I love filming. At least when I’m in front of the camera. Not because of some ego trip or dreams of fame. It’s just great to get so many people you like together in one spot and then talk about football.
Filming can be complicated and there are far more inter-dependent things involved in getting it right. So, there can be tension and that’s when I’ve always thought / hoped that a little bit of dexterity with words can get you through. In fact, I really enjoy getting everyone focused, ready to roll and then putting a good script into practice, but the best laugh is when you are doing a soundcheck – or a particular ‘take’ gets spoiled by someone else – and there’s a chance to fool around. Words come tumbling out and they are always, without exception, just to entertain myself.
But they seem to keep most of the crew vaguely amused.
For these short films, which you can watch on my new website, the lads from BackPage Press made the great decision to involve Zoom Sport International. Run by Duncan McMath, who used to work at Real Madrid and Gol Television with me, it was a fabulous experience. Good locations, friendly fun with Xavi, Jamie Carragher, Vicente del Bosque, Pepe Reina and Santi Cazorla.
Martin Greig (BackPage) and Duncan also proved to be good editors. They’d pick up if a story could be told better, if there had been repetition. It’s also true that in our cameraman /editor, Ivan, we had a legend on board.
We filmed at the Bernabéu, Las Rozas (Spain’s training centre), the Calderón for a Spain training session, in the Madrid neighbourhood where Vicente Del Bosque grew up, Plaza Colón where Spain celebrated their Euro 2008 title, and at the Spain v Italy game in March 2014, won by Pedro’s goal. So much fun. But unless the films tell the story of the historic treble in a fun, digestible way, then I’ve not fulfilled my aim. Hope you enjoy them.