Granada Sport and Input win top RTS Sports Award

Granada Sport and Input Postproduction won the award for Creative Sports Sequence of the Year at the RTS Sports Awards last night at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane.
Producer Stuart Smith picked up the award from Steve Cram for a Chelsea v. Arsenal feature which was billed as 'London’s Biggest Derby Ever', when the two top teams drew each other in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The sequence, shot by Chris James and edited by Matt Wyllie, appeared in the weekly Champions League Magazine programme co-produced by Granada Sport and Input.
The judges said: “This sequence showed real creative quality from concept, through shooting to post production. It captured the expectation and drama of a huge football match from literally every angle and was painstakingly constructed.”
With the shows international audience in mind, the feature was designed to incorporate various locations across London, including the Royal Chelsea Hospital, the Houses of Parliament, the Evening Standard printing press, and a journey filmed from the front window of a London Underground train from Chelsea to Arsenal station.
There were three interviewees - a Chelsea pensioner (who's been watching football in London for about 80 years), MP Tony Banks (a lifelong Chelsea fan) and an Arsenal supporting taxi driver.
David Wood, Input’s Managing Director, said: “It is very gratifying to be recognised by our peers in television sport production, so congratulations to Stuart and his team on a magnificent achievement.”
(GB)