In July of 2019 I was tasked to work on a video project with the UVU race team where I helped capture what they were doing with a research project during an endurance race. At that race they took first place which qualified them to race at the world-famous Laguna Seca racetrack in Monterey California.
I was honored to be able to tag along to document this 6-day journey and the adventure of the race. This was the first sort of project where I was going there to document.
- Project type: YouTube vlog documentary series
- Production Team: me
- Postproduction: me
- Shot on: Gh5 and Z6
Documentary work has always been something I’ve been interested in and having this opportunity was truly a dream come true. It was for sure a learning experience. This project has provided me with the foundation for documentary work that will help me make even better ones in the future.
The Road to Laguna Seca
Episode 1
In this episode the team is working on getting everything they need ready for the race. Finalizing all work that had been going on and packing up to ensure they had everything they needed.
Episode 2
The team packs up and heads out on the road to the Laguna Seca racetrack. Along the way the face some difficult troubles.
Episode 3
The team finally made it to Salinas CA and got to tour the beautiful California cost before focusing all their energy on the race ahead.
Episode 4
The team finally gets to see the track. The racers spend the day familiarizing themselves with it, while the students do some fine tuning on the car.
Episode 5
Race day! The team’s one goal is to stay out of the pits but will this new track and the pressure of the race be to much for them?
Episode 6
Day two of the race. The team has repaired and prepped the car after the havoc of the first day. The team is feeling confident and ready to show up the rest of the racers, but will they continue to stay out of the pits?
Final Thoughts
This was not only a fun project but a challenging one. I did this all alone and because of that I had to think strategically. I ran two cameras with me, the Panasonic Gh5 and the Nikon Z6, these cameras allowed me to be minimal but have versatility when it came to the shots I was looking for. The biggest that hurt me was the travel to the different spots around the racetrack. Because I didn’t bring my Onewheel I was either walking or using the scooter but the track was big and so I didn’t spend enough time with the team to interview them during the race. Something I’ll have to consider in future projects.
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