SVG Sit Down: Fox Sports World Series Director Matt Gangl on Tech, Storytelling, and Following in the Footsteps of a Legend Directing his first World Series, the vet of the front bench chats about his humbling' experience By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Friday, October 27, 2017 - 10:52 am
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This year's World Series is already shaping up to be a doozy, with spectacular pitching performances, the mainstream emergence of stars like Justin Turner and Jose Altuve, and a wild finish to Game 2 that has the Fall Classic knotted at one game apiece heading to Houston this weekend. One of the more intriguing storylines of this World Series, though, can be found behind the scenes, where there has been a changing of the guard in the director's chair.
Matt Gangl, a Fox Sports veteran of who regularly directs Minnesota Twins games for Fox Sports North and has directed American League and National League Division Series over the past four years, is calling the shots on his first World Series.
Matt Gangl regularly directs Minnesota Twins games and more at the regional sports network Fox Sports North.
It's a highly coveted position, one that, for many years, was occupied by beloved industry icon and Class of 2016 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Bill Webb, who died in March following a fight with cancer.
Gangl took a few minutes with SVG in Houston prior to Game 3 to discuss the emotions of directing his first Fall Classic, what technology he sees as the most effective storytelling tools, what makes his directing style unique, and what it's like to follow in the footsteps of a legend.
You've been directing baseball games for a long time. You've even worked on the big stage with Fox Sports at events like the MLB All-Star Game. But has anything about working the MLB Postseason surprised you?
This is one of the best times of the year to cover any sport. Every pitch matters. Every call. Every play. Every decision the manager makes. There's such a high level of emotion about it. It's just an enjoyable experience from my standpoint. I can try to paint a picture and tell all of those stories with all of the shots that we bring in. I want to bring people who are watching at home a little bit closer to that emotion.
Bill Webb played a major role in crafting the Fox Sports on-air look from the early days of baseball on the network. Over the years, what did you learn from him that has influenced the type of Fox Sports baseball director that you have grown into?
Bill changed the game. He changed how baseball was presented on television by adding more cuts, more tight shots. He created pace in a game that can lack pace. When I think of Bill, It influences me in the moments that I'm looking for. I'm trying to make sure that we're showing every situation and setting it up for the viewer. Are there runners on base? Who's on deck? Is there someone in the bullpen? Is there a pinch hitter getting ready? Those are all of the little things that you can do as a director that can present the game in its fullest to the viewer at home.
For me, it's really humbling to be in this position following Bill. He was a great man, and, to me, he's the best that's ever done what I do for a living. I don't think there's any argument there. Ten years, 15 years ago, this time of the year I loved watching the Postseason to watch what he would do, to live it through his eyes. So to be in this spot now? I feel like I've got to pinch myself.
In what ways are you different? Obviously, what the World Series looks like on Fox is the result of the work of many, many people. But what do you bring to the table that you feel is unique?
I'm very big into getting new technologies that we can get into [the broadcast]. I want more access for our cameras on the field, bringing the fans closer to the action by bringing them onto the field during key moments when Major League Baseball allows us. I'm always trying to tell as much as I can of both sides of the story. When there's a two-run home run that was hit, I want to be sure to go back to the error that let the first guy get on base. When a big home run is hit, there's elation on one side, but, on the other side, there is dejection.
High-speed cameras have been deployed by Fox Sports for years now, and, even at the RSN level, there's been a push to the high-speed, specialty cameras. Have you ever had this many options at your disposal?
[Laughs] No. No. It's tremendous because you can have all of the bases covered and still take some chances with the other ones. You can look for unique reactionary moments on the field or in the dugout. There are just certain players like Yasiel Puig and Jose Altuve where you're going to have that opportunity, and having so many more resources at your fingertips makes it fun to not only capture what happened but see it all pay off with three or four other shots to convey the emotion of that moment from a player - or even a fan in the stand. Fans are living and dying on every pitch, and we're getting some great replays of their reactions. I think it adds such a different element. Our Phantom cameras are operating at over 2,000 frames per second, so we're talking about capturing moments that people have never seen before. It's something that you definitely can't see with your naked eye. It not only gives our viewers a crisp, clean picture but shows just how much of the game comes down to fractions of inches.
Statcast has become more integrated in MLB broadcasts across the board, and it tends to get a mainstream spike in interest during the Postseason. What's your opinion on how that has grown as a storytelling tool, and in what ways do you like to deploy it?
I think it definitely has its moments
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SVG Sit Down: Fox Sports World Series Director Matt Gangl on Tech, Storytelling, and Following in the Footsteps of a Legend Directing his first World Series, the vet of the front bench chats about his humbling' experience By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
