Last week we had a great opportunity to work a significant sporting event in the golfing world and help tell the live unfolding story in a way that few shows have the budget for. We shot Hi Def video with a Sony 900 Cine-Alta in support of the live telecast and archive footage for the NBC production team covering the Tournament Players Championship in Jacksonville Florida. While providing higher resolution and heavier weight than many cameras the audio portion remains distinctly analogue. This speaks to a greater issue in the integration of audio in the evolving Hi Def live production world. We’ll be speaking to this in future posts. I was a support player to world class image maker Ricky Lee Harrell, and affectionately referred to as “stickboy” in homage to getting his tripod where he needed it before he needed it, a task at which I had occasional success.
The coverage demanded of this crew differs from traditional “game coverage” in that more time can be taken to frame the subjects of the story and present a view that the live coverage folks can’t get, usually due to the expediency with which they must move to their next position.
While the audio needs for this effort were modest, the physical demands, communication and ability to change tools quickly were paramount.
I noted a few changes on the PGA course since my last endeavor of this nature. Specifically the larger than life video display boards located through out the course and also the existence of “the Green Team”. In the 20 plus years I have been covering golf the crowds continue to expand but these 2 elements were new to me.
The live billboards offer the attendees to have, not only specific statistics on the player present at the green where the board resides, but also a live leader board and live or replayed video from a local network of cameras as well as the Television network feed. Quite an abundance of information that allows folks to be informed about the event.
Here is a look at a stats page that offers a glimpse of its size and ability to project information in full sunlight:
The camera position Ricky Lee chose was always determined on the fly, usually keeping foreground and background elements in the design thought process. The use of the either of the lenses (both standard and wide angle) was typically determined as we approached the shooting position. The shooting position itself was never know until we arrived at the specific location. In this image we see the contrast of regular shooting coverage versus our position that offered some organic framing options. Less concentration on the actual striking or trajectory of the ball and more focus on the player. With the lens fully zoomed in one could get a great reveal of the subject’s face after the ball strike and have it accented by the sawgrass and flora in the foreground and the dense green of trees behind the subject.
Here’s a view of our cart load. We would strike out, typically prior to air time and have all these tools at ready. The full tripod was the key player but we would shift to either the baby legs, the sand bag, or lens shift (kept in the white roadcase) in a matter of 30 seconds as was necessary for Ricky Lee to get the unique images he was after. Of particular note is the packing blanket we keep in the bed so as to muffle ant disturbing rattles as we dashed around the course and the bags to protect gear in case the rains suddenly appeared.
Also 2 critical items were kept at ready in the “glove box” of the cart. Power for the camera and water for the operators to keep everyone replenished in the 6 to 8 hours of continued exposure of 90+ degree weather.
A decidedly non tech side of the event was the new inclusion of kids outfitted with garbage bags and these fine shirts. It seems the PGA and The Green Team have found its far better to have ongoing clean up efforts during these events rather than after, so the Green Team members were on the constant prowl for overflowing bags to convert.
Ultimately this extra non live camera position, offers a great way to help tell this story that unfolds in a way that only sport can provide. The ability to draw the viewer into the story line quickly is a challenge, but a challenge that was met by hard work, concentration and sometimes just plain old good luck of being in the right place and the right time.
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