Roll To Record 'Goes Back To School' With Educating Essex

Specialists in HD and SD robotic camera systems, Roll To Record, have announced they have provided the production infrastructure for Channel 4's Educating Essex, one of the most thought-provoking observational documentary series of recent years.
The contract was awarded by production company Twofour Broadcast, based largely on Roll To Record’s extensive experience with robotic cameras, as well as its ability to build and maintain complete production facilities on-site.
The series uses a complex network of cameras and microphones to follow the activities of a group of students and teaching staff at a secondary school.
Roll To Record had just seven days during a half-term break to rig, install and test 62 robotic and fixed cameras and around 80 fixed FX mics and 22 radio mics, along with the several kilometres of cables required to cover the vast distances around the 1960s-built school.
In addition Roll To Record installed two production facilities in the school car park to house the production gallery as well as logging and recording equipment used by post facility Evolutions.
Roll To Record's technical engineering staff also remained onsite throughout the seven weeks of filming to maintain the camera and audio networks.
Rick Horne, Head of Post, Twofour Broadcast, said: "Roll To Record was able to deliver on all our requirements, from a large amount of filming equipment to comprehensive resources and staff, all within our budget. I would like to commend the Roll To Record on-site staff who worked incredibly hard throughout set-up and filming, they were completely engaged with the project and really became part of our team.”
Mick Bass, Commercial Director, Roll To Record, said: "The biggest challenge for us was the sheer scale of the set-up. We have worked on previous projects with an equal number of cameras, but Educating Essex came with the added complexities of a fast installation into nearly every area of a very large school in order to allow people to roam unfettered, and maintaining the system while remaining out of the school during school hours.
"The whole project is an amazing undertaking and we are very proud to have been involved."
The series begins transmission tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
(BMcN/BMcC)