Behind the scenes of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! - part 2

Back in November 2018, a Story Productions crew travelled to Rio de Janeiro, with a producer / director from Texas Crew, to film the second of two segments for the new Travel Channel series of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! The first featured a man called Claudio who was born with his head facing the wrong way up.

The second Brazil segment was part of an episode called "Great Obsessions" and we’re excited to be able to finally share the segment promo below and a look behind the scenes of the shoot.

It features brothers Tony and Alvaro, also known as Hulk and Conan, who became obsessed with body building, growing up in an image-obsessed Rio de Janeiro. The duo idolized Arnold Schwarzenegger and worked out as much as they could to try and look like him. At some stage, they turned to alternative solutions for bulking up, such as injection oils. But these alternatives weren't without their consequences which the brothers face in their everyday lives, such as not being able to wear normal clothes or struggling to fit through normal doorways.

It has taken its toll on their families, too, and the Story Productions crew interviewed the brothers' wives as well as filming the pair going about their daily lives; at home, eating a meal, working out at the gym and being recognized on the streets of Rio. We also captured B-roll footage of Rio de Janeiro, and all in a one-day shoot.

Planning a shoot in Rio de Janeiro? Read our tips for getting the most out a shoot in Rio de Janeiro as part our Filming in Brazil guide.