in Downtown Chipley, Florida, which has also produced ‘Real Florida Magazine’ for the past 8 years, hit the ground running when drones started to offer an affordable, yet high-quality camera platform with reliable gimbals, or stabilization of the camera.

With demand from several corporate and business entities as diverse as the City of Vernon, Florida, Family Dollar Distribution Center in Marianna, Florida, and most recently, the Jackson County, Florida Growers Association, along with others in the tourism and travel industry, the firm finds itself ‘up in the air’ quite a bit.

‘A perfect example of the ability for drones to capture unique and important aspects of an industry is illustrated by our work for the Marianna City Farmers Market’, says Debbie Goulding, President of The Goulding Agency.

The Farmers Market, operated under the umbrella of the Jackson County Growers Association, recently hired the public relations firm to highlight their activities, held year-round at the Madison Street Market in Downtown Marianna, Florida.

‘In the past, the effort would include lots of ground-level video of farm-fresh produce along with interviews and testimonials from growers and consumers’, says Goulding, ‘and that would have worked fine’.

‘However, with the availability of the improved aerial platform, we can give the target audience a bird’s-eye view of the farms and express the magnitude of the effort, with enhanced production value and “wow” factor’, says Goulding.

Over a million drones have been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, and the drone was one of the largest gifts purchased this past Christmas season.

‘With the advent of the affordable drone has also come more Federal, State and local regulation, and it is important, to say the least, to stay abreast of current regulations in order to stay in business and out of jail’.

Florida Panhandle Technical College in Downtown Chipley, Florida has been recognized as a regional leader in the UAS industry through their Drone Program, just on of several cutting edge programs enabling real-world application, and much interest is being generated in this burgeoning industry.

The Inaugural FPTC Drone Program successfully graduated the class with honors, along with subsequent FAA licensure, in the form of FAA Part 107 Certification, and has been featured prominently in the media.

With over 10,000 new jobs slated to be created in Northwest Florida alone over the next 10 years due to the Drone industry, Florida Panhandle Technical College has wasted no time in capitalizing on this increasing demand for qualified, licensed pilots.

The City of Vernon, Florida contracted with The Goulding Agency last year to showcase the natural resources of the area, the enhanced sports program offered by the City, and, most importantly, the opportunities available with the advent of the four-lane highway.

‘You simply cannot fully appreciate the scope of natural beauty of our region until you see these natural vistas by air’, says Goulding, ‘and we have found this to be effective in driving interest to our area, with increased requests from the Tourism Industry.  In the case of Vernon, we are able to show prospective investors, businesses and families just what is available in the area, and the results are proof that the effort is working’.

Over the past couple of years, segments promoting tourism in Northwest Florida have been shot and produced by the firm for the travel industry, highlighting the small town quality of life, natural resources and beauty of Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gulf, Franklin and Bay County, Florida, as well as some select locations in Southeast Alabama.

One of the most recent projects of the firm is a travelogue highlighting the coastal regions of the Florida Panhandle, and segments from the video are seen below, along with a few aerial photos from the firm’s catalog of work.