Droneman (Modelář)

ABOUT THE FILM

A businessman nicknamed Plech (“tin”; Jiří Mádl), a rapper in his spare time, dreams of having lots of money and unshakable security. Chemist and excellent flight navigator Pavel (Kryštof Hádek), who has just returned from abroad, dreams of justice and getting personally involved in fixing the world. For these former secondary school classmates, drones are their pass to many areas of human affairs they otherwise wouldn’t see. Their clients include a presidential candidate and artists organizing happenings. In the film, drones monitor power plants, carry luxury purses down the catwalk in place of models, and spray the Petřín Lookout Tower from the air. When one of the heroes decides to use drones for something completely different, the business begins to get complicated.

• live action feature film
• Czech Republic / 2020
• Filmed in Brno and South Moravia: bridge by Veveří Castle (most u hradu Veveří), Brno Exhibition Centre – Hall A (Brněnské výstaviště – pavilon A), Vegetable Market (Zelný trh), Eleven club, Slavkov Chateau (zámek Slavkov)
• photos courtesy of: Michaela Hermína
• Screenplay and direction: Petr Zelenka
• starring: Kryštof Hádek, Jiří Mádl, Veronika Khek Kubařová, Zuzana Fialová, Richard Stanke, Helena Dvořáková, Miroslav Hanuš, Jiří Štrébl, Kristýna Frejová, Jiří Svoboda, Kamil Halbich and others

FILMING LOCATIONS

Brno Exhibition Centre Hall A (Brněnské výstaviště – pavilon A)

This dominant feature of the Brno Exhibition Centre was originally named the Palace of Industry and Trade.

Pavilion A was built based on plans by Josef Kalous, completed by Josef Valenta. The monumental building inspires awe in ordinary visitors and experts. Construction took a very short time; according to contemporary sources, it was finished in 230 days. Thanks to its large glass areas, the hall is perfectly lit during the day.

Vegetable Market (Zelný trh)

Vegetable Market has long been a place for Brno residents to buy fruit, vegetables, flowers, and more. The lower part of the square has the entrance and exit for the Labyrinth under Vegetable Market, a complex of unique edieval underground corridors and cellars. The square is dominated by the monumental baroque Parnas fountain by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Another interesting building is Reduta Theatre, one of the oldest theatre buildings in Central Europe.

Bridge by Veveří Castle (Most u hradu Veveří)

One of the oldest castle areas in all of the Czech Republic lies about 12 kilometres to the north-west of the Brno centre on a rocky promontory above the Brno Reservoir. Visitors can get the best views of Veveří Castle from on board a boat travelling below the castle across the reservoir or directly from this bridge, next to which the boats stop. The bridge was built over the reservoir in 2003 in place of one destroyed by the German Army in 1945.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FILMING

To achieve the extraordinary  drone effects in his newest production, producer and director Petr Zelenek had to consult on the script with pilot Jan Dojčán from Brno-based Jamcopters. He was the key person for planning all the drone scenes both in the script and in the implementation.

The drones in Droneman were unique, and not just within a Czech context. “In the film, for example, we actually sprayed from a drone, filmed drones from another drone in the air, and flew right by the blades of wind turbines,” explained director Petr Zelenek. In addition to the drone being filmed, it was always necessary to fly another drone that filmed it. Even for experienced drone pilots, that meant very demanding synchronization. “The film wasn’t just about flying. We also returned to building – we designed and developed spraying mechanisms and mechanics to enable transferring objects by drone. For the scenes with the modelling catwalk, where the drones carry purses, we even had to have internal training for synchronized flight,” pilot Jan Dojčán described the exceptional experience.