In a recent announcement, Blackmagic Design unveiled that the acclaimed short documentary “Soul of Storm,” directed and produced by Chinese student filmmaker Dike Su, was shot using Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K digital film cameras. The entire post-production process, spanning editing, color grading, and audio post-production, was accomplished using DaVinci Resolve Studio.
“Soul of Storm” stands out as a nature documentary capturing intense meteorological phenomena from the unique perspective of a storm chaser. Directed by Dike Su, a graduate student at Communication University of China and a popular content creator on Bilibili, the film received the Best Short Documentary award at the Roma Short Film Festival and secured a place in various prestigious film festivals.
Dike Su, also known as “Fengyujiang-SDK” on Bilibili, boasts a substantial following of over 300 thousand subscribers and 30 million views. His passion for severe convective weather phenomena led him to embark on a journey into photography and cinematography in 2019. Su’s dedication involved tracking typhoons in China, capturing video footage and data on the ground to potentially augment meteorological information gathered by authorities.
For this ambitious project, Su opted for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K for its portability and exceptional image quality. In 2022, he added the URSA Mini Pro 12K to his toolkit, emphasizing its familiar operating system and adaptability. Su aimed to capture rare weather phenomena at the highest quality, utilizing the URSA Mini Pro 12K to ensure unparalleled resolution.
Despite concerns about storage, Su praised the efficiency of Blackmagic RAW codec, ensuring manageable file sizes even in 12K resolution. The documentary’s production faced challenges of maneuvering through storms, requiring a small crew for flexibility. Su highlighted the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K’s user-friendly design, enabling non-cinematographers within the crew to operate the camera effectively.
Post-production, including editing, color grading, and audio mixing, was exclusively done in DaVinci Resolve Studio with ACES color management. Su emphasized the future-proof nature of DaVinci Resolve, allowing seamless adaptation to displays with larger color gamuts while retaining dynamic range and intricate details. The documentary, shot in Blackmagic RAW, underwent meticulous color balancing and adjustments for the desired stylized looks.
Su’s trust in Blackmagic Design extends to other projects, including the popular series “Stories of Typhoons” and the ongoing documentary “Stories of Storm Chasers.” He expressed his reliance on Blackmagic cameras, notably the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, as dependable companions throughout his storm-chasing journeys. Su’s commitment to embracing new technologies aligns with the shared spirit among storm chasers, encapsulated by the motto “Never Stop Chasing.”
