NEW YORK — Content creation studio Bodega and executive creative director Haley Geffen teamed up with Northern Lights editor Alan Chimenti and NBC Sports VP creative director/director Tripp Dixon to create the new show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The 1:35 piece features Carrie Underwood performing the SNF theme song, “Oh, Sunday Night,” along with the NFL’s top stars.
The open takes viewers on a trip through the iconic streets of New York, Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh, where players such as Antonio Brown, Derek Carr, Von Miller, Jason Pierre Paul and Dak Prescott show off their best moves. SNF hosts Cris Collinsworth, Al Michaels and Michele Tafoya also appear.
This is the sixth year that Bodega has collaborated with NBC Sports on the opening, with Haley Geffen earning a Sports Emmy for the 2013 open. This is the first time that the open has been shot outdoors, filmed on Universal Studios’ backlot in Hollywood. The team at Method Studios LA transformed the set in post to create the distinct characteristics and landmarks of the represented cities.
“The real fans brought an unmistakable energy to the set, which was felt by the entire crew and all of the players,” notes Geffen. “It also gave Carrie an opportunity to do what she does best, which is bring everyone together, and no one does it better.”
Bodega credits incude EPs Kristopher Walter, Mark Littman and David Gioiella; DP Chuck Ozeas and production designer Evan Rohde. Northern Lights’ Chimenti was assisted on the edit by Jessy Abid. Brian Carlucci at Crash Color served as colorist. Method credits include VFX supervisor Vernon Wilbert, CG supervisor Nate Shaw, lead Flame artists Toma Bowen and senior designer Norris Houk.