Pro golfers on the Tour-
Producer
PAUL MARTIN.
Feb 21, 2023.
38 Minutes.
In this interview with producer Paul Martin about the Netflix series "Full Swing," he explains that the show follows golfers throughout the PGA Tour season and their struggles to compete with the new Saudi-backed league called "Liv Golf." Martin credits the success of "Drive to Survive" with making it possible to create a show like "Full Swing" and notes that the show is just as dramatic and emotional as shows like "Drive to Survive," even though it doesn't involve high speeds and crashes. The show did a good job of capturing the drama, conflict, and emotions of the sport, while also showcasing golf as a fantastic sport. Martin also discusses the challenges of covering a golf event for the show, finding the balance between character development and sporting payoffs, how the editing process takes around 16 to 18 weeks per episode, and the impact of golf on some players' lives. Martin discusses the structure of their team, their upcoming projects, and how Netflix is collaborative and trusts the production team to make the shows they want to make.
00:00:00 In this section, Chuck Braverman interviews producer Paul Martin about the Netflix series, Full Swing. Martin initially worked for Box to Box, a UK-based company that produces F1. Braverman, who used to film car races, expresses his enjoyment of Full Swing after becoming a recent golf enthusiast. The show follows golfers throughout the PGA Tour season and its struggles to compete with the new Saudi-backed league called “Live Golf.”
00:05:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin explains that the idea for "Full Swing" came from a producer named Chad Munn, who had been wanting to make a documentary series about life on the PGA for years. Martin credits the success of "Drive to Survive" with making it possible to create a show like "Full Swing" and credits Netflix for allowing them to bring the show to life. Initially skeptical about getting involved in the project, Martin changed his mind after spending time in the world of professional golf and realizing how interesting and open the golfers were about their struggles. Martin says that the show is just as dramatic and emotional as shows like "Drive to Survive," even though it doesn't involve high speeds and crashes.
00:10:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin speaks about the revolution that has been taking place in golf and how it couldn't be ignored when creating the show. The idea of players being offered contracts and disrupting the sport gave the show a level of conflict that typically doesn't happen in golf. The PGA was initially hesitant to allow live coverage of this revolution, but ultimately understood that it was necessary for the show. The logistics of filming the show were a challenge due to the lack of archived footage in golf, but the crew eventually figured it out with a few small crews at each event. Overall, the show did a good job of capturing the drama, conflict, and emotions of the sport, while also showcasing golf as a fantastic sport.
00:15:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin talks about the challenges of covering a golf event for the Netflix show "Full Swing" and how the entire world of golf stepped up to help. He notes that the impact of Netflix's "Drive to Survive" on Formula One was so great that it radically changed the conversation around doing these types of shows, making it much easier to get them off the ground. He also mentions that the logistical challenges of covering the Tour de France for the next show would be tough but the American audience needs a show that explains what the Tour de France really is. Most of the show is not from NBC, CBS, or the Golf Channel, with only a relatively low percentage being on-course coverage.
00:20:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin discusses the behind-the-scenes process of filming golfers during tournaments for the show "Full Swing." Martin explains that about 80 percent of the footage used in the show is their own, while the rest comes from networks like CBS and NBC. He also speaks about the challenges of finding the perfect balance between character development and sporting payoffs from the perspective of a viewer. When asked about the amount of footage shot for each episode of the show, Martin explains that it is difficult to estimate, but the show's editing process typically takes around 16 to 18 weeks per episode. Regarding Netflix's involvement in the show, Martin characterizes the streaming service as collaborative and states that notes and editorial decisions are a part of the production process.
00:25:00 In this section, the producer of the "Full Swing" series discusses his experience working with Netflix and how they trust the production team to make the shows they want to make. He also talks about the challenges they faced in getting golfers on board for the show, as they are a less malleable personality type and already have a lot of money. Additionally, the producer mentions how the show portrays the golfers as laid back despite the amount of money they earn, and how they tried to find the stakes and tension in golf despite it not being a life and death sport like Formula One.
00:30:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin discusses the impact of golf on some players' lives and how it defines who they are as individuals. He explains that for these players, a golf swing is not just a part of their game, but it encompasses everything they have achieved in their life, every friendship they have had and every positive relationship they have built. Martin moved to producing documentaries from game shows, and the transition was not easy. He drew upon his love for sport and his connection with people in the sports world to make the transition. Martin explains that in the UK, they use the role of producers as directors, and this is because the role requires someone who can maintain relationships with players, agents, and other technical crews. It's simply not logistically possible for a singular vision director to be across the entire show.
00:35:00 In this section, producer Paul Martin discusses the structure of their team and how they usually don't use singular directors for their projects but rather a group of producer directors. He also mentions their upcoming projects, which include a four-part non-sport series for Apple, a three-part ESPN project, and potentially more of their popular series like "Drive to Survive." Martin also notes that Box to Box has around 40 full-time employees in London and is starting to build up their LA office. Finally, the host commends Martin and the team for creating a series that's not just for golf enthusiasts and congratulates them on a successful production.
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