Key Takeaways:
- FOX Sports Lead Director Rich Russo’s core philosophy is to let the game tell its own story, regardless of the stakes or equipment.
- The NFL Playoffs see a gradual increase in production tools, including high-speed cameras, mini cams, and expanded bench coverage.
- Russo emphasizes the importance of maintaining comfort with equipment and not adding too much for spectacle’s sake.
- The key to successful storytelling is to enhance the game with technology, without overwhelming it.
- Russo looks forward to the electric atmosphere of Seattle’s Lumen Field and the matchup between the Rams and Seahawks.
Introduction to FOX Sports’ Approach
The team’s approach is to boost tech gradually through the playoff rounds. While the equipment arsenal grows and the stakes intensify with each round of the NFL Playoffs, FOX Sports Lead Director Rich Russo’s core philosophy hasn’t wavered since his first Super Bowl broadcast in 2011: let the game tell its own story. At this weekend’s Los Angeles Rams–Seattle Seahawks showdown at Seattle’s notoriously electric Lumen Field, Russo’s crew returns to the venue they worked just a week ago for the divisional round. Among the increased arsenal of production tools will be a high SkyCam, additional high-speed cameras, and expanded bench coverage— all designed to capture what promises to be a thriller between the NFC’s top two teams.
Preparation and Philosophy
As you look ahead to Sunday, does your overall production philosophy change compared with a regular-season game? How do you go about lending that “big-game feel” to a broadcast like the NFC Championship? Our philosophy and approach don’t change much, to be honest. The production gets bigger and bigger as the season and playoffs go on, and, obviously, the NFC Championship game will be the biggest of them all. We’re fortunate to do America’s Game of the Week all season, so we have a huge show every single week. We want to document the game and tell the story for the viewer. We do that week in and week out and are going to continue to do for the NFC Championship game. Russo’s routine is pretty much the same, though he watches previous games, stays up on news and notes, and attends production meetings on Thursday and Friday onsite.
Equipment and Technology
We’ll have the high Skycam on Sunday, plus some more high-speed cameras, mini cams on the benches, and more down-the-line cameras for those close sideline plays. We start to build up beginning with the Wild Card game and add a little more for the Divisional game, and then this will be the biggest game we do all year. We will add things based on what we think is most important. A lot of times, that is strictly for replays, reactions, bench shots, and those types of things. Russo’s team has a great group of people who help them stay up on the latest technology all year long. They experiment with new things, and sometimes they get amazing results, sometimes they don’t, but they’re always open to trying new things.
Directing Big Games
The first Super Bowl I did was Super Bowl XLV, but I was lucky enough to have directed some world feeds before that and had been an AD on various Super Bowls as well. When you go into a Super Bowl, it can be pretty daunting because there’s a lot involved in terms of the lead-up and, obviously, a lot of pressure because of the size of the audience. I had done world feeds and been in rehearsals, but there’s just nothing like directing a Super Bowl. I learned a lot in that game and in the years since. Whether it’s a Super Bowl or a conference championship game, one thing is key: even though it’s the biggest game of the season, you can’t just add a bunch of stuff for the sake of adding it.
Integrating Technology
It has to make sense; that’s the bottom line. When it comes down to it, it’s still all about the pictures, the commentary, and the storytelling. The technology has to enhance one of those three areas. There’s nothing like high-speed cameras and super-mo pictures, especially for reaction shots and tight shots of specific plays on or off the ball. The 4K cameras have become important for replays because they can get that definitive look. We want to make sure we get all the definitive looks for every play, especially on the goal line or on a 4th-and-1. I don’t believe in gimmicks or just throwing something out just for the hell of it. We worked with our technology and operations teams to experiment with things that are truly going to be helpful to the telecast.
Looking Ahead to the Game
The thing that sticks out the most to me is the venue. I was in Seattle last week, having not had a chance to get there that often. It’s an amazing scene in that stadium. I remember, when we were there in 2015 for Green Bay–Seattle, Jermaine Kearse made that catch for the winning touchdown in overtime. That place was genuinely electric. It is a unique environment with the 12th Man fans and raising the 12 flag. It will allow all our audio guys to really ramp up the sound, and I think that’s going to be a big difference for us. In terms of storylines, you have two great coaches and two experienced quarterbacks. This game is going to be a great match-up, and I think you can make the argument that these are the two best teams in the NFL right now. So I’m anticipating a great game.
