“What’s up guys?!” The booming voice echoes off the walls of the AMMO NYC garage studio. We are, of course, making some automotive content.
“How does he do that?”, I wonder as I watch Larry Kosilla turn on a smile and talk into the camera. I guess the answer is simple – years of practice.
Suddenly, he turns to me. Wait, me? Why me?
Oh yea…this video is about Machines With Souls.
Gulp.
It’s not easy making good automotive content
A long time ago, I decided that if I was going to make it big, I was going to make it big my way. I loved reading car magazines as a kid, and was captivated by the images. So even though magazines and articles aren’t as popular, like the man said…my way.
But another route to go is video. A show like Top Gear has a gigantic budget. Slightly down the ladder are what people like Doug DeMuro produce – excellent in their own right, but lacking in cinema quality. They’ve refined what works over the years, and while it’s never too late to enter the content creator market, you’ve got to be really good to break through all the clutter by now.
One of the OGs is Larry, so when I was told Aston would be sending me a Vantage F1 Edition to review, I called him up to see if he’d like to prep it for the images at Monticello.
I’d have to be in the video though.
I could handle it – I’d done it once before…
Lights, camera…Mike?
Like me, Larry knows exactly what he wants to do before we ever push a button. We pull the Aston in and do a walk around. There’s no need for Larry to polish a brand new car that doesn’t belong to us, but we can always find a flaw to focus on and turn it into a detail teaching moment.
He’d then like me to walk around the car to explain some of the cool things about it. Problem is, I do my research on my cars as I write the review, and though I wish I could tell you the name of this famous green Aston uses (Aston Martin Racing Green!) off the top of my head, it’s impossible to be an encyclopedia for every car all the time.
As the camera rolls on me for the first time and Larry does his introduction, I point to the car and call it a Vanquish. Sigh.
Jordan, Larry’s camera operator and assistant, writes the name V-A-N-T-A-G-E on a white board so I’ll remember.
Larry is not amused.
We start again. He sets up me. I’m prepared to speak. He turns to me, and…
Nothing.
I stand there with my mouth open. Just forgot what I was going to say. Larry makes “the face”. You know, like a disappointed dad.
It’s not easy to do this.
Lap after lap
Before anything else, this is a job. It’s really neat to be around all these exotic cars all the time, but Aston didn’t give one to us so we could stare at it.
We need to make the most of our time. Plus, it’s early November, so the sunlight runs out fast here. The clock is ticking.
We film the usual B-roll stuff first, sexy bubbles and soapy foam, but the meat of the detailing video is Larry going to town on the gigantic wing on the back of the car. The black plastic was scratched – Larry can fix it with a good polishing.
Watching the polisher in action, I’m happy I’m not a pro detailer. The lens never needs to touch the car.
Like each shoot I do, there’s a formula as Larry films that is both efficient and detailed. It’s rare that more than two takes are needed. I’m happy I get to stand behind the camera, shooting him in action and in my element.
For now.
Rollers and poseurs
Sunset brings with it the best lighting, so I hand the keys over to Larry and we film a brief ride together. This is the best part – car guys in an awesome car, talking about some good and bad points unique to this Aston. It’s impossible not to have fun as we experience the AMG V-8.
On the way back to the studio, I hop in Larry’s Cayenne (diesel!) with Jordan so he can film some rolling shots of the car. I’m feeling pretty good – the video is coming together.
Soon, it’ll be my turn again.
Photo tips and tricky tricks
Once back in the studio, we set up to clean the Aston’s extensive amount of Alcantara inside, and then it’s time once again to strut my stuff in front of the lens with a few photo tips.
“I got this. I know a ton of photo tips.”
Yea, I sure do. And they allll come rushing to the forefront of my brain at once. I manage to get through it in one take.
Not.
Take two. Better, but still choppy. Takes three and four produce something that I only hope is usable. Time is winding down. The pressure makes it harder to focus on the specifics of what I want to say. How do you manage to condense automotive photography into 30 seconds of interesting information? I speak from the heart, and can only hope the advice resonates.
Finally, Larry decides he’d like some more B-roll, so I whip out the old Ice Light, position the now very shiny Vantage as I’ve done with dozens of cars in this particular garage, and go to town for a light painting shot. The process to capture a car in multiple takes is always good fun.
Okay. All done. All that’s left is a two-hour ride home in the world’s most uncomfortable carbon bucket seats.
How’d I do?
Podcast Pro
This little media tour continued a few weeks later. I was invited to take part in J&B’s podcast, where I (hopefully) speak intelligently about the cars I’ve driven and my automotive experience in general.
Podcasts are more fun. Relaxed. Mike and Elvis, the host and producer, are pros that make me feel at ease. After a few minutes, I forget the cameras and mics are even there.
Check out the episode here, and if you like automotive content from people that are actually in the know within the automotive business, subscribe and give them a listen.
I think I’ll stick to writing automotive content
Visiting AMMO for the day is always an experience – a glimpse into another world. J&B too – I’m simply a visitor just passing through in their amazing automotive worlds.
I suppose we’re all so focused on making automotive content that it can be hard to constantly stay enthusiastic about what we actually do make. Some videos and podcasts get more attention. What works, and what doesn’t? Do I release reviews on a Wednesday instead of Tuesday?
Larry is a pro, and he’s been at it for years with no end in sight. Most of these kinds of car hosts are able to turn it on and off for the camera in the blink of an eye, something I have yet to master.
J&B? Fresh and new, excited to give it a shot. I hope I get to visit them again.
The internet has made all of this possible, and with it come the trolls and finger pointers. But I’d rather focus (dad joke) on the things that matter. Shooting cars, writing about them, and sharing that passion with like-minded people.
Action!
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If you live in the tri-state area and want me to check it out, send me an email!
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I use Nikon camera bodies and lenses, a Westcott Ice Light 2, Manfrotto tripod, B + W filters and an iMac Pro to make the art you see here.
Follow along on Instagram @machineswithsouls
