Report on The Atkinson Action Horses in Poldark by Anne-Marie Tasker for BBC Inside Out 15 February 2016. Thanks to Grace @ItsC0mplicated_ for the video.
This was a absolute beauty of a show. And Seamus is absolutely one of the stars! Galloping, galloping across the Cornish seascape! And it looks like his trainer is getting in shape too😉. I miss having horses. Thank you for the video!
I wondered how they got those overhead shots. Silly me, I guess I should have guessed they used helicopters, but there never seemed to be any wind from them. Well done! I love Poldark. It's one of the best things I've ever seen on TV, and it's attention to details like the horses that makes it so good.
Caroline Cousins Yes, he's a beautiful horse and is well trained to do movies and TV. I'd like to know how they do that. Seems like it would be quite a difficult job.
Drones can do a lot, but to hoist a camera of the quality, weight, and specifications that the DOP (Director of Photography) requires, plus the DOP herself and other crew, sometimes you need a helicopter. Wonderfully broke horses, always fun to see them behind the scenes
Visiting Mark's yard where my friend kept her horse. Mark put me up on Seamus for a hack out. I didn't know he was famous at the time. He was a lovely, comfortable ride.
Drone footage looks different and gives a different vibe. Drone shots look super smooth, which can feel out of place in certain things. Heli footage gives the shot more soul. A beautiful example of this, for anyone who doesn't get it, is an upward aerial shot in Crocodile Dundee (I just watched it the other week and noticed this). When Dundee and the reporter are swimming in the lake just before she asks him to come to NYC, there's an upward heli shot to show the scenery. It has a very subtle movement and wobble in it that gives the sense of presence and imperfection that not only makes it feel more human but helps convey nature, rather than super slick, perfectly smooth drone movement that feels totally robotic and lifeless. Drones are amazing for certain things, but not always best. It's something akin to the difference between a live human drummer and a quantized drum track in a modern song which strips all the soul and feel out of it.
