COME FLY WITH ME: DRONING FOR THE LA PHIL IN AN EMPTY HOLLYWOOD BOWL DURING A PANDEMIC

One of the most unique experiences I've had was being able to shoot aerial / drone cinematography for the LA Philharmonic's 'Sound/Stage' series.

Like every Covid era job I've had, it started out with a phone call that in any other time would have been a quick five minute conversation but turned into a half hour talk about covid, vegetable gardens, and what we were binge watching. A swab up the nose, a thermometer to the forehead, and I'm now on set, driving my truck literally inside the Hollywood Bowl.

Howdy. partner.

There was no audience in attendance at the Hollywood Bowl. It kind of felt a bit like visiting the ruins of a roman amphitheater.

That was until Gustav Dudemel fired things up with a twirl of his conducting stick, flinging it through the air as though he was casting a spell on the musicians. The stage went black then, slowly faded in cerulean as the first notes of the clarinet chanted 'Rhapsody in Blue'. Goosebumps. The first live music I'd seen in almost a year was the LA Phil and that made me feel pretty lucky to be there.

Top of the Bowl. Not many people can say they've driven through the Hollywood Bowl.