Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1097515
dga quarterly 11 THE BASICS: Berkeley-based OpenROV comes into the field with the budget-minded Trident that starts at a price of $1,699. This ROV was the brainchild of amateur diving enthusiasts who wanted to create something affordable and easy to use. The Trident also features an optimized camera system with algorithms to color-correct footage from underwater. HD video can be streamed direct from the drone to your smartphone. The camera is also designed to perform well in low-light conditions. The Trident can be controlled with either your smartphone using the company's app or their controller. It's depth rated to 100 meters (about 330 feet). IN PRACTICE: OpenROV's primary focus was making something that everyone could use at the right price while catching the eye of filmmakers and engineers working with James Cameron, according to co-founder David Lang. The team helped make the connection between OpenROV and National Geographic, ยป TRIDENT by OpenROV and together they've established the Science Exploration Education Initiative, which puts Tridents in the hands of ocean scientists and researchers. Around 130 stories have been filmed using the Trident to date. "It has been incredible to see people use the drone to show how the oceans are changing around them right now," says Lang. THE TAKEAWAY: The robust drone's features make it a good choice for filmmakers on a budget who may not be able to spend on a diving team. While it may not be able to go as deep as other drones, ease of use and the price point make up for a lot. IN PRACTICE: Director Dwight Little used the drone in a small tank for an episode of Bones, as the show's character Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) searches for clues underwater. "With the [VideoRay Pro 4], we were able to do all of Hodgins' points of views as he's holding his breath, finding the clue, grabbing it and so forth," says Little. "We were also able to turn around to get shots of his close-ups. We were in a very controlled environment with clean, shallow water. In that situation, the drone was a better choice because a cameraman underwater would have made too many waves and affected the tank too much." THE TAKEAWAY: In addition to Bones, the VideoRay Pro 4, with a depth rating of 305 meters (about 1,000 feet), has been battle- tested on Animal Planet's River Monsters, while the manufacturer offers training sessions for those who want to become operators. "We were in a very controlled environ- ment (a small tank built for Bones). In that situation, the drone was a better choice because a cameraman under- water would have made too many waves." Dwight Little Director