Central Coast Airfest "Dear Pilots"

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Video Production

Safety Coordination

Super Fan

"Dear Pilots" is an independently produced cinematic short film that captures the spirit of flight through the eyes of real aviators at California's Central Coast Airshow. Serving as producer alongside director Henry Behel, the project united a team of aviation specialists, military demo teams, and airshow performers to create an emotionally resonant tribute to flight culture. Blending slow-motion aerial cinematography, authentic radio transmissions, and intimate human storytelling, the film transcended traditional airshow documentation to explore the profound bond between pilots and their craft—positioning aviation as a dialogue between humans and sky rather than pure spectacle.

Building an Independent Aviation Narrative

"Dear Pilots" was conceived around a guiding message: "This is for those who look up, and never stop." The production strategy required coordinating across multiple Central Coast locations—Paso Robles, Oceano, and San Luis Obispo airfields—while managing relationships with civilian performers, military demo teams including the US Air Force F-35 and US Navy Rhino units, and legendary pilots like Kirby Chambliss and Kristin "Beo" Wolfe. As producer under Team Computer's banner, the approach balanced logistical complexity with creative ambition, securing access to restricted airspace, coordinating drone operations via Lightcraft, and orchestrating ground and aerial camera units. The film's tone deliberately bridged documentary realism and emotional letter-writing, treating each pilot's story as part of a larger cultural conversation about courage, community, and the artistry of modern aviation.v

Technical Excellence & Collaborative Craftsmanship

The production's visual and sonic language required meticulous technical execution across departments. Director of Photography Rob Russell led a camera department that included 1st AC Zack Ramos-Taylor and 2nd AC Estevan Falcon, capturing intimate ground-level moments and dramatic airfield sequences. Drone pilot Nikolay Anishchenko provided breathtaking aerial perspectives that contextualized the human scale against vast skies. Production sound mixer Kyle Jacobsen captured authentic cockpit radio transmissions and environmental audio that became essential narrative threads. In post-production, editor Talia Pasqua wove together performance footage with pilot testimonials, while sound designer Mark Camperell at Empty Sea Audio and colorist Parker Jarvie at Company 3 elevated the raw footage into a polished cinematic experience. Sound Revolver Studios in Los Angeles crafted an original score that honored aviation's emotional weight without overwhelming the pilots' voices.

Celebrating Community & Preserving Flight Culture

Beyond technical achievement, "Dear Pilots" functioned as cultural preservation—documenting a community of aviators whose passion keeps flight heritage alive. The film featured legendary performers including Sammy Mason, Eric Tucker's Swamp Fox P-51, and precision aerobatics from Jarrod Lindemann and Kyle Fowler, alongside institutional powerhouses like Planes of Fame. Airshow Director Chris Kunkle and Airboss Owen Ashurst ensured operational safety while maintaining the event's authentic energy. The production treated each performer not as spectacle but as storyteller, capturing the vulnerability and dedication required to master aviation's physical and mental demands. This approach transformed what could have been a simple airshow highlight reel into an emotional meditation on why humans continue reaching skyward—a love letter to the pilots, the machines, and the communities that support them.

CREDITS

Director
Henry Behel – @henry.behel

Producer
Jennifer Pearl – @pearlypearlmagic

Director of Photography
Rob Russell – @robrusselldp

Camera Department
1st AC: Zack Ramos-Taylor – @zackeryrt
2nd AC: Estevan Falcon – @captain_falcon28

Grip
Chase Erickson – @erickchaseson

Production Sound
Kyle Jacobsen – @kyleifornia_king

Drone Unit
Drone Pilot: Nikolay Anishchenko – @nikofilmz
Drone Tech: Mark King
Drone: Lightcraft – @lightcraft.tv | @aetherfilms

Pilots
Bonanza Pilots: Henry Behel & Mark King
Airshow Director: Chris Kunkle – @chris_kunk
Airboss: Owen Ashurst – @airbossonellc_

Post-Production
Editor: Talia Pasqua – @talia.pasqua
Sound: Mark Camperell – @mcamps80 | Empty Sea Audio – @emptyseaaudio
Color: Parker Jarvie – @parkerjarvie | Company 3 – @company_3

Performers
Sammy Mason – @sammy_mason
Eric Tucker – @tuckersairpatrol
Swamp Fox – @swampfoxp51
Jason Somes – @highalphaairshows
Kirby Chambliss – @kirbychambliss
Jarrod Lindemann – @radaerosports
Kyle Fowler – @go_ez_aerobatics
US Air Force F-35 Demo Team – @f35demoteam
Pilot: Kristin “Beo” Wolfe – @beo_f35demo_pilot
US Navy Rhino Demo Team – @westcoastrhinodemo
Planes of Fame – @planesoffame

Produced by
Team Computer

Filmed on location
During the Central Coast Airshow