Over Exposed provided remote production coverage of the London Mini Marathon for London Marathon Events and the BBC, deploying a nine-camera setup for the event in central London.
The Mini Marathon is a 1mile and a 2.6k event for school children of 5 years old to 16 that takes place the day before the London Marathon.
Production of coverage of the Mini Marathon was delivered remotely from Over Exposed’s facility in Cobham, Surrey, with commentary also handled from one of its dedicated commentary booths.
Russell Martin, managing director at Over Exposed, said: “The Mini Marathon is a family-focused event in a beautiful setting on the Mall in central London. There simply isn’t the budget for a huge OB, so we were asked by London Marathon Events to cover [the Mini Marathon], taking this into account by going fully remote and minimising the pairs of hands on the ground.”
The camera plan covered provided full visibility of the route and included Sony Z750 cameras positioned along the course, Canon CJ20 lenses, Canon UJ111 box lenses, plus two specialist cameras including a crane and an Ajito tracking camera.
The 18ft jib was positioned near Buckingham Palace and the tracking camera used for moving shots alongside participants, providing sweeping, elevated shots that captured the scale of the event and the impressive location.
Martin said that a standout feature of the production was the use of an Ajito remote-controlled buggy from Motion Impossible that was equipped with a cine camera and lens package. Martin said it enabled low-angle, high-quality tracking shots alongside the Mini Marathon participants.
The live broadcast was transmitted using bonded 4G, 5G and satellite connectivity via LiveU LU800 units.
A communications system linked the remote production facility with on-site crew, using RTS intercom panels and Unity comms for production coordination. Commentary and talent audio were integrated into the live broadcast from the Cobham facility.
Martin added: “Specialist cameras allowed us to add real production value without significantly increasing footprint or cost. They give us the flexibility to tell better stories and create more engaging live experiences.”
