Paul Bennet Airshows— Sydney, Australia
When we were contacted by Paul Bennet's team in the land down under, they needed no introduction. Paul Bennet Airshows have been on our radar for some time, and for good reason. Dubbed the "Ultimate Airshow," his team of pilots, coordinators, and event organizers travel across the world (think South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States) putting on these spectacular displays.
So when asked to fly to Australia and film with the Paul Bennet Airshows crew, it was an immediate yes.
In this article, we will share our experience filming a variety of planes for Paul Bennet Airshows south of the Gold Coast. We'll also share how Tucker/Hess Productions can bring your dream aerial shot to life, even if it isn't a big fancy airshow.
About Tucker/Hess Productions: We are a production company based out of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, offering independent and commercial film production. Trusted by big names such as Google, Oracle, and Vans, our work is acclaimed and loved worldwide. Your Hollywood director may see you as a client, but we see you as a partner, and we are excited to work with you every step of the way.
Tucker/Hess Productions offers:
Full-service production services
Copyrighting
Video Branding
4k cinematography, 8k cinematography
Drone videography
Post production services
Animation
And more!
A Quick Paul Bennet Bio
Alright, so you've heard the name Paul Bennet at least ten times now, but who actually is the man? For us Americans, Paul Bennet may not be a household name, but for the Aussies, Bennet is a symbol of the fiercely adventurous Australian way. From a young age, he refused to conform to the status quo and instead paved his own path by dedicating himself 100% to his passions.
Growing up in New South Wales, Paul loved sailing and won the Sabot and VJ Club Championship and the Australian VJ Championship under the Manning River Sailing Club. Using his knowledge of timber from building boats, he eventually worked at Luskintyre Airfield building Tigermoth Wings, where legend Phil Unicomb took him to train in aerial acrobatics.
Years later, Paul found himself at the helm of a growing fiberglass business and was allowed to acquire Aerohunter, an adventure flight company. Through this, he grew his aerial acrobatics career, going on to win an Australian Aerobatic Championship and on to win the World Championships as part of the Australian team. Today, Paul Bennet is one of the most decorated stunt pilots on the earth and continues to share his passion for flight with the world.
Video One: One Reason
For this video “One Reason”, the team wanted a video to showcase who they are and what they do. It had to introduce the pilots, the planes, and the events while getting each and every viewer fired up on the prospect of seeing these stunts live.
Reviewing the team's vision, we knew that the video had to be unmistakably ultimate: a dramatic presentation like that of a blockbuster trailer. Our opening would be a dark and atmospheric shot of an artist at work, scribbling circles and aerial motions on a piece of paper. We then added cuts to Paul Bennet, walking out of the hangar to his awaiting aircraft. "We fly to inspire the next generation of aviators," is the line he delivers before the video evolves into a full-on action fest.
From long sweeping shots of the planes spinning end-over-end to eagle-eye views of the classic warplanes from overhead, each shot is worthy of its own article.
With feet safely planted on the ground, we also wanted to showcase the other important component of a good airshow: the public's reaction. This was rather easy, as almost everyone's jaw was dropped at one point or another during the show. Old or young, from here or from there, everybody was able to come out and enjoy these death-defying feats, and we think our video represents this notion perfectly.
Video Two: Obsession
They say everyone has an obsession of some kind. For us, it's cameras, and for Paul Bennet, it's planes (and sailboats, we came to learn.) If "One Reason" was a promotional, "Obsession" served as a manifesto of sorts, conveying Paul's personal commitment to being the best stunt pilot possible. Some questions automatically come to one's mind when thinking about the business of flying stunt planes:
"How dangerous is it to fly?"
"How does one become such a good pilot?"
"How on earth does the plane do that?"
In "Obsession", Paul answers these. "Anyone can do what I do if they put their mind to it," he monologues, "And for me, I can't get my mind off it. It's my obsession." For this video, we were able to dive a little deeper into the mind of Paul and see how he handles this unique and enthralling career.
We also were able to introduce some background to the viewer about the plane Paul Bennet flies, known as the Wolf Pitts Pro. This model is one-of-a-kind and is the highest-performing biplane in the world, end of sentence. Painted in yellow and red, the plane features the trademark "Paul Bennet Airshows" monogram on top of the wing.
Bringing Your Vision to Life
Tucker/Hess Productions has offices in Monterey California, and Los Angeles California, yet we travel across the world to film top-tier works for aviation, business, and creative industries. Don't hesitate to reach out for a quote or any other inquiries.
Thanks, and with love always,
Tucker/Hess Productions
