TVBEurope sits down with editor Michael Brown to find out how he goes about constructing each 30-minute episode of the hit documentary series, and the technology that helps him do it
By Jenny Priestley
Published: September 27, 2023 Updated: September 28, 2023
TVBEurope sits down with editor Michael Brown to find out how he goes about constructing each 30-minute episode of the hit documentary series, and the technology that helps him do it
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Welcome to Wrexham, the Disney Plus series following the fortunes of Wrexham AFC, recently returned for its second season.
The series follows co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as well as the manager, team, and various fans.
Season one is currently nominated for six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Programme.
TVBEurope caught up with editor Michael Brown to find out how he goes about constructing each 30-minute episode, and the technology that helps him do it.
Michael Brown Can you tell us about your background and how you got into editing? I started with VHS tape editing, tape to tape at home with my parents' VCRs and camcorder. I would ask teachers if I could make a short video on a subject instead of writing papers in high school. I thought directing was going to be my future, but the technology changed as I was learning more and I feel like I was witnessing the industry change to digital as I grew along with it and learned software. I found a joy in editing that I didn't get from filming, the ability to match music with pictures and create emotion from those who watched.
When I was touring universities, the professors talked about an approach to teaching where all students had to learn all skills for several years before specifying a field. The technology at the universities seemed antiquated as the whole industry was moving to digital in a hurry, so I decided instead to move to Los Angeles at 18 years old in 2003. I attended and completed the Avid Certified Program, where I jumped into assisting professionally shortly after and then into editing short character segments for Texas hold em poker television tournaments on FOX TV as my first real editing job in 2005.
How did you get involved with Welcome to Wrexham? A colleague friend of mine recommended me to John Henion, the showrunner in season one. The series had been in edit for a bit of time, and it needed a fresh look. As with a lot of documentaries you have to find' the heart within the material, and luckily they chose me to come on at that time.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Are you a football fan? If so, who do you support? Wrexham of Course! I'm up most Tuesdays and Saturdays at 6am cheering way too loudly. I love football, I am a big Bar a fan as well. Having lived there for a short while in 2009 during the Messi reign, it was impossible not to fall in love with that club.
Why did you choose to cut Welcome to Wrexham on Media Composer? The project was already set up on Media Composer when I arrived. But I would always choose Media Composer for projects. It's just got a feel that presents the footage as the most important part of the programme. Being able to work collaboratively as well, they have had it figured out for so many years.
Why do you prefer it to other editing software? I prefer it because I know that when I'm working on an Avid project, the team is always top notch. There's a certain division of labour that often doesn't come with software that claims to do it all. Assistants can be working in the background seamlessly, transferring to online and mix; it's just sort of this sweet symphony that allows me to be as creative as possible. It always feels that way on Avid jobs.
How much footage are you given for each episode? I couldn't even begin to imagine! Each episode has at least one match, usually 7 or 8 cameras for the match alone. Pregame there are two running around, halftime there's one in the changing room; and post match. So just the matches alone maybe 14 hours? And then scene work- probably an hour each, add interviews. Maybe 30 hours total, best guess!
How do you decide which stories to follow how involved is the show's producer/director in the cut? Our field producers Milo Bala and Patrick McGarvey get major credit for that one. They formed great relationships with the Wrexham town characters and the team. They would uncover these amazing stories, and follow them as they experienced the season's ups and downs. It probably is a bit more organic than anything, which I think is why this series has touched so many people. It's really real and feels that way.
What's been the difference in terms of editing between season one and two? On season one we had to be aware that primarily, for our American audience, we had to always remember and assume they knew nothing about Wales, football, or the EFL. It was a balance of not spending so much time over-explaining that you were removed from the story. I think we worked really hard to establish a balance of tracking the football and character development.
In season two we aren't tracking characters over the arc of the whole season. We are introducing people more to the drama of the points chase that happened with Wrexham and Notts County, which set up a thrilling head-to-head late in the season.
We do introduce new characters but you learn about them in a more self-contained way.
What's been your favourite episode to edit? My favourite episode is Episode 205 Ballers. It highlights a whole separate part of the club and introduces a whole cast of new characters that will blow people away and steal their hearts.
What's been the biggest challenge of working on the show (other than learning about
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
TVBEurope sits down with editor Michael Brown to find out how he goes about constructing each 30-minute episode of the hit documentary series, and the technology that helps him do it
