Documentary & Production
Documentary & Production
Nu'uanu Congressional Church
Nu'uanu Congressional Church
Nu'uanu Congressional Church
Aerial cinematography produced for a feature documentary, capturing cinematic establishing shots of the Nu'uannu Valley Congregational Church while working within the director's creative vision.
Aerial cinematography produced for a feature documentary, capturing cinematic establishing shots of the Nu'uannu Valley Congregational Church while working within the director's creative vision.
Aerial cinematography produced for a feature documentary, capturing cinematic establishing shots of the Nu'uannu Valley Congregational Church while working within the director's creative vision.
Overview
I was brought onto this documentary through West Oʻahu Productions after being recommended to provide aerial cinematography for a documentary centered around the Nu'uanu Valley Congregational Church and its Tongan community. Working closely with the director, I captured cinematic drone footage designed to introduce the location, establish the setting, and conclude the film. While following the requested shot list, I also created additional aerial compositions of my own, several of which were ultimately selected for the final documentary. The project strengthened my ability to balance creative freedom with client direction while working in a live production environment.
My Role
Drone Pilot • Aerial Cinematographer • Video Editor
Tools Used
DJI Air 3 • Adobe Premiere Pro
Process / Workflow
Process / Workflow
Process / Workflow
Before filming, I reviewed the director's desired visual style and shot list before scouting the church for safe flight paths and cinematic angles. One of the largest challenges was maintaining smooth camera movement while navigating around trees and nearby obstacles without compromising composition. I also carefully timed production around changing daylight conditions to match the documentary's emotional tone. After filming, I edited and delivered a collection of aerial sequences, allowing the director to select the shots that best supported the story.
Before filming, I reviewed the director's desired visual style and shot list before scouting the church for safe flight paths and cinematic angles. One of the largest challenges was maintaining smooth camera movement while navigating around trees and nearby obstacles without compromising composition. I also carefully timed production around changing daylight conditions to match the documentary's emotional tone. After filming, I edited and delivered a collection of aerial sequences, allowing the director to select the shots that best supported the story.