The Victorian Drift Club Members Day 2023 at Calder Raceway was an exhilarating day of drifting, community, and high-speed action. For MB Video, it was an opportunity to push the limits of our automotive cinematography techniques, capturing footage that put viewers right in the driver’s seat. Using a mix of gimbal shots, drone footage, and our custom-built track car for car-to-car filming, we documented the skill and spirit of the Victorian Drift Club.
This case study will walk you through how we approached filming the day, the challenges we overcame, and how our unique video techniques created an immersive experience that celebrates the thrill of drifting.
Project Objectives
Our mission was to capture the event’s intensity while emphasising the club’s tight-knit community and the finesse of each driver. We aimed to create a video that brought viewers into the experience, from the tyres squealing on the track to the engine roars filling the air. Every drift and turn was filmed to communicate the skill required and the culture surrounding the event, making it feel authentic and engaging for both fans and casual viewers.
Pre-Production: Planning for Dynamic Coverage
For an event as unpredictable as drifting, our approach was to remain flexible and adaptive. We focused on mapping out key locations around the track to set up various filming angles and deciding how we’d integrate the car-to-car footage, drone shots, and gimbal work for maximum impact. Pre-planning helped us determine the safest and most effective ways to capture high-speed sequences without interrupting the flow of the event.
Our crew also did a walkthrough of the track with the event coordinators to understand the best vantage points and get a feel for where the most action would unfold. Additionally, we fine-tuned our custom-built track car, equipping it to capture smooth, steady shots even at high speeds alongside the drifters.
Production Highlights
The production day involved a variety of filming techniques to cover every perspective of the event.
Car-to-Car Filming: Our purpose-built track car enabled us to capture unique car-to-car shots, bringing the viewers up close with the drifters. This setup allowed us to film moving footage directly from the track, capturing side-by-side shots as cars initiated drifts, held angles, and manoeuvred through turns. This method created an unparalleled sense of immersion, making viewers feel as if they were drifting along with the drivers.
Gimbal Shots for Ground-Level Action: Gimbal-mounted cameras were used extensively to capture smooth, close-up shots from trackside and pit areas. This stable setup let us focus on the fine details, such as drivers’ hand movements and car responses. Whether it was tracking cars as they accelerated or capturing the moment of a drift, the gimbal shots added depth and detail, giving viewers an intimate look at the mechanics behind each move.
Drone Shots for Aerial Perspectives: Drone footage was essential for capturing the entire scope of the event, offering sweeping aerial views of the track, the crowd, and the surrounding landscape. The drone’s bird’s-eye view showed how cars navigated the course, the proximity of vehicles during tandem drifts, and the full layout of Calder Raceway. This footage added an extra layer of excitement, as viewers could see the patterns and paths drivers took as they showcased their skills.
Capturing the Event Atmosphere: To highlight the community feel, we filmed candid shots in the pit areas, capturing interactions between drivers, mechanics, and fans. This approach showed the camaraderie and enthusiasm that make the Victorian Drift Club unique, bringing a personal touch to the final video.
Post-Production: Crafting the Final Experience
With hours of dynamic footage, post-production was where the story of the event truly came together. Our editing team worked meticulously to create a cohesive and engaging video that matched the energy of the track.
Fast-Paced Editing and Transitions: To reflect the high-speed action, we used quick cuts and transitions that kept the video flowing smoothly. Each scene was carefully selected to highlight the skillful manoeuvres, with tighter cuts used during action-packed segments. This style helped maintain momentum, allowing viewers to experience the constant adrenaline rush of the event.
Audio Design and Engine Sounds: We knew the soundtrack for this video had to go beyond music. Capturing the authentic sounds of screeching tyres, revving engines, and trackside cheers was vital to conveying the event’s atmosphere. Our team layered the audio with engine roars and subtle crowd noises, creating a soundscape that immerses viewers as though they were at the track.
Colour Grading for a Cinematic Feel: To enhance the visuals, we applied colour grading that emphasised the gritty, high-contrast look typical of automotive cinematography. Deep shadows and vibrant colours highlighted the sleek lines of the cars and the textures of the track, giving the video a polished, cinematic finish.
Results and Client Feedback
The final video was a hit, resonating with the Victorian Drift Club community and enthusiasts alike. It effectively captured the essence of the Members Day, with dynamic footage that showcased the drivers' skill and the event’s unique energy. The client appreciated our efforts to create a production that went beyond simple event coverage, offering a storytelling approach that aligned with the club’s identity and spirit.
The video was shared across social media, drawing engagement from drifting fans and automotive communities. By balancing technical filming with community-focused content, we created a piece that was both exciting and relatable.
Key Takeaways
This project was a testament to MB Video’s expertise in automotive event videography. Through a combination of car-to-car shots, stable gimbal filming, and aerial perspectives, we produced a video that brought the event’s action and atmosphere to life.
Want to capture the action at your next automotive event? Whether it's high-speed drifting or a classic car showcase, MB Video can help turn your event into a visual experience. Contact us today to learn more about our automotive videography services!
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