Electric Films specialises
in long-term commercial construction time-lapse and live site monitoring for
multi-story high-rises, residential towers, and major CBD developments across
Sydney.
Led by 14-time Australian
Cinematography Award winner Graeme Beck, we position cameras strategically
on adjacent rooftops, power poles, scaffolding, or tower cranes to capture
dynamic angles.
We utilise secure,
non-destructive mounts and handle all council, utility, and building management
permissions to ensure seamless project documentation.
Construction of 88 Walker Street
with Time-lapse Cameras
(Two Camera time-lapse example)
Electric Films documented the long-term time-lapse construction of Billbergia's
50-storey commercial skyscraper at the tight confines of 88 Walker Street,
in the heart of North Sydney's CBD.
To capture this architectural milestone, we deployed two 45-megapixel, 5.2k
time-lapse construction cameras.
Using solar and battery-powered systems, we strategically moves these cameras
around street power and light poles as well as nearby rooftops, securing the
most advantageous vantage points throughout the entire build.
88 Walker St Edited Time-lapse
Videos
We show two
edit examples: a comprehensive 7-minute time-lapse, and a 40-second cut-down
version, along with a look at our 16 dynamic camera positions as we moved
three cameras around the tight confines of North Sydney's CBD.
We scout locations beforehand to identify optimal vantage points and our
company liaise directly with building managers and councils to secure our
systems using non-destructive and weighted cowling mounts.
We frequently utilise street power, lighting, and sometimes even parking
poles and trees to mount our time-lapse equipment. We manage all negotiations
with local councils and power authorities as part of our comprehensive service.
Parramatta
Square Redevelopment in Time-lapse
(Two Camera time-lapse example)
To document the
four-year Parramatta Square CBD commercial redevelopment, Electric Films deployed
two 5.2K time-lapse camera systems operating 24/7, which were strategically
moved throughout the construction.
Our dedication to
excellence in time-lapse production earned our team the 'Time-Lapse
Cinematography Specialists of the Year' title at the 2026 Build Magazine
Awards.
(11m 42s)
By capturing three bracketed exposures (overexposed,
underexposed, and normal) in High Dynamic Range every ten minutes for four
consecutive years, we recorded over two million high-resolution 5.2K images
for this project.
Our rugged time-lapse camera systems were strategically
mounted on street poles and rooftops of neighbouring buildings to ensure optimal
cinematic angles throughout every phase of construction.
The Hoxton
Liverpool Construction in Time-lapse
(Single camera moved several times during construction)
Electric Films is
proud to have filmed the construction of 'The Hoxton', a premier residential
high-rise development in Liverpool, Sydney, by ALAND. We have documented every
building project by ALAND using time-lapse cameras.
To capture this
multi-storey build, our camera systems shot high-dynamic-range, 45-megapixel
stills every ten minutes.
These 5K images
are compiled into stunning 4K monthly progress videos, serving as invaluable
assets for site documentation in the event of a dispute, marketing campaigns,
and high-resolution print displays.
(2m 56s)
We routinely organise permissions to attach our
time-lapse cameras to street power and light poles, ensuring the most advantageous
vantage points throughout the build.
We also specialise in mounting directly to site
cranes for dynamic overhead angles.
Tower Crane
Dismantling in Time-lapse
(Multi-camera short term
time-lapse example)
In this example we shot
the tower crane dismantling with multiple portable time-lapse cameras over
several days and nights.
Electric Films provides
specialised short-term time-lapse and drone coverage to capture these phases
in high-rise construction across Sydney.
(1m 38s)
Mounting
Time-lapse Cameras On Site Cranes & Scaffolding
Mounting time-lapse cameras
onto working site cranes or scaffolding offers an unparalleled, dynamic view
of high-rise construction sites in Sydney.
However, these advantageous
camera positions produces severe camera movement making the shots unusable.
At Electric Films, we don't
compromise on a better angle if one can be found.
As a multi award recognised
cinematographer, we use advanced post-production frame warping and stabilisation
methods to digitally remove the structural wobble. Have a look at our process
below to see how we transform shaky unusable source files into broadcast-quality
cinematic video.
(36s)
How
often are your time-lapse cameras maintained?
We perform regular monthly
physical checks where lenses are cleaned and systems checked. If a better
camera position arises, we liaise with the site managers. All cameras are
monitored via a cellular audio link every 2 to 3 days on the average slow
build, or at shorter intervals relative to the complexity of the action.
Where our cameras are connected to the web, they are monitored daily with
the vision being uploaded in real time to our own computers or to yours
if required.
What
happens if a camera gets bumped?
To correct minor movement,
we stabilise the vision in Adobe After Effects. Further movement requires
using a corner pin filter and aligning the vision into shape to match the
shots together. Large movement requires the camera to be re-positioned.
You
often attach a camera to scaffolding or a crane, how do you get the wobble
out?
As these platforms offer a
superior viewpoint, they are often utilised. For regular monthly updates,
we run the vision through Adobe After Effects' stabilising program. Superior
results can be pre-edited to remove the frames with the largest movement.
Can
your clients access the camera?
Yes. We can provide a live
feed to your mobile and can also upload the shots in real time to our computers,
or to our client's computer if desired.
What
time intervals do you shoot?
On typical construction shoots
around a year or more, we shoot every 10 minutes. We reduce this interval
to 5 minutes on completion to capture stunning transitions into night to
show off your project at its best. Other time-lapse projects the time interval
is varied to suit the project.
