Academy Awards Director Leading SPEED NHoF Effort

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Academy Awards Director Leading SPEED NHoF Effort

Legendary TV director-producer Roger Goodman leads SPEED™ team for inaugural NHoF induction...

Erik Arneson | Posted May 03, 2010 Charlotte, NC

Roger Goodman will be leading the SPEED/FOX Sports production team for the network’s coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 23 at Noon ET. (Photo: RG Productions Inc.)

LEGENDARY TV DIRECTOR-PRODUCER GOODMAN LEADS SPEED™ TEAM FOR INAUGURAL NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION.

GOODMAN: ‘YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED AND HOPE IT HAPPENS’

Roger Goodman, who has directed every kind of television event imaginable, from the Presidential Inauguration to the Academy Awards, Super Bowl halftime shows and Olympic Games, is leading the SPEED/FOX Sports production team for the network’s live and exclusive coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 23 at noon ET.

“Clearly, the men of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class are all legends who were unafraid to take risks and pioneer news paths in business or on the track,” said David Hill, Chairman, FOX Sports Media Group. “Roger Goodman has taken the exact same approach when it comes to big event television, and since this is an historic moment for NASCAR fans everywhere, we thought it was our duty to bring in someone with his experience and stature to chronicle every moment. No one does live big-time TV better.”

“Having someone of Roger’s caliber directing this project certainly elevates the entire team,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “When the production team from FOX Sports and SPEED first gathered to talk about coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremonies, there certainly was a lot of firepower in the room … and each of them is working very hard to make this a remarkable event for the fans.”

Goodman, who received critical acclaim for his work on the 81st Academy Awards in 2009, is a 61-time Emmy nominee and 29-time winner. Below he gives viewers insight into what they can expect when they tune in to see NASCAR’s special night on SPEED:

SPEED: With this being the inaugural event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, what kind of unique challenges and opportunities does a “first” event hold from a director’s point of view?

Goodman: The biggest challenge for a director on a high profile inaugural event like this one is in the planning. There is no precedent here or playbook to refer to since it’s a first. You need to be prepared for the unexpected and hope it happens. That makes for a great event and a great live television broadcast. The opportunity here is getting in on the ground floor of what has the potential to become a great NASCAR tradition.

SPEED: How do you blend a celebration of history with a contemporary experience?

Goodman: To help honor this year’s class of inductees, the producers of the event are bringing together people from NASCAR’s past, present and future. Add to that the right mix of music, graphics and video highlight packages, and with the brand new building, you should strike just the right blend of old and new.

SPEED: How much knowledge of the subject matter do you need to develop an event that is seen as authentic?

Goodman: The more you know about your subject, the better the coverage will be. That goes back to the planning I mentioned earlier. The authenticity comes when you focus on the inductees and their accomplishments, and on the faces of their families, friends, and colleagues.

SPEED: Are there any hard, fast rules to covering a ceremony of any kind for television? Are there exceptions?

Goodman: One of the most important rules for me is to make sure that the technology doesn’t overshadow the emotion. On an event such as this one, seeing the emotion on people’s faces makes a television broadcast more compelling; not just faces of the people on stage, but also the family, friends, and colleagues in the audience. Equally important is to listen carefully to what’s happening at all times so you cover everything for the audience at home.

For more information about Goodman, please visit: http://rgproductionsinc.com/principals-rogergoodman.shtml

SPEED programming highlights surrounding live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (All times ET and subject to change; check SPEED.com for re-airs of all NHOF programming, including specials on inductees Bill France and Bill France Jr., and Junior Johnson):

NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Specials

> Richard Petty (Premieres May 8, 2:30 p.m.)
> Dale Earnhardt (Premieres May 14, 11 p.m.)

• NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening (May 11, 9 a.m.)
• NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (May 19, 9 p.m.)
• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice (May 21, 9 a.m.)
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice (May 21, noon)
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (May 21, 5 p.m.)
• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (May 21, 7:30 p.m.)
• Trackside @ Charlotte: All-Star Edition (May 21, 10:30 p.m.)
• NASCAR RaceDay Built by the Home Depot: All-Star Edition (May 22, 4 p.m.)
• NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (May 22, 7 p.m.)
• NASCAR Victory Lane: All-Star Edition (May 22, 11 p.m.)
• NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony pre-show (May 23, noon)
• NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (May 23, 1 p.m.)

During NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week, SPEED is expanding its nightly program, NASCAR Race Hub, from 30 minutes to one hour.

SPEED™, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in more than 80 million homes in North America, SPEED, a FOX Sports property, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening is set for May 11, 2010. Outdoor Opening Ceremonies are May 11th from 9 to 10 am ET free of charge, open to the public. Outdoor festivities including driver appearances and concerts May 11th from 10 am until 8 pm ET open to the public, free of charge. Tickets to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. The countdown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is on! Visit www.NASCARHall.com/50days for daily updates about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.