Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Aerial Cinematography by Thomas C. Miller
As a native San Franciscan, born and raised amid the iconic scenery of the Bay Area, I couldn't be more excited to share my involvement in the upcoming Star Trek: StarFleet Academy series, premiering January 2026.
For this project, we combined the use of a DJI Inspire 3 drone and a Bell 407 helicopter equipped with a Shotover gimbal to capture plate shots for the series’ special effects. These shots create the illusion of a spaceship landing at the Starfleet Academy, envisioned on the East Fort Baker side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
As someone who grew up admiring San Francisco’s landmarks, it was a special thrill to bring this iconic backdrop into the futuristic world of Star Trek. The combination of the Inspire 3’s agility and the Bell 407’s stability allowed us to capture stunning aerial perspectives that will immerse viewers in the Starfleet Academy environment.
In the end, blending my lifelong connection to San Francisco with the technical artistry of aerial cinematography made this project uniquely meaningful. I can’t wait for fans to see how these elements come together to bring Star Trek: Fleet Academy to life.
How we got the shot
During principal aerial photography, only the pilot and the aerial director of photography were onboard the Bell 407 helicopter during filming. Director Alex Kurtzman monitored the shoot remotely from Los Angeles, while Lightcraft producer Kyle Bullington and the helicopter support crew were stationed in Concord, California. Meanwhile, the cinematographer and visual effects team were based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
To bridge the geographic gap, we used bonded cellular technology to transmit a live feed directly from the helicopter to all creative teams. While the signal wasn’t always perfect, it was reliable enough for the director and VFX supervisors to monitor the action in real time, offer critical input, request adjustments, and ultimately sign off when they felt we had captured the perfect shot.