Posted by Bruce Marshall on October 13, 2009, 8:59 pm
74.13.92.68

Maybe someone with a TV production background can answer some probing AR questions... What are they shooting the show on? I'm gathering their using higher-end pro-sumer cameras, the like of which are used by news freelancers in many parts of the world. How are they handling sound? It doesn't appear that anyone save the host is wearing wireless mics. (Which would bring along their own set of maintenance headaches.) Is everything recording using shotgun mics? Would each camera operator be accompanied by a sound person? About pitstop segments where contestants come in to meet the host, to be ranked for that leg of the race: Is all that shot on to camera tape then edited in post - or do they do a full remote set-up for that? One more: A recent episode was shot in a market in Cambodia. They were shooting in various light colour temperatures; incandescent, fluorescent and sunlight. Do they colour correct that all in post - or are they shooting with cameras that auto-correct colour on-the-fly - like the human eye does? TV prod geeks?

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Posted by Sneaky Pete on October 15, 2009, 8:28 pm, in reply to "Amazing Race production questions"
216.121.175.94

I am a tv production guy. I do not watch any of the race shows any more. I do know from reading the trades that mic placement on these shows includes hiding them anywhere and everywhere on some sets. On bodies, behind bushes, in hand bags, bike frames, you think of it! Sounds ops with booms to accompany camera guys? Absolutely. Some boom mics at 10 feet plus will grab super audio. Cameras are indeed prosumer type, for the frenetic stuff. Likely Sony, using HDV format. Exceptional quality and yes capable of auto colour balance to within reason. On Final Cut Pro or an Avid Nitris shading is easily corrected. The dollars in these shows allows for plenty of 'extras' so little is missed.

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