I love challenges. Where there is
doubt, I find inspiration. This past January, we traveled to UAE to film a team driving a car for 24 hours straight, in a field of 75 plus cars, in the desert, in the grandest city in the world – Dubai.
Having never filmed an endurance race, I was looking forward to the challenges presented by the event. The Audi documentary Truth in 24 had just beaten my short film Climb Attack for an award, so it was time to see if I could hang with the competition.
At the Dubai Autodrome, I got to meet the subject of the film – Patrick Soderlund.
Patrick was one of the founders of the DICE game studio in Sweden and now oversees the entire Need For Speed game franchise. He was one of the four drivers on this year's Team Need for Speed racing team. Luckily, he is also an incredibly laid back. He took time to show us around the Porsche and explain the individual driver's schedules piloting the car – known as stints.
It was important to me to capture the
scenery of Dubai as well as the race. I think it provides context to
the madness of non-stop racing. As a spectator, you get to watch the
sun rise and set behind Dubai's multiple skylines.
Finishing a marathon of driving is no easy task. One small mistake can be the difference between a DNF and victory.
In this shot, Jonathan Moore let me borrow his 300mm f2.8 telephoto lens to get some of the action down the back straight. The tire debris, heat rising from the pavement, and the slight elevation change made for a nice image. For the camera techies out there – I used a Canon 7D for some of the filming.
To help show the passage of time, I setup a camera that was dedicated to time-lapses. It would record a frame every second and captured sunsets and sunrises during the race.
I used several sequences of long exposure stills to create moving images of headlights through the course. Layered with audio being captured on a video camera. Light writing with race cars.
Finding a good corner with a couple
quick down shifts is a nice place to capture some fire balls and
glowing brake rotors. I had plenty of time over the course of 24
hours to camp out in a few spots and wait for moments like this one
to happen.
Enjoy the film and be sure to read
Patrick Soderlund's blog post on his experience at the Dubai 24H.
-Will Roegge
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!
AMAZING FILM! I have not once felt the urge to delve further into one of the many Dubai columns, as it just didn't really appeal to me, but this film and race is truly a work of art.
really AWESOME video......love the racing sounds
@ IsaacGT-R glad you noticed the sound design. When you are surrounded by a race that lasts 24 hours - you can't escape the sounds of engines. It was important to me to have the sounds of racing. Cheers!
1.29 to 1.34: the sounds were awesome and overall an excellent video! Can't wait for next years Dubai 24hrs
Monumental.. 'A+' for getting the engine sounds bang-on - Fantastic!!
More PLEASE
Great job
Superb stuff and a pleasure to meet you at the track...I hope you come back next year and bring Lin with you! Phil (http://www.crankandpiston.com)
Damn.
Real Art.
I just want to say thank you, thank you so so much for this amazing film. You truly are too good to your fans.
Awesome film Will. Thank you for following us with so much passion. You are a true pro. Looking forward to seeing you at our next event
Really awesome video!!! I think that endurance races, especially 24hrs ones are the most baddass forms of motorsport anywhere! If you are a driver, you'd understand. It's exhausting driving cross the land for 5 -12 hours with moderate speeds and stoplights and all. Just thinking about how it would be to take part in a 24hrs race, is giving, at least to me a great dimension of respect for these drivers.
It doesn't matter if they come out first or 26th. Just finnishing the race is a enourmeous feat.
Big ups to this video, really well made, professional and dope footage, sound and everything. LONG LIVE THE SPEEDHUNTERS EMPIRE!! :))))
Exceptionally shot video!! So very aspirational.
p.s: was that Nob Taniguchi near the end in the Petronas overalls?
I cant belive it, its more beautiful than final fantasy. I love endurance races, I love this car, I love this camera, I love that sound and music.... everything is perfect in this video
Awesome work
so...uuh.....when we gonna see something from ya in the 20-minute+ range? (hint*hint*)
Stunning vid Will! one of your best, some insane angles and a pleasure to watch throughout.
I LOVE CAMEL. <3
Hahahhaahha good stuff Roegge.
great video!!!
Thanks!
Followed some of the race during the live broadcast over the internet
awesome job will, felt like i was there!
W - O - W - !
Hella awesome.
Well done Will!!!
Awesome. Very well done!
Its amazing how people can race for 24hrs. Id love to do it but idk how long id last
Fantastic film - loved the little touches like the flames.
Would love to know what kit you used to shoot the film on!
-Al
Great job Will! Fully enjoyed it! The sounds you captured were awesome. Keep on keeping on bro! Congrats to the team as well, obviously not a win but a great effort!
Another wonderful video, you guys do it very well.
love the reuse of the drift girl song too
you were saying u used a canon 7d for some of it, any other camears used?
Anybody know the title of the song? Great vid and superb sounds!!
Sorry guys for the tardiness of my May editorial. I've been traveling non-stop all week and am now
Sorry guys for the tardiness of my May editorial. I've been traveling non-stop all week and am now
Sorry guys for the tardiness of my May editorial. I've been traveling non-stop all week and am now
Sorry guys for the tardiness of my May editorial. I've been traveling non-stop all week and am now
What started in a volcano ended in a volcano: the ash from the Icelandic volcano in April to the Argentinian
What started in a volcano ended in a volcano: the ash from the Icelandic volcano in April to the Argentinian