Pre-production planning
Creative review, aerial feasibility, schedule awareness, location questions and a practical plan for what can be captured safely and cleanly.
DPLA Aerial Unit · FAA Part 107 · Los Angeles
Licensed aerial production for shoots that need more than a drone operator.
The DPLA Aerial Unit gives agencies, labels, networks and production companies a credentialed drone lane with pre-production planning, set-aware communication and executive oversight from Darren Perkins. It is built for teams that need aerial images, but also need the compliance, call-time discipline and production judgment around them.
01
For producers who cannot afford aerial uncertainty.
DPLA packages drone work as a production unit, not a loose add-on. The point is to make the aerial portion easier to approve, schedule and manage.
02
Built around compliance, crew and communication.
The offer is structured for commercial environments where insurance, locations, restrictions, timing, director needs and client expectations all matter.
03
Led by an executive producer, not just an operator.
Darren Perkins brings production-side judgment to the aerial conversation, helping translate creative requests into shootable plans before the crew is on site.
Aerial offer
A focused package for commercial, music-video, live and branded shoots.
The unit can plug into a larger production or lead the aerial lane from planning through capture. Custom scopes are available for heavier travel, complex locations, higher-risk airspace or multi-day campaign work.
Licensed aerial capture
FAA Part 107 operation with production-minded communication, set etiquette and camera support for commercial environments.
COI and waiver support
Project-specific COI coordination and waiver planning support when the scope, location or airspace requires a deeper planning lane.
Best fit
Use the Aerial Unit when the shot has to look premium and the process has to feel buttoned up.
- Commercial production companiesBring in DPLA as a trusted aerial partner for client-facing shoots and agency days.
- Labels and artist teamsAdd cinematic aerial movement to music-video, live-performance and campaign capture.
- Brands and creatorsSupport launches, events, campaign content and social-first shoots with a licensed aerial lane.
- Network and digital teamsCoordinate aerial capture around talent movement, live rooms and fast-changing production days.
Aerial booking
Send the aerial ask once. Get a production-minded answer.
Include the shoot date, location, desired shots, airspace concerns, production company, client, budget band and any insurance requirements. For complex or urgent work, Darren can step in directly as executive producer.
— Also useful
Before you book the aerial day.
If you are comparing options in the city, the Los Angeles drone operator page covers airspace and booking specifics for the basin. Budgeting first? The published rates and offer bands show where an aerial day sits. And if you need to brief a producer or check a certificate, the producer compliance guide covers Part 107, LAANC authorization and California's insurance requirements.