Go To Team, High Definition Video Production Services

Go To Team helps Universal Studios Reveal The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2009-11-09T06:01:52-08:00

Beginning spring 2010, Universal Orlando Resort guests will be able to experience “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” when they visit the Islands of Adventure. When Universal Studios disclosed the time frame and much anticipated details to the world, Go To Team was there to support the big event!

Universal's Mark Woodbury and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)

GTT’s Orlando-based crew helped Universal Studios unveil the official announcement – made through a special invitation-only-web cast, and seen by millions of viewers around the world! Executive Producer, Sue Stauffer, handled all the GTT logistcs. From shooting elements with Universal Executives and principles of the Harry Potter films, to post production for the web cast and related marketing initiatives, Stauffer covered all the bases.

Shooting on the Panasonic VariCam, Orlando ’s DP/Partner Dan Beckmann, captured interviews with the film principles and UOR executives in high definition. Lead Digital Artist, Giovanni Sensat, helped create, edit, and animate the key elements for web cast program as well as vast amounts of material to support PR activities.

The “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is a collaboration with the same creators who continue to bring the “world” to life on the Big Screen! Guests will enter through Hogsmeade Village, where they’ll find the Hogwarts Express billowing steam! Once inside, a state-of-the-art attraction called “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” will use new technology to bring the characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never seen before.

Dragon Challenge, will give coaster enthusiasts a chance to experience the Triwizard Tournament, while a nearby family-style coaster -”Flight of the Hippogriff” – will take guests straight up to Hogwart’s castle!

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imagination of fans of all ages, and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build,” Warner Bros. Consumer Products President Brad Globe said. “We are excited to share with fans a first glimpse into the truly enchanted world we are bringing to life.”

Guests will be able to experience the same sights, sounds, and sensations from the actual world itself – “The Three Broomsticks” and nearby “Hog’s Head Pub” will offer traditional British fare and drinks, including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice. Chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans will also be available. While other stores will sell tricks and jokes, wands, Triwizard apparel, and even Golden Snitches.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” said Universal Chairman and CEO Tom Williams.

Check out the video here!

Clark Crew Wraps Up The MLB Post Season – Days 20 Through 23

2009-11-05T06:06:54-08:00

Dan, Josh, And Skip After Game Six

Go To Team’s Clark crew is finally coming home! After traveling for over three weeks as they followed the Major League Baseball Post Season for Fox Sports, Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey, along with their producer Josh O’Shinsky, have wrapped up everything in New York. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from our boys – the last run of the World Series was a busy time for the crew – so we’ll try to catch up. Day Twenty of the trip was Game Five of the World Series in Philadelphia. Skip and Dan – from Charlotte, NC, and Orlando, FL – kept up with the normal business of pre-game scenics for the Fox Sports Pre-Game show. And then they went right into game mode, Dan shot beauty shots around the stadium on the HVX-200 while Skip worked from the camera while shooting game highlights on his Panasonic Varicam. All that footage got used in the end-of-broadcast roll-out feature and for the opening tease for Game Six. And that’s where we go next. Because the Phillies took Game Five, the whole show moved right back to New York. Day Twenty-One – Tuesday – was a travel day for the crew. But a busy travel day! Skip and Dan went back to Citizens Bank Park to start a time lapse on the digital SLR that ran for the entire drive from Philadelphia to New York. Once they got back to the stadium, the guys went straight to work getting ready to shoot interviews with players. Check out the blog – Day 14 – that little closet/room is right where they ended up all over again! And then came Wednesday – Day Twenty-Two of the assignment – Game Six! And the routine was really the same as every other game day, pre-game scenics and game highlights. But there was something different as everyone was anticipating a Yankees win. And the New York Yankees didn’t disappoint – they clinched the World Series with a 7-3 win over the Phillies. And that wraps up the assignment for Skip and Dan. All that’s left for our guys is the travel day home – Day Twenty-Three. Today – Thursday – they caught an early morning flight home to Charlotte, NC, and after a couple of day’s rest, they’ll be right back out on assignment!

Game Five In Philadephia

Game Five In Philadelphia

Setting Up For The Time Lapse

Skip's New Intervalometer

Shooting Pre-Game Scenics

Check out the timelapse of the drive from Philly to NYC here!

Go To Team and Space Flight now take to web – and GO Global!

2009-11-05T05:58:12-08:00

Shuttle Endeavour ready for launch

The space shuttle Endeavour sat stranded on the launch Pad, waiting. Waiting for its ride to the International Space Station. Waiting to attach an experimental platform to a Japanese research module. And waiting for a line of thunderstorms to pass over the Cape. After a lengthy 3-hour weather delay, fueling of the shuttle’s external fuel tank began. But shortly after tanking got underway, a presumably repaired hydrogen vent line was found, once again, to be leaking potentially dangerous gaseous vapor. The mission was scrubbed, but Go To Team and Space Flight Now was just getting to work!

For 3 days, Go To Team’s Partner/Director of Photography, Dan Beckmann, took the helm as technical director and production manger for Space Flight Now’s live web streaming coverage of the launch. Although, the mission scrubbed twice, GTT was there, in their make-shift-outdoor studio, to capture all the action!

Using a Video Switcher, wireless IFB units, SKYPKE via laptop computer terminals, various HMI and ARRI lighting packages, and multiple HVR Z1U cameras, GTT was able to broadcast live – via the web – as all the drama unfolded. News anchors David Waters and Miles O’Brien were their to take viewers along for the ride. With nearly 200,000 hits for Space Flight Now, bloggers and SKYPE users from across the planet – from Australia to New Jersey – were following along, as Miles and David explained the breaking news in detail.

TNA Wrestling Tackles Halloween Horror Nights

2009-11-02T06:10:51-08:00

Go To Team’s Orlando DP, Dan Beckmann, caught up with the wrestlers of TNA at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.

Using Night Vision, and shooting in High Def on the HDX 900, Beckmann captured (in 1080i) the stars of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling; Matt Morgan, Kip James, Christy Hemme, and Daffney, as they made their way through several haunted houses.

Lead Digital Artist, Giovanni Sensat, and Executive Producer, Sue Stauffer, created an incredible video showcasing all the “scares” of the evening!

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, TNA Wrestling is viewed by millions in the U.S. It has also taken off overseas, as the show airs in over two dozen countries. Celebrities from Chris Rock to Toby Keith have made guest appearances over the years. And TNA is now the 2nd largest professional wrestling promotion in North America!

Check out the video here!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Days Eighteen & Nineteen

2009-11-01T22:32:39-08:00

'The Bank' At Night

After a day in Philadelphia to prepare with scenics, days eighteen and nineteen brought Games Three and Four of the 2009 World Series. Go To Team’s Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey (from Charlotte, NC, and Orlando, FL) were busy both days picking up pre-game scenics and game action for the pre-game show and all the features. But the first shoot was all about food! Because Citizen’s Bank Park has the largest grill in all of Major League Baseball, Fox Sports just HAD to shoot a feature about Bull’s Barbeque. And Philadelphia’s own Greg “The Bull” Luzinski was there to show everyone why ‘The Bank’ is known to have some of the best ballpark eats. While Skip and Dan had help on the ribs – they had to share with the producers?! – they put a pretty big dent in the pan! Be sure to tune into Fox Sports tonight for the last game in Philadelphia. And maybe the last game of the series? The Yankees lead the World Series three games to one.

Skip & Dan With The 'Bull'

Out Shooting Pre-Game Scenics

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Days Sixteen & Seventeen

2009-10-31T10:29:41-07:00

Wrapping It Up In NYC - For Now...

After nearly another week in New York, Go To Team’s Clark crew, along with producer Josh O’Shinsky, headed to Philadelphia for Games Three through Five of the World Series. Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey (from Charlotte, NC, and Orlando, FL) have been covering the Major League Baseball post season for Fox Sports since October 14th! And after Thursday’s Game Two in New York, there was a lot to get done. Skip and Dan first had to make a stop at Hertz to pick up a new rental. An upgrade! They left the Kia that got them through so long in New York and picked up a Honda Odyssey. Dan was excited. Making the best of the three hour drive to Philadelphia, they shot footage of the drive on the Panasonic Varicam and a time lapse on the digital SLR. All of that footage will be used for a feature in tonight’s (Saturday) Game Three. Once they made it to Philadelphia it was time for more scenics for bump shots and features. But there was problem. The intervalometer for the digital SLR broke and they wouldn’t be able to shoot anymore of the panning time lapses that have been popular this season. Always looking for the solution, Skip and Dan made a last minute stop at a camera shop and picked up a remote shutter release. No one had an intervalometer. So that meant Skip and Dan became the intervalometer. Using the stopwatches on their iPhones, they would click the remote every time they needed to take a shot. The average time lapse runs between 1000 and 1400 frames!? That’s a lot of button clicking! They worked through Friday night shooting time lapses on the digital SLR and bump shots on the Varicam and everything is ready for tonight’s game. Be sure to tune into Fox Sports for Game Three!

Dan - Excited About The New Van

The Odyssey - All Loaded Up

Rigging The SLR For The Driving Time Lapse

Wrapping Up The Time Lapse In Philly

Clicking Away On The Time Lapse

Bump Shots On The Varicam

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Fifteen

2009-10-29T11:20:05-07:00

Setting Up The Rig

Game One of the World Series is in the books: Phillies 6, Yankees 1. But it’s already Day Fifteen for Go To Team’s Clark crew. Charlotte, NC, based Skip Clark and Orlando, FL, based Dan Lowrey have been following the Major League Baseball post season since October 14^th when they started with the American League Championship Series. They’ve been working for Fox Sports shooting elements for the pregame show and the game broadcast. A big part of that is shooting beauty shots that get used for the billboards. Fox Sports loves time lapsed shots for billboards, but they wanted to take it another level. So Skip has been using a digital SLR and a motorized telescope tripod to add that extra little bit. Once Skip and Dan find the spot they set up the camera to shoot at just the right interval and then set the rig to pan at any speed. Normally the time lapsed shot takes about a half hour and the shot is good for 40 seconds of air time without seeing any stuttering in the shot. After that, it’s a simple process using a photo program and Quicktime to stitch it all together! And the best part is that once the rig is running on its own, Skip can use his Panasonic Varicam to shoot other shots in the same spot! They’ve also been able to use the digital SLR when using the Varicam might have been a little more impractical – like attaching it to the side and top of a taxi cab?! The city passing by the cab made for a great shot. Be sure to tune into Fox Sports tonight for Game Two of the World Series and all those time lapse shots!

Setting The Timer

Now We Wait

Check out the videos here!

Wolfman goes on the prowl in Orlando

2009-10-29T07:01:28-07:00

Go To Team’s Orlando crew – DP/Partner, Dan Beckmann and Executive Producer, Sue Stauffer – helped Universal Orlando Resort bring one of the most highly anticipated films, “The Wolfman,” to life on the world wide web!

This years Halloween Horror Nights allows guests to experience the Wolfman – firsthand – before it hits the theaters as one of the featured haunted houses.

“Halloween Horror Nights is the perfect launch for ‘The Wolfman,’” says the film’s producer Scott Stuber. “The horror audience is one of the most enthusiastic and loyal so we are so pleased they are experiencing it first at Halloween Horror Nights.”

Beckmann, Stauffer, and Lead Digital Artist, Giovanni Sensat, created a viral video for the Halloween Horror nights team to leverage the exceptional entertainment value of both the film and the experience at Universal Studios Florida. Using a dolly track, and shooting in High Definition on the Panasonic VariCam, the Orlando team captured a point-of-view experience of what it was like to be chased by the Wolfman!

Click here to check out the video!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Fourteen

2009-10-28T07:23:58-07:00

Yankees Pitcher Andy Pettitte

Tonight is Game One of the World Series and Go To Team’s Charlotte based Clark crew will be there in New York for everything. But before the first pitch tonight, there was Media Day yesterday. Skip Clark and Orlando based Dan Lowrey were busy all day Tuesday working through interviews with the Yankees. And probably the biggest challenge of the post season run for the crew. They had to set up for the interviews in – of all places – a luggage storage room. That’s literally what it said on the wall outside the room. That’s just a fancy name for a closet! But they made it work! The crew went wandering for background elements and they found some railing that’s normally used for the stadium seating. They hung that up vertically and it created some depth in the otherwise bland, white, concrete block walled room. They also had to prepare a way to slide a green screen in and out for interview so they could have two different set-ups. Once Skip and Dan got the room set up, it was a constant rotation of Yankees as they came in before, during, and after Tuesday’s workout. Today they’ll be at the stadium to pick up a couple more interviews before game time. And then they’ll jump right into highlights mode! Be sure to look out for all the interviews, scenics, and bump shots that will air throughout all of the broadcast tonight on Fox Sports!

The 'Closet!'

The Railing

Clark Crew Lenses Speed’s Talladega Special

2009-10-27T11:00:39-07:00

Behind The Scenes

Speed will be airing a special documentary the week before this fall’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega race, and Go To Team’s Director of Photographer Skip Clark was there for a lot of it! Producers Andy Parsons and Neil Sullivan from Speed called on Clark and fellow Charlotte, NC, DP Dave Svenson to shoot all of the interviews and stand-ups for the show. The special will cover the years before the track ever existed and continue right through its first race. Do you know why the Start/Finish line is far down the front stretch? Do you know who really won that first race in 1969? What about the driver’s union; who was behind it? The history of Talladega is as storied as its races! Both Clark and Svenson used their Panasonic Varicam to shoot all the content. And while the interviews were never quite this fast, check out this time lapse of Skip’s set-up as they interviewed James Hylton! Be sure to check out Speed for airtimes.

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Thirteen

2009-10-26T22:07:20-07:00

Yes – Go To Team’s Clark crew is still in New York. And, yes, they spent another day shooting New York scenics. But it’s a big city! So they had to head back out last night and hit some of the spots they missed the first few nights they were here last week. Charlotte based Skip Clark and Orlando based Dan Lowrey have been following the Major League Baseball post season since the American League Championship Series and now they’ll stay on the road through the World Series. Working for Fox Sports, they’ve been shooting all of the beauty shots on one of Go To Team’s Panasonic Varicams. The shots are used for billboards and features that air throughout the pre-game show and the game broadcast. Some of the shots even use some signs that Fox had made up specifically for the ALCS and the World Series. For those signs, Skip and Dan pull out a couple of different battery operated lights to help the signs match the city lights – either a PAG camera light or a Litepanels LED light – both mounted to a small ENG lighting stand. This keeps them mobile and a small operation. Key elements in New York! After a long night of shooting, dinner was in order. It might be a sight-seeing stop, but you really can’t beat the Carnegie Deli. So Skip and Dan stopped in for some pastrami on rye – with swiss! And it all had to be followed up with some cheesecake and 5th Avenue pie. Be sure to tune in Wednesday night for Game One of the World Series as the Philadelphia Phillies come to New York to take on the Yankees!

Dan Was Hungry!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Days Ten Through Twelve

2009-10-25T23:31:17-07:00

Saturday's Rain-Out

The last time we heard from our Clark crew – Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey – they were still in Los Angeles and on their way back to New York. Go To Team’s Charlotte-based crew has been covering the Major League Baseball Post Season for Fox Sports and Friday – day ten of their assignment – was a travel day. Since they got into New York so early, they took the day to catch up on some rest and see some old friends. Saturday was supposed to be Game Six of the American League Championship Series, forced after the Angels won Game Five back in Los Angeles, but the rains came and moved the game to Sunday. And it was worth it! The skies were beautiful all day Sunday – day twelve of the post-season run – and the weather was perfect for a baseball game! Skip and Dan spent the day gathering all the scenic shots they’ve been looking for the past five games and then made their way into the stadium for the highlights shots that get used for the roll-out feature at the end of the broadcast. The Yankees were able to finish off the Angels Sunday night to win the ALCS. Now Skip and Dan change gears and start getting ready for the World Series! The first game is right in New York on Wednesday night, between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Go To Team’s own Dave Baker will be watching all the action on Fox Sports – he’s a HUGE Phillies fan. We hope you are too!

Saturday's Rain-Out

Hanging With Greg Friday Night!

Shooting From The 'Well' Sunday Night

The MLB Post Season, Cameraman Dan Lowrey on the Road for Fox Sports – Day Nine

2009-10-22T22:51:39-07:00

Go To Team’s Dan Lowrey, wrapped up the stay in Anaheim, CA, after an exciting victory for the Los Angeles Angels. The American League Championship Series is in full swing heading back to New York were the Yankees and Angels will play there final match-ups. Dan Lowrey, GTT’s Orlando based Cameraman, has been working hard with his Panasonic HVX-200 finding unique shots that can be found with his super-wide angle lens! AKA the “up-close and personal lens.” With the abstract distortion the lens gives to shots, Dan had to use a different approach in his shooting technique. Taking advantage of a super-wide angle lens can be bitter-sweet. Like a rear view mirror says, “images are closer than they appear” the same physics apply to the lens. If you glue your eyes to the viewfinder you’ll start bumping into everything like a pinball. Being aware of your surroundings while making cool TV is essential! Leaving the sunshine behind, Dan and Skip flew to New York late Thursday night – or early Friday morning – for Game Six of the series. Be sure to check out the ALCS on FOX Sports this Saturday.

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Eight

2009-10-22T01:17:01-07:00

It’s now been a full week that Go To Team’s Clark crew has been out on the road. Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey have been out covering the ALCS for Fox Sports and they’ve been having a great time with it! Yesterday – Wednesday – was sort of an off-day for the crew as the Yankees and the Angels took a day off after the first two games in Anaheim. But they were still at work picking up some interviews with Yankees players like Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada and team manager Joe Girardi. These interviews are always set up in some auxiliary locker room that’s buried deep in the stadium. So even though it was sunny and 75 out, Skip and Dan were cold and in the dark for most of the day! But it got better as they headed up to Los Angeles to meet up with the whole Fox Sports crew for some dinner at one of their favorite dives – Casa Vega. Get the quac and the chili con queso – they’re awesome! Tonight is the last game in Anaheim and if the Angels win they’ll head back to New York for Game Six.

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Seven

2009-10-20T23:05:53-07:00

Mixed media. That’s what it’s been about on the MLB post season! Go To Team’s Clark crew, Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey, have been following the American League Championship Series for Fox Sports since last week and they’ve had their hands full with formats! The primary camera for the shoot is Skip’s Panasonic Varicam and he’s been shooting billboard shots and scenics with it nearly every day. Fox is also using the Varicam for highlights shots throughout the best-of-seven series. Following right behind the Varicam is one of Go To Team’s HVX-200 cameras. Dan has been busy using the P2 camera equipped with a super-wide stadium style lens to shoot huge perspective shots of Yankee and Angels Stadiums. He’s also been taking the camera around the stadiums and shooting some specialty shots with signs that Fox had made up for each game. There will be a lot more about that in another blog soon! And then there’s Skip’s little film camera. The Nikon Super 8 camera that was a huge hit during this year’s NASCAR season has been busy the first four games as Skip has been shooting iconic baseball moments that will be used later on during the World Series. And finally, Skip has been using a Nikon digital SLR to shoot players, specialty shots, and some time lapses around New York and Anaheim. All the details on the SLR set-up will come later as well! In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned in to Fox to see Game Five this Thursday. The Yankees lead the series 3-1 with their win over the Angels Tuesday night.

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Six

2009-10-19T22:25:45-07:00

Go To Team’s Clark crew arrived in Los Angeles – Anaheim specifically – yesterday and got straight to work on Monday covering Game Three of the American League Championship Series. Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey are there working for Fox Sports as Fox follows the MLB Post Season all the way through the World Series. With no real prep day in Anaheim, Skip and Dan were busy picking up scenics and billboard shots around the stadium before the game, and then busy during the game looking for more highlight shots for the teases that will be edited for the rest of the ALCS. Teamwork is the key, with Skip shooting as much as possible with his Varicam and Dan following behind with an HVX-200 equipped with a super wide stadium lens. Today – Tuesday – will be more of the same with some player interviews added to the schedule. Be sure to continue tuning in for more of the ALCS on Fox – the series has been a great one with two games going into extra innings and the Angels gaining some ground with Monday’s win. The Yankees still lead with a 2-1 lead.

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Five

2009-10-18T22:24:07-07:00

After several days in cold and rainy New York, it’s the perfect time for a change in scenery. Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey, Go To Team’s Charlotte and Orlando based crew members just arrived in Los Angeles this afternoon for the West Coast side of the American League Championship Series. The duo arrived in California with their Varicam and a slew of equipment and spent the day getting ready for Game Three – which is today on Fox Sports. The flight to LA couldn’t have been any better – it was a charter flight and everything went smoothly! The bags came off the plane right there on the tarmac and even the rental cars were already waiting on the crew when they landed in Long Beach! It’s almost like traveling as a superstar!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Four

2009-10-18T01:07:11-07:00

It was cold. It was rainy. And it was a long day. But everyone hung in there for Game Two of the American League Championship Series. Go To Team’s Clark crew is in New York covering the ALCS for Fox Sports as they follow the Yankees and the Angels in the best of seven series. Charlotte-based Skip Clark and Orlando-based Dan Lowrey were at Yankee Stadium Saturday night shooting game highlights, crowd scenics, and artwork that will be used throughout the ALCS as well as the World Series coming later this October. The crew hung in there through all thirteen of the innings as the Yankees finally pulled it out, 4-3, extending their lead in the ALCS to 2-0. Sunday is a travel day to Los Angeles as they follow the series to Anaheim. Be sure to tune into Fox Monday night for Game Three!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Three

2009-10-17T08:31:24-07:00

Finally! After two days of shooting scenics around New York, it’s Game One of the ALCS! Go To Team’s Charlotte-based Clark crew is there covering the MLB Post-Season for Fox Sports. Skip Clark and Dan Lowrey were there last night as the Yankees won the first game of the ‘Best-Of-Seven’ series against the Angels, 4-1. But it was a busy night for the duo as they were both running after those behind-the-scenes shots that make the bumps in and out of break so fun to watch! Skip was shooting on his Panasonic Varicam and Dan Lowrey was helping out with the HVX-200 equipped with a super wide stadium lens. Be sure to check out Game Two tonight – the first pitch is at 7:57. Skip and Dan will be somewhere in the stands looking for crowd reacts and highlights!

Clark Crew Covers The MLB Post Season – Day Two

2009-10-16T07:45:36-07:00

Rain. That was the common theme Thursday. It started around 9:30 Thursday morning just as Go To Team’s Clark crew was hitting the streets of New York to shoot scenics. Skip & Dan are there with their Panasonic Varicam covering the American League Championship Series for Fox Sports. But there wasn’t much to shoot around town with the constant rain, so they, along with producer Josh Oshinsky, headed for Yankee Stadium where they looked for all kinds of corners to shoot from. Where can you see the trains from the stadium? What are the angles in the ‘Great Hall?’ They were looking for all those shots getting footage ready for tonight’s opening game in the series. Be sure to tune in on Fox when the Yankees and the Angels take the field!