IMG films Deiveson Figueiredo in Brazil ahead of fight night
Lisa Murua • 27 February 2020
What drives a fighter to be the best in the world? Who is the man behind the muscles? A documentary series launched in 2019 sets out to reveal the answers. A Story Productions’ fixer joined the most recent episode shoot, in northern Brazil, filming flyweight champ Figueiredo.
“If he sticks his neck out, I’m taking it home with me,” says mixed martial artist Deiveson Figueiredo without batting an eyelid, in an interview for the latest episode in a documentary series produced by IMG Productions, one of the largest producers of sports programming in the world. The ongoing series takes a behind-the-scenes look at how top fighters prepare for their most important fights.
Each episode is released online via a sports streaming service, just days before the big fight, building up tension through the brutally honest interviews with each fighter. Fans learn about their childhood, their families and exactly what each fighter thinks of his opponent, no holds barred.
The piece-to-camera interviews cut to stunning footage of each fighter in their home, with their families and at their gym, shot using Sony A7S and F55 cameras
in a unique cinematographic style at the skilled hands of Emmy-award-winning DOP Peter Franchella.
Deiveson Figueiredo, an outstanding athlete and Brazilian mixed martial arts champion, was the focus of a shoot in late January to capture Figueiredo’s back-story for the latest episode in the series, ahead of his fight with US flyweight fighter Joseph Benavidez on 29 February.
A Story Productions fixer/production assistant joined a crew from IMG Productions on the 4-day shoot in Figueiredo’s hometown of Belém do Pará, in northern Brazil. The 3-person crew from IMG Productions, along with Figueiredo’s team, spent three days in Belém, the state capital that became the fighter's home aged 13.
The entire crew also spent a day in Soure, on the fluvial archipelago Ilha do Marajó at the mouth of the Amazon River, where millions of water buffalo roam. It’s where Figueiredo was born and spent his early childhood, helping his father on the farm and training in capoeira and luta marajoara
– a local martial art that was to become his passion and the start of an international career. In the episode’s final cut, we see Figueiredo on the beach, play-fighting with his grandfather, riding water buffalo and sharing meals with his family.
It’s an exclusive insight into the personal world of this fighter, which is exactly what series director Joe Bottazzi wants to capture – something new that the world hasn’t seen before. Bottazzi’s production team researches each fighter ahead of the shoot to try and figure out a blue print of the story they want to tell. But a lot comes down to the fighter, how they behave in front of the cameras and how quickly the director can build up a rapport with him.
Our fixer fed important parts of the fighter’s story back to Bottazzi throughout the shoot so that he could respond to situations on the fly and tailor his questions. As a result, the language different wasn't a barrier and the IMG crew were able to get the most from the shoot.
The Story Productions fixer also collected all contributor consent forms, arranged local filming permits, a driver in Belém, boat transport to and from Ilha da Marajó (a 60-mile boat ride across the Amazon River), as well as all hotels and location logistics on the island.
“Working with Story Productions was an absolute pleasure. Their professionalism and passion for the project exceeded my highest expectations. They went above and beyond to make sure our final product was exactly what we wanted. I’m excited to work with them again in the future.“
Joe Bottazzi, series director
It’s not the first time that Story Productions has worked on film shoots in the Amazon, or indeed for shoots for sports television. From the Olympic Channel to Sky Sports
and a handful of different shoots for German broadcaster RTL
throughout the 2014 FIFA World Cup, our clients understand the value of a good fixer who can bridge both language and cultural barriers.
Planning a shoot in Brazil? Get in touch for a quote.
Share this story:
Get the latest news straight into your inbox!
Sign up to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated on all the important news around filming in Brazil with a few highlights from us.
Contact Us
Read another story
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park has officially been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation ceremony was held in New Delhi, India, on July 26 2024.
CNBC Europe teamed up with Story Productions to source our Rio based LIVEU crew to interview Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, during her first international trip in office.
RAI reporters collaborated with locally sourced LIVEU teams during Italian President Sergio Mattarella's visit to Brazil in July 2024. The Presidential visit marked the first state visit to Brazil by an Italian president in 24 years.
This interview with Eduardo Pradella, Story's casting producer, sheds light on the intricacies of casting and the nuanced approach required to excel in this profession.
At the 3rd Spcine Forum held from June 26 to 28 at the Cinemateca Brasileira in São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano and Ivan Melo, respectively the director and producer of the film, detailed the process of securing international financing and co-production involving professionals from Brazil, France, and the Netherlands.
At the 3rd Spcine Forum, held from June 26 to 28 at the Cinemateca Brasileira in São Paulo, Mariana Bardan and Eduardo Melo recounted how the idea for the series Cangaço Novo came about and the ten-year process until its distribution.
