When the Call Changes Everything: Moonshine’s Last-Minute ARRI B-Camera Shoot With J. Cole on the Thames
Some shoots start normally… and then instantly level up.
For the BIA ft. J. Cole – “LONDON” music video, Moonshine Film was booked as the dedicated drone unit, heading out to capture aerials across the city for director @flexgoddaps and production team @stefanyapdop.
Our Inspire package was prepped, charged, and ready.
Crew was already en route.
Then the phone rang.
“Guys can you also bring an ARRI and shoot B-camera of J. Cole coming down the river Thames?
We need it ASAP. He’s already on the boat.”
Last-minute requests like this can derail a production…
Unless your drone team happens to run a full rental house.
From Drone Unit → B-Camera Crew in Minutes
Because Moonshine Film isn’t just operators, we’re a London-based rental house with full cinema bodies always prepped and ready. We were able to pivot instantly.
We turned the van around & grabbed our ARRI ALEXA MINI LF & DZO Pictor Zoom Lens Set
Packed it in minutes, and headed straight back out toward the Thames.
No “we’ll try.”
No “let me check availability.”
No running across the city for a body, batteries or NDs.
We already had everything on the shelves ready, in-house at Moonshine film
The Shot: J. Cole on the Water
The brief was simple but unforgiving:
Track J. Cole as his boat came down the river
Match the A-camera look
Keep everything moving, energetic, and cinematic
Deliver a usable take on the spot, no rehearsals, no resets
We arrived on the riverbank, built the ARRI in minutes, and captured the exact shot the director needed as J. Cole’s boat entered frame.
Clean. Natural. Tekky.
Exactly what the moment demanded.
Why Productions Trust Moonshine Film for Moments Like This
Drone Unit + Camera Unit in One
We’re hired for aerials, but can instantly become B Camera Unit because we carry cinema gear in-house, no Bureaucracy.
We Own the ARRI Systems
ARRI Alexa 35
ARRI Alexa Mini LF
Cinema primes
Wireless monitoring
No rental delays.
No “sorry, fully booked.”
No missing accessories.
Central London Based = Immediate Deployment
A last-minute change doesn’t become a headache, it becomes a plan.
Operators Who Use This Gear Daily
Our drone ops and ACs understand the full pipeline. That’s why we can step in seamlessly.
The Result
The final music video features seamless, cinematic river footage of J. Cole, captured by Moonshine Film after a last-minute pivot that could only happen because:
We were the drone team.
We were the B-camera team.
We were the rental house.
All at once.
That’s the advantage we bring.
Need a Drone Unit AND Last-Minute Camera Support?
Moonshine Film is Open 7 Days a Week, offering 24/7 Support for last-minute emergency pickups. Full support before, during, and after the shoot...
If your production needs speed, skill, and dependable cinema equipment, Moonshine is the team you want in the van.
