Autogeek's How-To Features on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage

Mike Phillips · 03-10-2011, 10:26 AM

Autogeek's How-To Features on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage

Last October, Max and I paid a visit to Dennis Gage to film 3 how-to segments for his TV show My Classic Car at his studio in Evansville, Indiana. Here's some behind the scenes shots from that video shoot.

The TV studio is located on Dennis's property, what looks like an average steel building is a fully functional TV Studio, the one you see on all his TV shows. Dennis and crew are very meticulous and you'll always find them making sure everything is spotlessly clean, even Dennis lends a hand.

Neat as a pin...

Here you can see both the outside of the studio, there's nothing to draw your attention to the building and no sign that there's a TV studio inside. Our first demonstration car is this 1964 GTO Convertible.

The son of the owner dropped the car off and you can see Dennis with Sheila Perkins, his Vice President of Sales, Sheila is actually a "Car Girl" and owns and drives a 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible.

Here we've moved the GTO into the studio...

Dennis has his own Make-up Artist, Leesa Richardson, and it's her job to get everyone ready for filming...

Before we shot our segments, Jim Grundy from Grundy Classic Car Insurance was there filming his own feature.

Before we started I spent some time explaining the process I was going to use on the GTO so the Grips and the Camera Operators would know where to position cameras, extension cords, lights, tables, etc.

Dennis is awesome at interviewing and finding out the specific information we want to present so when we start filming he can ask all the right questions and basically help me to explain the process and show it at the same time.

Dennis is also very good at creating a display to showcase products for the cameras...

Mike Phillips · 03-10-2011, 10:26 AM

Continued...

We shot two features using the GTO, one on the hood and one on the trunk lid...

This is Mike Seib, Grip #1, super cool guy, I think we were talking about drag boats in-between takes...

Here were doing a how-to feature using Wolfgang products on a classic 1955 Chevy Truck with extreme oxidation.

It's fun and surreal at the same time working with the host in his Studio for a show that I've been watching for years...

Concentrating on my lines and taking some ques from the camera guys...

Filming the segment...

Discussing with Tinker, the owner, what I did to remove the oxidation to this one small section...

Working on a heavily oxidized, dark finish is easy, capturing it on video without making a single mistake is vital because once your bring the polisher down onto the paint and start working the polish you will dramatically change the color of the paint. It would be impossible to do it a second time because you would have made one section look good and the cameras would show that and then everyone watching would become confused.

Luckily, it came perfect the first take. I actually placed a tape line down about where you see the overhead florescent light and only buffed on the side of the hood between the windshield and the tape-line. The demarcation line between before and after will be incredibly dramatic when you see this segment air during the TV show.

What you see below is after I removed the tape-line and the shared with Tinker how to duplicate what I did for the segment.

Here's the owner, Tinker with Dennis Gage. (Thanks for letting us use your truck Tinker)

Here's the crew during a lunch break...

Starting with the young man sitting at the front left hand side of the table and going in a clockwise pattern...

Ben Woehler - Producer
Mike Seib - Grip #1
Jarod Buente Grip #2 during filming, the rest of the year he's an Animator.
Dennis Gage
Max

Moving across the table from Max

Chad Hall - Production Truck Engineer
Sheila Perkins - Vice President of Sales
Brian Clark - Camera #1
John Gerard - Camera #2

A note about Chad Hall, the Production Truck Engineer
All their computers and electronics for capturing and editing video are in a large, sound proof, truck specially built for this purpose parked right next to the Studio. Remember they shoot live on locations so they need to be mobile. The entire time we're shooting we talk back and forth to the team in the truck through intercoms and headsets as they direct the camera shots.

At the end of filming the 3 Features, Max and I had our pictures taken with Dennis on the set...

He's a funny guy and a blast to work with!

Mike Phillips · 03-10-2011, 10:26 AM

Because "live" events change TV schedules all the time, it's normal that you can't get a confirmation on your air date until about 2-4 weeks before the show airs.

I just got off the phone with Sheila Perkins and tentatively our first Feature is scheduled to air in April

Autogeek on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage
April 3rd at 10:00pm Eastern Time on Speed Channel

Autogeek's What's in the Garage?
This coincidently is the same date our new TV show debuts, which is April 3rd, at 11:30am Eastern Time on Fox Sports Network.

Besides all the travel time and actual set-up and filming time when you shoot a segment for TV there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. For example, all 4 of the TV shows we've worked with require us to send 2 of everything we're going to show or use on the set 2-3 weeks ahead of time.

This ensures the products are there in time and it ensures that if something goes wrong with anything there's a back-up. For example if a bottle of polish breaks open, or when you pull the trigger on one of the polishers, nothing happens, etc.

Since I do the features, I create the product list, pull it and then have it inspected for completeness and accuracy before it's packed and shipped Usually Dwayne gets the job because his detailing background helps him to make sure I have everything I'll need and believe it or not, sometimes I miss something, (Thanks Dwayne).

After all the products are reviewed, inspected, (make sure labels all look good, pads are perfect, etc.), then the products are carefully packed and shipped to the studio where were shooting.

To date that would include,

Two Guys Garage
Truck U
Motorhead Garage
My Classic Car
Operation Comfort

Besides pulling and packing products, we also need,

Outlines for each segment to be shot
Copy, that is the words or verbiage for each segment
Bullet Point Lists that list benefits and features of all products

All the above needs to be written and then proof-read by multiple people inside and outside Autogeek for accuracy and content. The TV production companies for all these shows will read the outlines, copy and bullet lists to make sure it meets their criteria for quality and topical subject matter.

All of this takes time too and usually needs to be finalized on our end and then sent 2-3 weeks before the shoot date the corresponding studio where we're shooting.

That's why sometimes while my name appears in the "Online Users" section of the forum homepage, behind the scenes I'm working on one of the above tasks. After I submit this thread, I have to finalize the Outline, Copy and Bullet Points for new projects coming up the first week of April. So while I love hanging out on the forum all day and replying to threads with the rest of our forum members, time has and is becoming more and more scarce.

This is why a lot of times when I have project cars to buff out, I don't get to these till after the work day is over and then instead of going home, I go to the studio and buff out a car or do product testing. Whether buffing out a car or testing products, pictures need to be taken of before and after results and then reports need to be filled out and sent to the company supplying the test products.

Right now on my desk are,

3 different type of buffing pads that need to be used on 3 different types of tools.
8 different "liquid" products

Besides all of the above, since January, we've shot 13 half hour TV shows, all of which include travel time, set-up time, actual shooting time, etc.

We also shot 13 "Features" and multiple commercials for our new TV show as well as for other projects.

None of the above would be possible if it weren't for Max having the creative ideas which is where everything begins, and all my co-workers who are the best support team a person could ask for not only for the above types of projects but for everything that goes on here at Autogeek.

I think it's safe to say we're busier now than we've ever been in the history of the company, we're two weeks away from DetailFest and everyone in this organization is showing up early and staying late to keep up with the volume of business we're doing and the demands of all the projects we're supporting, for example,

Then as soon as the dust clears from DetailFest we start planning and preparing for SEMA!

That's a behind the scenes look at 3 new How-To Features coming up on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage and a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make a Feature for a TV Show and some of the cool things taking place here at Autogeek.

**Tinker** · 03-10-2011, 05:38 PM

Thanks Mike for all your hard work!! it was a an extreme pleasure meeting you and picking your brain for car/truck care ideas!!
Tinker

Mike Phillips · 03-10-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tinker

Thanks Mike for all your hard work!! it was a an extreme pleasure meeting you and picking your brain for car/truck care ideas!!
Tinker

Hi Tinker,

It was a pleasure meeting you and I love your truck! As well as your other cool cars...

I sent you a PM, when you get a chance give me a call!

**MonoPed** · 03-11-2011, 10:46 AM

Very cool, Mike! Will the MCC segments be more in-depth than the TGG segments?

Mike Phillips · 03-11-2011, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by MonoPed

Very cool, Mike! Will the MCC segments be more in-depth than the TGG segments?

Yes.

The MCC segments are between 4-5 minutes a piece. In order to share some information about the products and the process and then show 3-4 steps in just a few minutes is real tricky.

With the oxidized green 1955 Truck, we really only had one chance to to get the shot and in reality, often times mistakes are made and a second, or third take is shot. Luck was with us and we got it in the first shot.

With clear coats, it's not an issue. Same thing when we shot the how-to section on Motorhead Garage with the Ford truck, it had an oxidized finish and as soon as you start polishing on oxidized paint, if your products work, even making a mistake can make the paint look good, again with Dave Bowman's help and Ted Jones, the Executive Produce and the guy that is basically directing everything, we got everything with no second or third takes.

Before - Uniform Ugly on a 1965 Ford F150

After

New How-To Segment on Motorhead Garage - February 13th and 14th

**mdb917** · 03-11-2011, 11:11 AM

Mike -
You write in such detail and with such clarity I find myself reading and re-reading your articles because I enjoy them so much. The amount of useful information presented is astounding.

I can only imagine the work, coordination, involvement and dedication needed to pull a large event/happening off such as DetailFest let alone numerous events on that order of magnitude happening at the same time. You relating the need for duplication of equipment and supplies is something that I found particularly intriguing. In certain capacities I needed to insure duplicate equipment made it to a destination and I went so far as to ship on different days and use different shipping companies just in case.

My thanks and hats off to all of AG for making things happen in such a manner that customers do not need to see the controlled chaos behind the scenes. If we want to view that side of the AG world then you entertain us with threads such as this that I find tantalizing. It's the duck analogy - calm above the surface but paddling like crazy underneath the surface.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to viewing the upcoming shows.

Mike (what a great name

)

Mike Phillips · 03-14-2011, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by mdb917

Mike -

You write in such detail and with such clarity I find myself reading and re-reading your articles because I enjoy them so much. The amount of useful information presented is astounding.

Thank you for the kind words...

Originally Posted by mdb917

You relating the need for duplication of equipment and supplies is something that I found particularly intriguing.

There's a lot that goes on that no one ever sees and duplication products, pads, tools etc., is keeping Murphy's Law in mind... if something can go wrong...

Mike Phillips · 03-30-2011, 04:10 PM

About a week or so ago I shared some behind the scenes information of what has to be done before you can start shooting video at an off-site location. Here's the pertinent portion from above...

Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek

Besides all the travel time and actual set-up and filming time when you shoot a segment for TV there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. For example, all 4 of the TV shows we've worked with require us to send 2 of everything we're going to show or use on the set 2-3 weeks ahead of time.

This ensures the products are there in time and it ensures that if something goes wrong with anything there's a back-up. For example if a bottle of polish breaks open, or when you pull the trigger on one of the polishers, nothing happens, etc.

Since I do the features, I create the product list, pull it and then have it inspected for completeness and accuracy before it's packed and shipped.

Usually Dwayne gets the job because his detailing background helps him to make sure I have everything I'll need and believe it or not, sometimes I miss something, (Thanks Dwayne).

After all the products are reviewed, inspected, (make sure labels all look good, pads are perfect, etc.), then the products are carefully packed and shipped to the studio where were shooting.

Besides pulling and packing products, we also need,

Outlines for each segment to be shot
Copy, that is the words or verbiage for each segment
Bullet Point Lists that list benefits and features of all products

All the above needs to be written and then proof-read by multiple people inside and outside Autogeek for accuracy and content. The TV production companies for all these shows will read the outlines, copy and bullet lists to make sure it meets their criteria for quality and topical subject matter.

All of this takes time too and usually needs to be finalized on our end and then sent 2-3 weeks before the shoot date the corresponding studio where we're shooting.

Okay, fast-forward to today. Starting after lunch, I started pulling products for our next project, it's now 5:00pm and I still have to pull half a dozen pre-made kits, (these are usually just used in the background to relay the message that "kits" are available.

I still have to pull microfiber towels and package them for travel and use on the set, I usually place them in zip-lock baggies to ensure they'll stay clean till needed.

THEN... I will take the Product Lists to Dwayne and ask him to review and inspect the products as they are gathered in the Studio. Dwayne's a real busy guy so this usually takes place as he can clear his schedule and allot some time for review and inspection.

I'm thinking if I tip him, I'll get faster service?

Since everything is assembled in the Studio, I'll finish pulling the rest of the list and then take a picture to kind of give you an idea of how much product will be shipped for use on our next project.

Hang tight...