Nadal: The Comeback Year

Rory had the privilege recently of editing a 1-hour documentary for BSkyB about Rafael Nadal’s comeback year in 2013.

Nadal, returning from 7 months off due to a knee injury, managed to win 10 titles and 2 Grand Slams. The show combined player, former player and pundit interviews as well as footage from the many incredible games Nadal played, to somehow grasp how unlikely and incredible Nadal’s achievement was.

I’m a big tennis fan, and I love every opportunity to cut a documentary. There is a captivating component that comes with the reality nature of documentaries. Had Nadal’s comeback been merely fiction, a sports films like any other, the story would be a cliché. But the comeback was real and accordingly so unbelievable and exciting.

The challenge was crafting a flowing narrative that didn’t just play out like a linear account of his victory’s. There were so many wonderfully defining moments, interviews and reactions. We had the challenge of genuinely illustrating Nadal’s response to his accomplishments, which I felt was often better exemplified in his loses rather than victories. The final at the O2 being a good example.

Working with Danny Oldham at BSkyB to create this story proved to be a good match-up and I am thoroughly pleased with the final product and the reception it received.

– Rory Brennan, Editor, Little Tale

 

Nadal: The Comeback Year originally aired on BSkyB Sky Sports 2 on the 25th of December, 2013. It was produced by Danny Oldham, BSkyB, and edited by Rory Brennan.

Tags | BSkyB, Danny Oldham, Rafael Nadal, Rory Brennan, Tennis