Shane Hurlbut’s Wireless ‘Helicopter Rig’ for Vehicle Cinematography
In vehicle cinematography, one of the most difficult challenges for a Director of Photography is “motivating” the environment. When you are filming a character driving through a city like downtown Los Angeles, the realism of the scene depends entirely on the interactive light. If the background plate on your LED wall shows street lights zipping by, but there is no corresponding light hitting the actor’s face, the illusion falls apart.
Traditionally, cinematographers solved this using a Helicopter Rig—a lighting unit mounted on a boom arm or a circular track that “flies” around the car to simulate overhead street lamps. However, for decades, this was a logistical nightmare involving heavy power cables (stingers) that had to be manually wound and unwound with every rotation to prevent tangling.
As Shane Hurlbut, ASC demonstrates, the SmallRig RC 220 has fundamentally changed this technique, replacing heavy infrastructure with lightweight, battery-powered efficiency.
What You Will Learn in This Article:
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CINEMATOGRAPHY TIP:
THE TECHNIQUE: MATCHING METAL HALIDE WITH THE SMALLRIG 220
When shooting vehicle scenes against an LED wall or on location at night, you are looking for a specific color signature. Most older streetlights in metropolitan areas utilize metal halide or mercury vapor bulbs. These have a distinct, cool, slightly “sickly” green-cyan cast.
To solve this, Shane utilizes the SmallRig RC 220 tuned to a very specific recipe…
| COLOR TEMPERATURE | 5000 Kelvin |
| TINT | A “half-amount” of green added via the light’s internal controls or gel. |
By mounting a SmallRig V-mount battery directly onto the unit, the light becomes a completely wireless “Helicopter.” You can rotate the source around the vehicle continuously for hours. The days of stopping the take to rewind tangled cables are over. This allows for a “continuous operation” workflow. It, therefore, keeps the energy high on set and the actors in the moment.
ANATOMY OF A POWERHOUSE: SMALLRIG RC 220 BREAKDOWN
The SmallRig 220 series (available in the 220D Daylight and 220B Bi-color models) is designed for the high-intensity demands of professional sets while maintaining a footprint small enough for rigging in tight spaces.
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HIGH OUTPUT, SMALL FOOTPRINT
Despite its compact size, the 220-watt COB LED packs a significant punch. At 1 meter with the standard hyper-reflector, it can output nearly 100,000 lux (220D model). This level of intensity is vital for the Helicopter Rig, as the light often needs to be positioned at a distance on a boom arm. All the while, still providing enough stops to match the brightness of an LED wall.
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DUAL POWER CAPABILITIES
The unit can be powered via an AC adapter for studio work or via 14.4V/26V V-mount batteries. For the Helicopter Rig setup, the integrated battery plate is the “killer feature.” It allows the light to operate at 100% output without being tethered to a wall.
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COLOR ACCURACY AND CONTROL
With a CRI of 95+ and a TLCI of 96+, the light ensures that skin tones remain natural even when “dirtying up” the color to match street lamps. For the 220B (Bi-color) model, filmmakers have a range of 2700K to 6500K. This provides the flexibility to shift from warm high-pressure sodium vibes to cool metal halide looks instantly.
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THE ECOSYSTEM OF MODIFIERS
The unit features a standard Bowens mount, making it compatible with a vast array of modifiers. These consist of lanterns and softboxes to the fresnel attachments often used to sharpen the “beam” of a simulated street light.
LEARN THE FULL WORKFLOW: MAKING A MUSIC VIDEO
The Helicopter Rig is just one of the many advanced techniques featured in our brand-new course, Making a Music Video, presented by Filmmakers Academy and Craterr.
This comprehensive course follows the journey of a professional production from initial spark to final export. Over the course of the next two months, we are releasing a series of deep-dive lessons covering every phase of the process:
| DIRECTING | Mastering the pitch, pre-visualization (previz), and the casting process. |
| CAMERA PREP | Deep dives into lens choice and how optics influence the music video aesthetic. |
| CINEMATOGRAPHY | Advanced lighting setups (including the SmallRig 220 Helicopter Rig) and shooting strategies. |
| POST-PRODUCTION | The editorial process and finishing techniques to bring the rhythm to life. |
Whether you are looking to master the technical nuances of the SmallRig ecosystem or learn the high-level directing strategies used on major label music videos, this course is designed to elevate your craft.
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