Telling Stories From The Sky
Telling Stories From The Sky
some thoughts on cooperation between ESRI and Skyworks
some thoughts on cooperation between ESRI and Skyworks
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ABOUT SKYWORKS
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Aerial filming
Skyworks has filmed in four continents of the world; we own all the footage. What sets our footage apart is the combination of technical specification and creative quality. Technically, we have used the latest in gyro-stabilised helicopter rigs, and filmed in full HD with the highest quality – in this case HDCAM SR 4:4:4 This allows our footage to be remastered in 4K with excellent results. As documentary-makers we film in such a way that our footage naturally edits well and adds production value – the fact that our footage is so frequently used by other producers is testament to this.
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TV documentaries and linear content
We have made well over 250 TV documentaries for Discovery Channel, Smithsonian Channel, and the BBC amongst others, and we also produce a global TV series called the ‘World from Above’, which airs in some 65 countries and is now in its 10th season with over 120 episodes. Our World from Above HD YouTube channel has around 60,000 subscribers and features shortform video as well as some of our longform programmes.
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Archive
Skyworks operates the largest specialist HD aerial archive in the world with around 130,000 clips from just under 20 countries. These clips are licensed by other producers and programme-makers as well as for digital purposes. A high proportion are available via our automated archive site (skyworks-stock.com) where they can be ordered online and are transcoded automatically on demand. A feature of our archive is that is it very ‘deep’ – coverage is by no means limited to the common sights, but we attempt to cover as many interesting places and activities as possible. An approximate idea of our coverage can be seen using our ‘Footage Map’ – a geocoded map of some 12,000 points of interest, all edited into short ‘microclips’ of around 30 seconds. The footage on the map represents only around 30% or less of our total collection, but the idea of locating footage via a mapping interface in this way is as far as we know unique.
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Mapping technology and other digital projects
As well as the footage map referred to above, Skyworks has developed a number of projects and ideas based around maps and our footage. This has been born from the view that we occupy a middle space between satellite and streetview, as it were.
One of the features of our footage is that it has all been filmed on our equipment to a consistently high technical and creative standard. This makes it very homogeneous and consequently able to support a product proposition.
SAVI is a map-based video messaging interface (more about this elsewhere), and MediaSavi was a platform to integrate documentary footage into a mapping interface. MediaSavi was similar in some ways to Story Maps, but was (unfortunately) based on the ill-fated Silverlight platform.
We have also developed mobile apps using our footage for specific tourist organisations and are currently developing an expanded variation of this for part of the UK. We have also developed similar technology for the education market, such as the Video Map.
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People
Skyworks was founded as a TV production company by two of the three partners who are its current owners. The company is currently run by two of its joint owners, Richard Mervyn and Colin Mills.
Richard is probably the world's most experienced aerial producer/ director/ cameramen with thousands of flying hours and credits for numerous documentaries. Richard worked with Thames Television and as a freelancer, both in factual as well as commercial content.
Colin joined Skyworks in 2008 from the advertising industry where over 18 years he managed major international agencies in more than 4 countries and major clients such as PepsiCo and MasterFoods. Colin has developed most of Skyworks' technology offering.
​
​
ABOUT SKYWORKS
​
​
​
Aerial filming
Skyworks has filmed in four continents of the world; we own all the footage. What sets our footage apart is the combination of technical specification and creative quality. Technically, we have used the latest in gyro-stabilised helicopter rigs, and filmed in full HD with the highest quality – in this case HDCAM SR 4:4:4 This allows our footage to be remastered in 4K with excellent results. As documentary-makers we film in such a way that our footage naturally edits well and adds production value – the fact that our footage is so frequently used by other producers is testament to this.
​
​
TV documentaries and linear content
We have made well over 250 TV documentaries for Discovery Channel, Smithsonian Channel, and the BBC amongst others, and we also produce a global TV series called the ‘World from Above’, which airs in some 65 countries and is now in its 10th season with over 120 episodes. Our World from Above HD YouTube channel has around 60,000 subscribers and features shortform video as well as some of our longform programmes.
​
​
Archive
Skyworks operates the largest specialist HD aerial archive in the world with around 130,000 clips from just under 20 countries. These clips are licensed by other producers and programme-makers as well as for digital purposes. A high proportion are available via our automated archive site (skyworks-stock.com) where they can be ordered online and are transcoded automatically on demand. A feature of our archive is that is it very ‘deep’ – coverage is by no means limited to the common sights, but we attempt to cover as many interesting places and activities as possible. An approximate idea of our coverage can be seen using our ‘Footage Map’ – a geocoded map of some 12,000 points of interest, all edited into short ‘microclips’ of around 30 seconds. The footage on the map represents only around 30% or less of our total collection, but the idea of locating footage via a mapping interface in this way is as far as we know unique.
​
​
Mapping technology and other digital projects
As well as the footage map referred to above, Skyworks has developed a number of projects and ideas based around maps and our footage. This has been born from the view that we occupy a middle space between satellite and streetview, as it were.
One of the features of our footage is that it has all been filmed on our equipment to a consistently high technical and creative standard. This makes it very homogeneous and consequently able to support a product proposition.
SAVI is a map-based video messaging interface (more about this elsewhere), and MediaSavi was a platform to integrate documentary footage into a mapping interface. MediaSavi was similar in some ways to Story Maps, but was (unfortunately) based on the ill-fated Silverlight platform.
We have also developed mobile apps using our footage for specific tourist organisations and are currently developing an expanded variation of this for part of the UK. We have also developed similar technology for the education market, such as the Video Map.
​
​
People
Skyworks was founded as a TV production company by two of the three partners who are its current owners. The company is currently run by two of its joint owners, Richard Mervyn and Colin Mills.
Richard is probably the world's most experienced aerial producer/ director/ cameramen with thousands of flying hours and credits for numerous documentaries. Richard worked with Thames Television and as a freelancer, both in factual as well as commercial content.
Colin joined Skyworks in 2008 from the advertising industry where over 18 years he managed major international agencies in more than 4 countries and major clients such as PepsiCo and MasterFoods. Colin has developed most of Skyworks' technology offering.
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ESRI and Skyworks
We believe that we have both content and creativity that is complimentary to the ArcGIS system and its users. A partnership would benefit us in terms of ESRI’s technical skills and scale, and our content and ideas will in our opinion enable ESRI to reach a wider audience with existing and new mapping technologies and applications.
Here are five areas where we believe our cooperation could be effective:
ESRI and Skyworks
We believe that we have both content and creativity that is complimentary to the ArcGIS system and its users. A partnership would benefit us in terms of ESRI’s technical skills and scale, and our content and ideas will in our opinion enable ESRI to reach a wider audience with existing and new mapping technologies and applications.
Here are five areas where we believe our cooperation could be effective:
Content
Content
UNESCO Video Map
UNESCO Video Map
WfA 12
WfA 12
Heritage TV
Heritage TV
SAVI
SAVI
Next Steps
We would like to open a dialogue and discuss how and whether any of the areas we describe above would be of interest to ESRI.
By necessity we have kept our descriptions to a broad outline - we would naturally be happy to provide more detail when required.
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Contact: [email protected]
Next Steps
We would like to open a dialogue and discuss how and whether any of the areas we describe above would be of interest to ESRI.
By necessity we have kept our descriptions to a broad outline - we would naturally be happy to provide more detail when required.
​
Contact: [email protected]