Top Gear production

[dkmech]

Just read Clarksons piece in the Top Gear magazine about how they make the TV show.




Pardon the smily abuse, but OMG!

I suggest you all go and get the mag (it also has some info on a 4 door aston (looks like a stretched db9 but it works) and read it for yourself as its a good laugh. This issue also has a load of good features (not read them yet, but all look very interesting).

Back to the tv show. Clarkson claims they have some of the best people in the BBC, and he is probably right there.

The way they do the races is that once they have planned everything and made all the preparations - they actually do really race. Clarkson follows the camera crews Range Rover and they only stop for fuel, with cameraman having to sit for 24 hours in the boot of the range rover! This is when they get all the driving/overtaking shots. Once the race is over they go back and shoot the scenery and drive bys for another 3 days. The 32 min Veyron piece then took 33 16-hour days to edit!

No wonder they are annoyed that they are bumped off for every bit of snooker/bowls/etc, and rightly so!

I appreciate that 5th gear probably do things in a fairly similar manner, but i doubt they put quite as much effort into it.

There is more information about how the show is made too.

Top Gear

[Lee H]

Veyron

*quibble drool*

I have that episode recorded and watch it all the time - absolutely awesome.

hat's off to the camera crew though, these fellas do all the hard work and hardly get any of the praise they deserve.

[kalniel]

The camera work and sheer art of Top Gear isn't appreciated enough. Personally I think it's a bit wasted on a car program, but whenever they go to a different location it really is stunning.

[XA04]

I always wondered how they did the camera tricks before, but in one episode I saw a shadow... and you saw the camera guy in the back and stuff (you could see the outline of the vehicle).

[BlackDwarf]

in one episode I saw a shadow... and you saw the camera guy in the back and stuff (you could see the outline of the vehicle).

I've worked on a TV show in camera crew... Its not easy keeping out of the way of shots. I was lucky because I was working on a Jib cam... you don't wanna get in the way of it

[Konan555]

Clarkson plays the fool and the big kid. But when it comes down to it, he really is an excellent and intelligent journalist.

Might hardly ever agree with him, but hats off to the chap.

[herulach]

The only error ive ever seen on top gear is the slr vs boat race, when hes going through a tunnel they left the interior camera light on, so the whole cabin is a bright glare, must be awkward to drive with it on.

[Howard]

The only error ive ever seen on top gear is the slr vs boat race, when hes going through a tunnel they left the interior camera light on, so the whole cabin is a bright glare, must be awkward to drive with it on.

They not infrared?

[5lab]

The only error ive ever seen on top gear is the slr vs boat race, when hes going through a tunnel they left the interior camera light on, so the whole cabin is a bright glare, must be awkward to drive with it on.

depends on the driver, i can drive with any interior lights on, doesnt really make a difference.. some people cant cope at all.

[Skii]

Goes to show why the show is so popular worldwide. This really is only the beginning for Top Gear, I just hope the show doesn't get so big that it starts to get...crap, like pretty much every other hit program ...

[herulach]

They not infrared?

This one wasnt, and i dont see how they could be, as they always pick up colour.

[Zad]

The photography is absolutely top notch. They can occasionally go over the top with the filters and processing, but generally the visual quality is of the level you only usually find in glossy magazines or posters. That already puts it way in front of just about every programme on TV, but what puts it beyond reach is the music. Blow-you-away stuff from Rob Dougan, M38 and Mike Shinoda that I just wouldn't have bothered buying or downloading but which is now firmly in my list of frequently played tracks.

I felt the previous series was a bit long and full of "filler" items, but the one that has just finished was back to it's best. I don't care how artificial the races are (or aren't), they are always visually stunning. Hoofing it down to Monaco in a V12 Aston and thrashing a Ferrari around alpine roads are both things I would have loved to do as a kid, but Top Gear really brings back the child like enthusiasm and vitality that most TV just doesn't have.

I can't wait til they go High Definition!

Mike

[Nick F]

I won't even started to talk about how much I have Top Gear magazine !!!

[schmunk]

I won't even started to talk about how much I have Top Gear magazine !!!

And once again, for the crowd, in English...?

[Mehul2004]

I always think, that although it does look like fun being in the crowd, they must have really tired legs from hours of standing up . . . .

R

Mehul