We've been blown away by the new series on Amazon Prime called 'Beast Games'. The 10 episode show has a reported budget of more than one hundred million dollars (£80 million pounds)!!
It's the biggest tv show ever made and has won more than 40 Guinness World Records.
BEAST GAMES - BEHIND THE SCENES GEEK GUIDE
Our Technical Director Tom has geeked out and compiled a list of all the technical info he could find on the web on the series so far. It took him over 10 hours to compile.
Bookmark this page or follow us on socials as the blog will be updated over the next month.
BEAST GAMES CAMERAS (EPISODE ONE)
1107 cameras were used on episode one of the show. So how does that break down?
1000 x GoPro cameras - mounted on each contestant podium.
43 x handheld ARRI Alexa Mini LF cameras (Valued at $6450,000 or £5146,000. ALEXA Mini and the AMIRA were also used.
It appeared that most of the 43 ARRI cameras were wireless using an RF system wireless link or similar. The cost of this alone would have been substantial. Most of the camera operators also used Easyrigs to help with the weight and the long shooting days.
8 x camera operators controlled the robotic or PTZ cameras.
Series one cinematographers were Jason Elliott. Russell Leggett and Peter Vidulich. Scott Coleman was a Steadicam Op on the first three episodes.
Got something to share about the camera dept? Email us.
BEAST GAMES SOUND (EPISODE ONE)
In episode one contestants on the podiums were wearing wired lapel mics. Trying to wrangle batteries on over 1,000 wireless mics would just not have been an option or as reliable as a cabled option. From the still image it appears the mics may be the Shure MX185. The XLR connector had a clip on it and they were placed on the ankles of each contestant where it met a longer XLR cable.
Got something to share about the sound dept? Email us.
BEAST GAMES LIGHTING
It appears the on-camera lights used in the show were the Aputure MT Pro strip lights from Aputure Lighting. Episode one used panel lights all over the ceiling of the building all set to daylight colour temperature.
Got something to share about the lighting dept? Email us.
BEAST GAMES - FILMING LOCATIONS
The filming of Beast Games spanned two major locations - Las Vegas, Nevada, and Downsview Park, Toronto, Canada.
EPISODE ONE
Episode one was filmed at Downsview Hangars, a former aircraft manufacturing company converted into a sports arena.
This location is normally used as a hangout for young people and the venue includes three hangars with a total size of 77,000 square feet.
The towers the contestants stand on in episode one were 9 feet tall and CGI was used to make them appear as if there was a drop to infinity between them. The white ceiling was also painted black in post-production.
The contestants fell 4 feet into foam sections and a crash pad. It was super safe.
The Art Director was still painting the set just two days before filming started mainly due to water getting on the set from leaks in the ceiling.
EPISODE TWO
Episode two was shot at the Downsview airport site. This location is not far from the hangars used in the first episode. This site has been converted into Beast City for the 500 competitors with a lounge and other areas for athletics. Additionally, it has a basketball court and garages needed for different challenges in the show.
Beast City accommodates 500 contestants to eat and sleep. It has roundabouts and mini chalets. It cost a reported $14 million to build. 50 people will initially share a chalet sleeping in bunk beds until they are whittled down each week.
These drone images were captured by Patrick Morrell. Transport Canada issued a no-fly zone for the area from August 21 to September 6 2024, requested by “a production company.”
Got something to share about the locations? Email us.
BEAST GAMES - EPISODE 1 PRODUCTION
In episode one 63 Story Producers would eavesdrop on the 1,000 contestants hunting for interesting stories or content. They would mark the alpha male and female contestants with a red dot. They used a bespoke software system to live log or tag specific key moment's that may need to featured in the edit.
SOME WORLD RECORDS FROM THE SHOW
Largest single pot of prize money in television history ($5 million)
Largest island given away in a show.
Most cinema cameras used at a single time in a reality TV show.
Most cameras recording simultaneously on the set of a competitive reality TV show. (1,107)
Most contestants on a reality TV show. (1,000)
Most cables run on reality TV show.
Largest area of scaffolding used on a single set for a tv show. (68,523.59 ft2)
Most trapdoors used on a single tv set. (1,000)
Most pneumatic pistons used on the set of a competitive reality TV show. (3,000).
Most foam cubes used on the set of a competitive reality TV show. (250,000).
Most people simultaneously dropped through trap doors. (83)
Largest story producer team used on the set of a competitive reality TV show. (63)
Fastest time to fit costumes on 1,000 people on the set of a reality TV show. (72 hours)
Most amount of challenge testers on the set of a competitive reality TV show. (198)
Largest physical cash prize on the set of a competitive reality TV show. ($5,000,000)
CONTESTANT CONTRACTS
The Business Insider obtained a document which would prohibit contestants from disclosing information about the show. "Contestants who break the agreement before the last episode airs must pay the producer and network $500,000 for each breach. After the last episode airs, each breach would cost contestants $100,000," the documents said.
The documents also ask contestants to agree that their portrayal in the program may be "disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing, or of an otherwise unfavourable nature" and may expose them to "public ridicule, humiliation, or condemnation.
You can read the document here.
OTHER STATS
The pilot took just 30 minutes for 1 million people to view the show on MrBeast’s channel.
It's the largest single prize money in reality television history.
3000 meals were served each day during episode one. The caterers ensured all diets were covered.
Crew members were provided with black suits and masks but had to provide their own black shoes and socks.
26 miles of camera cable were used on episode one.
"Millions of dollars" were spent on video storage.
1000 ipads were used on the podiums.
Got some other stats? Email us.
Bookmark this page or follow us on socials as the blog will be updated over the next month.
DISCLAIMER.
We did not work on the show. All the info above is available in various places in the public domain.
ARTICLE SOURCES
#BeastGames #MrBeast #BeastGamesBehindTheScenes #BtS #BehindTheScenes #AmazonPrime #ARRI #Arrialexa #solo16 #Broadcast #TechnicalInfo #FactSheet
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