Case Studies
Gladiators TV Show
When the BBC’s Gladiators needed a powerhouse studio to film not only their opening credits and their intro sequences but also their publicity shots their first, and only choic,e was Galleon Studios. With 3 studio spaces to make their own and a crack crew of green screen experts we set about fulfilling the creative brief but also having fun at the same time.
London company Potion Pictures who had been tasked with devising and shooting the opening titles and character intros for the show had a number of requirements. They needed a green screen studio, already set-up for their complex storyboard, a camera crew used to shooting chromakey and kit that would enable them to see the final version of their work as they shot. They needed the space for 16 men and women at the height of their physical peak to be filmed as well as costumed and made up. What’s more they also needed a photo shoot with the Gladiators to be done at the same location in a dedicated photo studio. Finally to be near Sheffield where the shows were being filmed. Our location on the M62 Ring road proved to be perfect for them.
Fitting their imposing stature, we used our largest green screen space, Infinity. This space allows us complete creative control of lighting and allows us to get out some of our best toys. The turntables, the treadmills, the jib – all were used to bring the characters of each of the individual Gladiators to life in our Manchester Infinity Cove studio.
Potion Pictures, who hired us to film opted for our FX9 cameras. Due to the fast turnaround (the shots were required to be delivered and edited ready for the Sheffield Shows) we shot without S-Log bypassing the need to grade. As the whole look and character for each Gladiator had been meticulously developed long before our camera rolled there were storyboards and mood. Boards for us to lean into. This allowed us to use our Virtual Production skills and live key the backgrounds behind each Gladiator. The reason for this is 2 fold:
Firstly to ensure a good key can be achieved quickly and easily (as mentioned time was off the essence for post production). Secondly it allowed the Gladiators to see their final looks as they fully embraced their roles.
With 3 studios available, our Live Suite was quickly adapted into a photography studio. This studio has hanging points specifically for coloramas and so we were able to hang their chosen colour prior to the shoot itself. Our 3rd studio Hush then became the place for costuming. We built individual changing rooms in that studio so the Gladiators had privacy while the costumers could confidently check final looks.
Galleon Studios video production crew, filmed, lit and fitted the video shoot, working to the tightest of deadlines while ensuring a quality product. When one considers the man-hours involved; the various production companies championing the show, the scores of crew in Sheffield Arena filming the live segments, the designers, make-up artists, costumers, the photography, the direction and our crew and also the days and weeks of training by the Gladiators themselves. This project truly was an epic collaboration. We were grateful our Manchester hire studio was available for the BBC to use for what remains a fantastic primetime show.
