ESPN - Controlled chaos

Who knew being a sports reporter could be so fun? I spent Saturday afternoon in the ESPN production truck out at Michigan International Speedway for the Nationwide Series race. I had no idea what I was getting into. 11 mobile units at each race, 19 EVS servers for rand and studio production (high-speed digital recording), 20 miles of video, audio and power cable needed on site at the race tracks, 60-75 high-definition cameras used by ESPN to televise the race and so much more.


Photos by Jake May

When I first walked into the truck I was shocked. All I saw was TV screens and a lot of them. They had so many different angles and choices on what should go up on the screen and the producers were full of energy. Although there were some stressful points they were still laughing and having a great time. Guys were yelling from the back row and from the first row all at the same time. Five or more voices could be coming through the headset at once. Not only did the producers and directors need to choose which camera angle or racer to show but also find room for commercials. Last-minutes decisions were made constantly. Talk about cool under pressure.



Race days busy behind the scenes for the ESPN crew
By Sarah Schuch

BROOKLYN -- Neil Goldberg looks at the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from a different vantage point than most viewers.

Goldberg, a producer for ESPN, watches the race on not one TV screen, but 20 from various angles. Each screen could be separated into as many as nine smaller screens.
“It’s sensory overload for people who come in here,” he said about ESPN’s production truck. “It’s controlled chaos.”

Goldberg and the rest of the ESPN team set up at Michigan International Speedway this week to get ready for Saturday’s and today’s NASCAR races.

A crew of about 60 started setting up all the trucks and equipment Wednesday and, by Thursday afternoon, ESPN was ready to do a broadcast, said Senior Operation Producer Clyde Taylor.

On a race day, the crew expands to about 200 people. NASCAR is such a big deal that most people have two or three roles.

“This show is really about the size of a Super Bowl show,” Taylor said. "So much adrenaline."

Finish the story that ran in the Jackson Citizen Patriot :)

Faces of NASCAR

NASCAR would be nothing without its fans. I think NASCAR fans are some of the most dedicated. And I've learned that from only two races. They are also probably the craziest... and maybe the drunkest. They definitely are unique and after the June race Jake May and I wanted to do a project on them, which took us into the campgrounds, the pit and the infield. We didn't want just any crazy fan. We wanted to find their story. And with the limited time I think we did a great job. Don't judge NASCAR until you've experienced it at least once. I've been hit on enough to last a lifetime and been on top of many campers, but I've had a great time covering NASCAR this summer.
It was a great weekend to end a great internship at the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Unfortunately the online presentation is very poor compared to the print edition you see here. But read about the fans. Their stories range pretty far.



Photo by Jake May: Inside Kevin Kent's bus in the infield. With 3D glasses the inside looks crazy. Kent takes pride in his bus and what he stands for. It used to be used for some heavy partying, but now he uses it to share his testimony. Full of positive energy, Kent is the kind of fan some people don't realize is out there.