Bolt PTR Takes The Driver's Seat
CASE STUDY
To show what the Bolt PTR could do, Cutare Film created a short film that would have been impossible to shoot without it. The father-son narrative unfolds in the cockpit and around the Porsche 911, demanding precision, timing, and a cinematic eye, with the PTR capturing high-energy sequences with smooth, repeatable motion while keeping the story front and centre.
To show what the Bolt PTR could do, Cutare Film created a short film that would have been impossible to shoot without it. The father-son narrative unfolds in the cockpit and around the Porsche 911, demanding precision, timing, and a cinematic eye, with the PTR capturing high-energy sequences with smooth, repeatable motion while keeping the story front and centre.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Cutare Film, led by owner, motion control operator, and DP Cosmin Fericean alongside Director Damian Groves, were tasked with executing a short narrative centred around a father and his son, set entirely around a Porsche 911 using the new Bolt PTR camera head attached to a Bolt X motion control robot.
The film needed to combine intimate character storytelling with high-energy, cinematic automotive sequences. The aim was to show how the PTR’s added stability, sleek design, and pan, tilt and roll capabilities could allow shots that would have been impossible otherwise.
The production needed precise control inside the tight confines of the Porsche, including close-ups of the talent, wing mirror, and a child’s sippy cup that became a key narrative device; something that would have been difficult without the PTR because gimbal lock would have prevented the arm from turning beyond its set limit.
Outside the car, two Bolt X arms would be synchronised to hand off the camera smoothly from window to window, executing fluid multi-arm moves with the PTR head. The film would also include day and night high-speed passes, putting the Bolt PTR through its paces on every move.
The stability on the pan axis and infinite roll capabilities opened up previously impossible angles, letting us explore shots inside the Porsche in ways we never could before.
Cutare Film
THE CHALLENGE
From the outset, the team faced a series of challenges that highlighted the need for the Bolt PTR Head. Shooting inside a Porsche 911 meant navigating extremely tight quarters. Traditional camera rigs would struggle to frame the shot and small props without encountering tilt-90 errors.
The sunroof-to-interior dive required precise pan and tilt movements that could be repeated reliably. The story also demanded fluid continuity between interior and exterior shots, including high-speed sequences and handoffs between two Bolt X arms. Each movement had to be meticulously timed and repeated for multiple passes to ensure every frame aligned accurately for editing and VFX.
The team also needed to maintain a cinematic, flowing style that felt natural and immersive rather than mechanical. This was the first time Cutare Film had used the Bolt PTR, and they needed to navigate its features, using continuous roll to simulate wheel movement, tilt to capture shots inside the car and through the wing mirror, and pan within the tight confines of the vehicle.
Balancing these technical requirements while keeping the narrative and performances at the forefront was critical to making the father-son story emotionally engaging.
The PTR’s speed, flexibility, and reliability kept us on schedule while giving us the freedom to focus entirely on the story and performances.
StudioSet
The Solution
The Bolt PTR head proved to be the ideal tool for this ambitious shoot. Its compact, lightweight design allowed the camera to navigate the tight interior of the Porsche without the need for complex rigging or multiple pieces of equipment.
The PTR’s infinite roll and fluid pan and tilt capabilities enabled some 360° roll shots on the wheel and super tight spots within the Porsche 911. The sunroof-to-interior move was executed while framing the child’s expression in a way that maintained cinematic flow, dynamic and natural. Repeatability was key for multiple passes of interior and night racing sequences, and the PTR delivered without compromise.
Its precise motion allowed the team to execute complex camera choreography, including the handoff between two Bolt X arms, creating seamless transitions that appeared like a continuous shot on screen. The PTR’s stability ensured every take aligned accurately, giving the team confidence in post-production and reducing the need for additional corrections.
The combination of speed, flexibility, and reliability reduced setup time between shots. Moves that would have required cumbersome repositioning of traditional rigs were completed quickly, allowing the crew to maintain momentum and focus on storytelling. Because the PTR is a head on the Bolt system, there was no need to move the entire robot to achieve difficult angles. This ability to rotate, tilt, and roll the camera in tight spaces enabled shots that were previously impossible in vehicles, saving time and expanding creative possibilities.
The PTR allowed the team to focus on performances and narrative rather than worrying about the mechanics of the shot. Its precise movement, combined with intuitive operator tools, meant the camera could be moved on the fly, adjusted, and locked in with confidence, enabling Cutare Film to capture the father-son story with authenticity and cinematic style.