The thrill of driving your own car on a NASCAR track! (view this story)

Details

Category: Feature
Media: Video
Turnaround time: Less than a day

Description of story

For $25 anyone can take their street car whether it's a clunker or a Corvette and take laps at the Michigan International Speedway. It's the same track that NASCAR races on twice a year. You have to keep it under 70 mph which is a rule most drivers want to break and you only get three laps. Some of the money raised goes to charity.

Feedback requested

Track open 45 minutes for drivers. Scrambled, not lots of time for complete storytelling. Wanted more of guy & mini-van on track/footage (not just in car camera) I was racing against the clock in more way than one. Feedback appreciated :-)

Gear used in production

Panasonic HVX200
2 GoPro's
Sennheiser shotgun and lavs
MacBook Pro
FCP7

4 comments - Login to comment

Rep: 87
Michael Fagans Aug. 24, 2010, 4:51 p.m. permalink

Eric:

A fun little piece, especially with how little time you had on your hands.

I was trying to figure out why it felt like "Eric-lite," your own fault for setting such high standards, until I saw the turn-around time. I agree with you on wanting more of the mini-van guy.

In one sense it felt a little slow. I might have had the cars cut through the frame and not panned with them, but that is my NASCAR hat speaking. Even with the time constraints I would use your sticks more.

One of my fall-back positions with quick turnarounds is sometime a quote train where I string together 3-4 really good quotes in quick succession to help push or pull the story along.
 
I had a hard time visually/aurally connecting the voice quotes from the pre-roll with the cut to the VO. Could be lack of coffee and the first day of college instructing. I thought it was her but I couldn't tell for sure. Usually with your pieces I don't wonder about that.

Really liked your use of the GoPros, that really made the entire piece. Looking to get a few myself, seriously. I think that footage made we hungry for NASCAR or Formula-1 style editing, but then again that might have been too campy.

As always, nice work.

Rep: 444
Submitter
Eric Seals Aug. 24, 2010, 7:23 p.m. permalink

Thanks for checking it out Michael and for the feedback.


Like what you said about; "One of my fall-back positions with quick turnarounds is sometime a quote train where I string together 3-4 really good quotes in quick succession to help push or pull the story along."

I agree with you on it being a little slow in pacing and the cars going around the track but then again the cars where going really slow at 70 mph versus the usual 160 mph for NASCAR. I think some creative editing would have helped here but I was in a bit of panic mode because I just didn't have enough b-roll with the short time I had.

I wished there was another session of cars that day going around the track.  It was different and challenging shooting, thinking on the fly and throwing out all the mental story boarding I had done.  

Love using my GoPro's on certain pieces. Let me know before you plan on getting one, I'll fill you in on the best kind to get, some good websites, etc.

Thanks :-)

Eric


Rep: 87
Michael Fagans Aug. 27, 2010, 9:23 p.m. permalink

Eric:

Would love to get your opinions/feedback/rec on what kind of GoPros, what kind or websites. That way we can all learn.

Thanks.

Rep: 444
Submitter
Eric Seals Aug. 27, 2010, 9:40 p.m. permalink

Cool Michael, I'd be glad to help out and share all that I've learn about GoPro's, the best kind to buy and websites for tricks, tips and advice.


I'll work on it this weekend and post it all on the forum instead of here on comments on my video of the NASCAR track.

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