The Chain Bridge in Swiss colours:
aerial footage, photos, a film
The Embassy of Switzerland in Hungary came to us with a special evening: on 5 November Budapest's Chain Bridge was lit in red and white for the 80th anniversary of restored Swiss-Hungarian diplomatic relations. They asked for aerial footage, photos and a short film. We handled everything from the airspace permit to the final cut, and the edited photos were in front of the client the same evening.
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Why 5 November?
On 5 November 1946 Swiss envoy Ernst Feisst presented his credentials to the Hungarian head of state, marking the resumption of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Hungary. For the 80th anniversary, the Swiss Embassy and the City of Budapest lit the Chain Bridge in red and white.
Drone filming in Budapest: permit first
Flying a drone over central Budapest requires an ad hoc airspace permit. In my first reply I set out what it takes: the details needed, the lead time and the conditions. Once the client said yes, the organisation was on us: permit, kit, location, timing.
Twenty minutes worth arriving early for
I got to the riverbank well before the switch-on. No rushing: I waited on standby and watched the tourists on the embankment.
The best shots come about ten minutes after the lights go on, and that window lasts roughly twenty minutes. The sky is still blue, the city is already lit, and the red and white bridge stands out against both. That is all the time you get for perfect photos and footage.
Forty minutes to the reception
The guests were celebrating nearby, and I had planned for it: the MacBook was in my backpack. After the shoot I walked over and started editing.
I had forty minutes. Not enough to cut the film properly, but enough for the photos. I edited those on site and showed the client during the reception how beautiful the Chain Bridge looked in Swiss colours.
Photos that evening, the film the next afternoon
The evening
Edited photos at the reception, straight after the event.
Next morning
The short film, in a horizontal and a vertical cut.
One round of changes
Fine-tuned to the client's notes within hours.
Afternoon
Live on all of the Embassy's social media channels.
People talk about an event while it is fresh. Fast delivery is worth as much as the footage itself.
The film in two formats
Two separate cuts from the same footage: horizontal for Facebook and websites, vertical for Reels.
Drone filming in Budapest: the usual questions
Can you fly a drone over central Budapest?
Yes, with an ad hoc airspace permit. We tell you upfront what it takes and how long it needs, and we handle the organisation.
How fast do we get the material?
Photos can be ready on site, during the event. A short film usually the next day, including a round of changes.
We are based abroad. Can you work for us in Hungary?
Yes. We work for international clients, communicate in English and invoice with an EU VAT number.
How much does a job like this cost?
It depends on the location, the permits and how fast you need the material. Send a few lines and we will reply with a concrete quote.