Red Bull Freerunning
Filming Guidelines
Nico is the International Sports Director for Red Bull Freerunning. For more details, information, or media references please contact him directly by EMAIL or phone:
+43 699 1222 5160
Concept Guidelines
Three simple rules for keeping your project authentic to the culture & exciting for the audience.
Focus is on the sport/action.
At the core of every project is an athlete the human body to its limit to do incredible things. The location, the story, the cinematography are all ways to enhance or highlight what the athlete’s performance.
2. No unnecessary forced storylines.
ie: “I’m late for something so I need to jump over a building to get there on time!” or “I did something bad I need to run away!” This works for some athletes but not for every single project.
3. Gags are good if they are not cheesy or overplayed.
Sports are fun. The athlete should have fun. But at the end of the day this is a serious sport & we don’t want to distract from the incredible things the athlete is doing by making the focus about a gag instead of the action.
Camera Guidelines
The Athlete is the Artist
The media team’s job is to capture his/her performance in the best possible way.
The Athlete Sets the Action
When you arrive at a location let the athlete figure out what they want to do. You will need to adjust to their line, not the other way around.
Freerunning is Hard
Even something that seems simple can be physically/mentally difficult & potentially dangerous. Do not force the athlete to repeat moves over & over again. Make sure you can capture it the first time because you might not get a second chance.
The Location is Part of the Performance
Find angles that highlight the surroundings/architecture as well as the athletes’s movement.
Less is More
If you are filming a combo make sure you can capture it all as one. A second perspective is great but cuts do not always work & can take away from the difficulty of the line.
See the Big Picture
Don’t worry about close ups they don’t work for action. Same for jumping over the camera. It’s been tried a lot & it never looks good.
Athlete Guidelines
You Make The Call
When you get to the location make sure you choose the line you really want to show.
The Answer Can Be No
Don’t give into “Can you do something here?” If it doesn’t look interesting to you. If they ask you to do something & you feel like it might be cheesy…it is. So make sure to tell them no if it doesn’t feel right.
You’re Not A Machine
Tell them when it is a difficult trick which you do not want to repeat.
Check Yourself
Shooting days are long & exhausting. Make sure you communicate when you get tired. Remember if you get injured nobody will get anything.
Ask for Help
If you need a physio after a hard day ask for one. Production is most likely able to provide somebody that can help.
Fix Up, Look Sharp
You pick your outfit so make sure you look & feel good.
This is Your Project
Make sure you’re proud of what you put in the video because when it comes out it’s your name in the title & your face in the thumbnail.