HoverFly Studios™ shares the same parent company as kVA Effects®, Hollywood's only high voltage special effects firm. kVA Effects® is the visual arts and special effect firm dedicated to the creation of arcs and sparks for film, television and theatre. Since 1996, their work with Tesla coils and other high voltage apparatus can be seen in movies, rock concerts, car shows and science museums around the World.
In 2011, kVA Effects® founder Jeff Parisse decided to leverage the company's expertise in remote piloting, robotics, autonomous flight systems, GPS navigation and board level system integration to form a company for the purpose of flying high definition cameras with multi-rotor air vehicles. He teamed with remote pilot Berny Placek and business leader Aaron Spicker to form an aerial robotics division of kVA Effects®. Recognizing the superior hardware and special software genius of products from HoverFly Technologies of Winter Park Florida, the new aerial robotics division sought a distributor relationship with HoverFly Tech™ and upon attaining it, named the new company HoverFly Studios™.
Jeff began his entertainment career at age seventeen as a drummer with a twenty two piece big band in Washington D.C.. He continued to play professionally and in the 1980s toured the United States as a night club and live session drummer playing venues such as Hammerjacks in Baltimore, the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. and the Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood. In 1992 Jeff relocated to Los Angeles to concentrate on studio recording.
In 1996, Jeff co-founded kVA Effects®, a high voltage special effects company that makes electrical arcs for entertainment. Jeff provides on-camera high voltage expertise for major broadcast and cable networks and was the principal expert on the Modern Marvels special on life and work of Nikola Tesla. His work on Fear Factor Live earned the 2005 T.E.A. Award for best themed attraction for Universal Studios Hollywood. Currently, kVA Effects® has installations in major science museums throughout the World and created the largest Tesla coils on permanent display for the Tampa Bay Lightning a NHL hockey team.
Jeff lives in Torrance California with his wife of twenty five years and his two children. In addition to hiking and camping with his family, he enjoys electronics; building and refining his own avionic systems including autonomous flight systems and long range control and telemetry. His passion for model airplanes blossomed as he realized that they could be stuffed with electronics.
After graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1986, Aaron began working with fine jewelry in New York City's famous Diamond District and later for a prestigious diamond house where he created many international contacts for polished diamonds, colored stones and fine jewelry. In 1997, Aaron began his own diamond importing business Aaron J. Spicker - Diamonds where he has enjoyed more than twenty six consecutive years in the Diamond and Fine Jewelry business.
As a lifelong photographer, creating HoverFly Studios® with Jeff Parisse seemed to be a perfect combination of specialties. Aaron's contribution brings years of business and marketing experience, organizational skills and passion for photography.
Aaron currently lives in Los Angeles, California and enjoys spending time family, cooking, wine tasting, photography, SCUBA diving and the occasional gig playing the electric bass. Aaron has family in Prague, Czech Republic and close friends on the east coast and travels often for business and pleasure.
Berny Placek was born in Vienna, Austria and since immigrating to the United States with his family in 2002, discovered a fascination with airplanes and helicopters. After thousands of hours of practice and dedication to the sport of model aircraft, Berny became one of Southern California's top remote pilots for fixed wing, rotary and multirotor aircraft.
After completing coursework at Crimson Technical College in Los Angeles, Berny graduated in 2009 and qualified as a FAA certified aircraft mechanic. Because of his interest in remote piloted drone technologies, Berny was able to adjust his education and career path to include hands on experience building and flying unmanned aerial systems.
As the chief pilot and flight mechanic of HoverFly Studios®, Berny continues to master all current trends in the close-in aerial production realm and lead the way for the safe and creative use of emerging airborne camera technologies. He and his family live in Torrance, California.
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