Not everyone can say they filmed on the rooftop of Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, but a Richmond drone pilot is definitely boasting this achievement.
Richmond resident Amiel De Guzman is the pilot behind the drone footage in Cirque Du Soleil’s most recent video.
The video showed an aerial view of the popular circus actors and entertainers performing acrobatic moves on top of BC Place.
De Guzman told the Richmond News it was a special moment to be physically on the rooftop of BC Place as not many people are able to access the spot.
“It’s not every day that I get to fly a drone legally over one of B.C.’s most iconic venues,” said De Guzman, adding that it was an “exhilarating experience.”
Timing, he said, is key when filming with a drone and the entertainers knew exactly how and when to pose for the camera, which made the job easier.
“I only had a small window to work with when I shot the FPV (first-person view) drone shots and fortunately, I was able to get the shots needed in the final minute.”
De Guzman, who is a full-time driver's license examiner, has been flying drones for nine years and said his passion for drones started as a hobby.
Remote-controlled toys were a growing interest since he was a child, but when he laid his eyes on his first remote-controlled helicopter his curiosity developed from there.
“One day while I was on lunch break at my day job, I quickly searched up Craigslist for drone toys and that’s where I first saw a DJI Phantom 1 drone,” he said.
“I literally flew it everywhere and whenever I had the chance. That was when I realized that this was something I could enjoy doing while earning money at the same time.”
However, as exciting as flying a drone can be for him, De Guzman said the opportunity to film for Cirque Du Soleil together with his brother Corim, a full-time videographer, is something he will not forget.
“It was such a unique opportunity for my brother and me to be able to film together for a big client while showcasing the best views of Vancouver,” said Amiel.
The De Guzman brothers have worked together as a drone and film duo, under the name Aerial Vibe, at every chance they can get.
And filming for Cirque Du Soleil was a major bucket list item they can finally check off.
“Being able to film for Cirque Du Soleil was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was very grateful for the opportunity and the whole experience left me speechless,” said Corim.
“I’ve always wanted to watch Cirque Du Soleil but never had the opportunity. So being able to shoot (for) them almost felt like we had a private show just for us.”
