MAAC Tournament Promo

A lesson in creative shooting and editing. The MAAC tournament was coming to the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo for the first time in 1997. Someone got the idea that it would be neat to shoot a promo there with the head coaches from two of the local teams that would be competing (thankful they were both friends). The only problem was that the arena is set up for hockey games 90% of the time. Okay, then wouldn’t it be funny to stage a showdown between the two coaches on Zambonis? A kind-of ice rink game of chicken?

We all arrive to learn that union regulations prohibits non-licensed personnel from driving the Zamboni. What ensued was a challenge of shooting and editing. Luckily we were allowed to shoot each coach sitting on the machines pretending to be driving. Inter-cut that with footage of the Zamboni moving with the driver out of frame, perform some continuity-shattering split screen edits and flopped shots back in post and presto - instant coach Zamboni chicken contest.

All in all a cheesy concept that was well received and talked about, even though it gave me nightmares producing it. I did all the shooting handheld with a Betacam for that slightly chaotic look. Editing was done on an Accom Stratasphere.

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