Cinematic Drone Flight
A CGI/VFX sequence: a 3D drone tracked into live footage shot outside Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, Chiang Mai.
Field
3D · Motion · VFX
Date
2025
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tools
After Effects · Blender
01 — Overview
Diving into CG/VFX & 3D camera tracking in After Effects and Blender through some tutorials. Still needs improvements…
Footage location
Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, Chiang Mai, Thailand
3D model
K07 Drone
02 — Story Board
Scene 1
Drone Positioned at Entrance
The video opens with the drone hovering just inside the outer glass sliding door of the shopping mall. The environment is dimly lit, with soft reflections on the glass and metallic surfaces.
Scene 2
Door Opens and Takeoff
The sliding glass doors slowly open, the drone fly out and approaches, creating a sense of motion and reveal.
Scene 3
Flyby Toward Camera
The drone continues flying directly toward the camera, maintaining low altitude.
Scene 4
Sharp Turn and Ascent
Right before crossing the camera, the drone swiftly turns right and arcs upward. It accelerates away, gaining altitude quickly.
03 — Project Workflow
01
Take the footage by myself at Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center which is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand
02
Stabilize and make 3D camera tracking in Adobe After Effect to make ready to import into the blender
03
Import this with json file into Blender and start preparing the scenes with the garage for the drone and it’s lighting.
04
Start animating with drone model with the storyboard.
3D camera tracking in After Effects
Scene assembly and animation in Blender
04 — The Output