Chad Halvorsen is a freelance producer, editor, and drone pilot, based out of Milwaukee. He’s worked for clients such as Mentos Gum, Target, and AT&T. He enjoys the planning and strategy involved with productions, the satisfaction of a finished product, and has been lucky enough to continue his passions for over 15 years.
Getting into Drone Work
How did you get into being a drone pilot, and what would you say are the most important skills every drone operator needs to succeed?
Chad Halvorsen: I’ve been in production/editing for over 15 years, mostly in a medium sized, Midwest, market. A lot of us have to not only have more than one skill, but many. I would say at least half of my professional work, I have produced, shot, edited, and delivered to my clients, solo. So I’m constantly looking for ways to get that “produced” look, with 1/8 the budget. When drones first came out, I was really excited about the possibilities. Aerial shots in 5 minutes*, without the need to hire a helicopter pilot and strap a $400k camera rig to it. After the FAA rolled out Part 107 for commercial drone pilots, I knew I wanted to become certified. I found a weekend course that explained all the rules, and gave us the tools we needed to pass the Part 107. Once certified, I got my hands on a Phantom 4 Pro, and basically kept in my car. I bring my drones to every shoot, whether or not the client is paying for it.
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