Dave Grohl's What Drives Us Shot With URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
data-src=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c562aaf4-bpthumb.jpg data-srcset=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c561c0e7-bpfull.jpg 2x class=lazyload avatar avatar-80 photo height=80 width=80 />
Brie Clayton June 14, 2021
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that What Drives Us, the new documentary by David Grohl of the Foo Fighters, was shot using a variety of Blackmagic Design cameras. This included using URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K to capture interviews with some of rock's biggest icons, including Ringo Star, Steven Tyler, Ben Harper, The Edge and Slash. The documentary also used DaVinci Resolve Studio to edit and grade the film.
What Drives Us shows the commitment of bands and artists to play music for others anywhere the road will take them. The film is filled with interviews from the world's biggest musicians and looks at the tradition and rite of passage of rock bands going on the road in any vehicle they can afford. To shoot What Drives Us, Grohl chose Jessica Young as the cinematographer.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2411710 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us.jpg 1000w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us-300x164.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us-768x420.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us-624x341.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us-50x27.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141447/2-what-drives-us-100x55.jpg 100w data-sizes=(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px />Young was faced with shooting a documentary that included a huge amount of hours of interviews. Due to the hectic schedules and locations of Grohl and the interviewees, she shared the daily shooting duties with cinematographer Todd Bell. Young relied on two Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2s as her main interview cameras, with the Pocket Cinema Camera 4Ks being used by different crew members, who were able to easily learn how to operate them and could jump in and capture spur of the moment shots.
Young explained the vision that she and Grohl had for the film: What Drives Us is a talking head plus archival picture. I got the sense early to go with a punk rock' approach: make no rules with the freedom to err on the side of not normal. The subject matter was about musician misfits cramming themselves into vans and touring the country come hell or high water. Stories about living through bad food, bad sleep, bad gigs and dangerous road conditions while running down their dreams.
We also kept lighting naturalistic and took liberties with some off framing and stuffed close ups. The edge of frame in the wide angle often had a foreground element and the close up frame might be a little in your ear' or awkwardly close kind of view if you were crammed inside a van with your band.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2411711 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us.jpg 1000w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us-300x164.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us-768x420.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us-624x341.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us-50x27.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141507/3-what-drives-us-100x55.jpg 100w data-sizes=(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px />Since each interview was at a different location, Young and her crew never had a chance to scout before shooting. Decisions had to be made the day of and had to be simple.
Both Todd and I have used Blackmagic cameras in the past and know they will give me an amazing image. And with the high dynamic range and ease of use, the cameras let me be incredibly creative while handling any of the regular challenges a shoot like this has, Young said. And being able to have the rest of the crew easily grab a Pocket got me a lot of great shots. The C Cam ops were a handful of great guys and we usually shared a common AC who would then pick up a Pocket when rolling on interviews, often catching Dave in a follow up question or laughing moment.
Those impromptu moments and making sure that Grohl's interviews were not interrupted was another reason why Young chose Blackmagic Design cameras.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2411712 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us.jpg 1000w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us-300x164.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us-768x420.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us-624x341.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us-50x27.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/14141534/4-what-drives-us-100x55.jpg 100w data-sizes=(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px /> I have used Blackmagic cameras a lot in the past. They are reliable, she said. I haven't counted them all, but I've been fortunate enough to be in the
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
Dave Grohl's What Drives Us Shot With URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and Pocket Cinema Camera 4K 
