Have you ever browsed an automotive web site? Looked at a vehicle marketing brochure? Or watched a new vehicle commercial? Have you wondered how did they capture that amazing footage or what all went into it? I promise you most of us have no idea the scale of production that goes into just one single shot of a luggage rack that you quickly scroll over while browsing a vehicles accessory page. We got the amazing opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at just how it’s all done.
It was a brisk morning in mid October. Fall had begun to set in, and the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee were beginning to create a vibrant colorful Fall masterpiece. I was loading up the detail van, when I received a call from Kyle with Tagged media. He stated that he and his team were coming to Knoxville to shoot action and still shots for all of MERCEDES media outlets, and that they needed some top notch detailers on set. Obviously we jumped on the opportunity.
We were no strangers to high pressure events, that requires detailing under a microscope. We have detailed show vehicles for Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance, world premier vehicles at LA International Auto Show, vehicle launches at the North American International Auto Show, MLB All Star Parade, PGA Tour executives, SEMA, and even some of Seinfeld’s Porsche’s, just to name a few. However none of these events had prepared us for Kyle and his teams meticulous nature, and the pursuit of capturing that “Perfect Shot.”
Day#1
“Show Call” was at 6:00 am on Sunday Morning. We arrived onsite and were shocked to see an entire production staff, multiple photographers, professional drivers, catering, (anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for catered breakfast and lunch) a staff RV, about a dozen KPD officers, and a beautiful fleet of new Mercedes vehicles.
We were able to get some of the cars prepped before we went straight into the shoot. They started with completely closing off the Henley Street Bridge to get some rolling shots. We were then escorted by a police motorcade to our next location in downtown Knoxville. (Side note: if you have never driven in a motorcade through your downtown streets it’s pretty awesome!!) We got some more rolling footage through the downtown streets and the morning shoot was a wrap.
We then moved up to the mountains, in Tallassee Tennessee to be exact. All of the Production staff and crew got set up and the shoot began. They were focusing mostly on the accessories that could be added to the vehicles when your purchasing. Luggage rack, bike rack, ski rack, floor mats, and trim options. In each photo/video everything had to be perfect. (above photo* Kyle literally broke out a set of hedge trimmers and a leaf blower to clean up the landscaping in the background)
Any smudge or spec of dust could be seen through the super high definition lenses. Each shot would take anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. Everything had to be positioned perfectly, lighting had to be just right, we would then swoop in and give one last wipe down, and then they could take the shot. We stayed out there until a little past dusk and it was a wrap.
Day #2
Show call was at 8:00am at the top of the mountains on a beautiful stretch of the Foothills Parkway. (Side Note: I highly recommend visiting the area in the morning when the clouds are down in the valley). The crew and Fleet arrived and we got right to Detailing. We were told which vehicles were going to be used first and that we had a few new cars on the set.
The Tennessee Park Rangers were nice enough to close off a few mile section of the Parkway for twenty minute intervals to shoot some rolling shots. We were near the start of the famous Dragon Tail so there were a lot of tourists and motorists about. Quite a few curious groups stopped by to say hello in hopes of making it on TV!! We really enjoyed our time up in the Mountains and it reminded us of how beautiful East Tennessee really is.
Day #3
The last day. Show call was at 8:00am as you can see we had some extra fog! It’s because today we were lucky enough to shoot at a beautiful privately owned farm house on the Holston River. The owners were very inviting and I think a little excited to have an entire production team shooting MERCEDES footage on there property. Today the crew was still getting some accessory shots finished, some interior shots, and some whole car shots (which I learned in the industry is called “the hero shot”)
*Pictured above* is one of the very elaborate rigs that one of the crew members assembled. They used this to get rolling shots of the dash area. Just another example of what goes into getting that perfect shot. 
We stayed until dusk just to capture that famous MERCEDES Glowing Star!! And that was a wrap. We really enjoyed this event and working with the whole crew. It was amazing to see how everyone had there own role and the passion they used within it to accomplish the days tasks.
One day I am scrapping gum and melted candy out of seat rails. The next I’m on top of the world removing one single piece of carpet fuzz off a rubber floor mat in a brand new Mercedes.