Zero G Films - Zero Gravity for Film and Television Production

Zero Gravity Films - Production and Pricing

ZERO-G is an exciting new environment for film and entertainment projects. Hollywood studios can use ZERO-G to get special effects shots that are impossible with other techniques. Production companies can use ZERO-G to make headline-grabbing productions… the creative possibilities are endless.

In 2000, ZERO-G flew 5 flights for Warner Brothers as they were doing research for the filming of The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions and ZERO-G is currently working with multiple production companies on major media projects.

The Cost:

The base price to charter the aircraft for 15 Parabolas is $135,000 plus 5% tax. A parabola is each moment of zero gravity within the flight which lasts 25 seconds at a time. Additional Parabolas, technology requirements or production assistance is at an additional cost.

There is one less expensive option. The interior of the aircraft is divided into three sections. You could purchase the forward third of the aircraft for $50,000, wrap the bulkhead in a green screen and participate in a public flight for a total of 15 parabolas.

Zero G in Films

The Process:

The amount of parabolas that you need can vary. For APOLLO 13, Ron Howard ran over 600 parabolas on 17 flights which included training for the actors and crew to shooting the weightless scenes. For The MATRIX is was one long flight for the Zero G flight blocking. The MasterCard commercial was one flight for a 3 second clip. For the movie SUNSHINE, the experience was on one flight. Most of the time we can get all of the work done in one day but until you train up like the actors from Apollo 13 did, 20 parabolas is usually the limit most first timers can handle which is why our public flights are 15 elements of weightlessness.

Our production team would work with you to determine the minimum number of parabolas to complete your objectives and at that time we can determine a final quote for the project.

Our aircraft is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is best to shoot in Vegas to save a fuel ferrying charge, but we can come to any airport that will support a 727. You can also arrange your flight from one of the other cities we have on our public flight schedule as long as it is on the day before or after one of our public flights.

We have access to a full HD production facility in Las Vegas and can stream the raw footage on the internet for review in another location.

If you charter the entire Zero G flight, you have three choices on the interior set. You can pre build your set on our pallet system which would be loaded through the side cargo door. You can wrap the interior and/or bulkhead with green screen. Or you can use a clean interior as we did for MasterCard and 7/Up.

Crew:

We have producers, directors, DP's and production assistants with many hours of experience shooting in Zero Gravity. This can be important as a photographer without the experience may feel queasy at times sustaining elements of both zero gravity and taking 1.8 G's on the downswing. You are welcome to use your own crew but you can crew up in Vegas.

If you have any questions at all about using Zero Gravity for your media project please contact me personally.

Zero G CJ Hays