We’re big time motorsports enthusiasts here at johnnypuetz Productions, so we jump at any opportunity to work with cars, motorcycles, and the people around them. In fact, we owe our humble beginnings to filming cars and motorcycles as a hobby, and consider ourselves very fortunate that we could turn our passion into a successful full-service photo and video production business.
And while we’re proud of all the projects we’ve worked on big and small - whether in fashion, events, commercials, etc. - being invited to cover one of the most iconic racing events in the history of motorsports was a special moment for our team!
For this shoot we had the opportunity to fly down from our Brooklyn, New York headquarters to Daytona, Florida, and embed ourselves with the Gradient Racing team as they prepared for, and ultimately competed in, the 24 Hours of Daytona race.
As a relatively small operation compared to factory race teams with enormous budgets, we know how important it is for Gradient Racing’s photo and video content to reach an audience so they can build a fan base and maintain interest from sponsors. We were honored to be invited to help in this effort once again after working with them at another iconic race, the 12 Hours of Sebring.
As for the 24 Hours of Daytona, it is one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world, attracting top teams and drivers from around the globe. The race takes place at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida and consists of 24 hours of non-stop racing, which is an enormous effort for the drivers, the crew, and frankly everyone involved in the event, including us!
We were hired as the creative lead on this project, and our goal for the video was to offer viewers a glimpse of the people behind the effort, so we could help build a stronger sense of connection between the fans and the team. The Gradient Racing team had a packed schedule for days on end, but were still generous in giving us time to connect with the drivers and crew members so we could showcase their unique perspectives on the incredible race.
In addition to interviews with the team, we captured behind the scenes video and stills, highlighting the mechanics’ effort to ensure the car was race-ready, and the drivers preparations as they tirelessly practiced laps, attended press events, and discussed race strategy. As always, we struck the right balance between keeping a low profile so as not to interfere with the team’s mission, while still capturing all of the important moments to ensure the team’s story could be told.
After days of work and anticipation, the moment finally arrived for the race to start, so we positioned ourselves at exclusive press areas around the track and captured the Gradient Racing #66 Acura Motorsports NSX as it battled for position day and night, for 24 hours straight. Not only did we film and photograph countless exciting moments of the race itself, we also gathered great b-roll footage, providing viewers with a realistic feel for the epic scale of the entire event (think 50,000 fans and 61 race teams spread out over a nearly 500 acre complex!).
By the time we were on our flight home the night the race ended, our in-house editors were already pulling together footage and creating a first cut for Gradient Racing to review.
When there’s no chance for re-takes, you need a video and photo team with a record of creating top quality content under pressure. With our expertise in covering events of all types and sizes, we’re ready to help you retell the story of your next big (or small) event.
Get in touch with us and let’s see what we can create together!
- pictures Jean Pierre Kathoefer, Craig Carlsen
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