Seeing the Unseen: Automating Cameras for Beyond-Human Precision

A new short film, The Shoemaker, from media company RiTE and director and visual engineer Steve Giralt showcases the extent to which automation can now assist cinematography. Simple in concept, the film shows a leather shoe being made and takes the viewer through all aspects of the process.

These shots utilised cameras that had their motion fully programmed in combination with custom rigs.

In order to achieve this, however, an immense amount of technical expertise and tailored engineering solutions are required, as revealed in the behind-the-scenes video. RiTE builds specialised robots to work in tandem with a MRMC Bolt Cinebot, all running through a motion control system that allows for the automation of close-up, macro-high-speed action that could not be so precisely achieved with the human hand.