Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Behind the Scenes of September 5: How the Acclaimed Film Re-Creates ABC Sports' Historic Live Coverage of the Munich Massacre

13/12/2024

Behind the Scenes of September 5: How the Acclaimed Film Re-Creates ABC Sports' Historic Live Coverage of the Munich Massacre Original footage, vintage gear help tell the story from control-room and studio perspective By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.

Friday, December 13, 2024 - 3:05 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

September 5, the new historical drama from Paramount Pictures, chronicles the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news coverage today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the Golden Globe-nominated film - which arrives in limited theaters today and expands nationwide on Jan. 17 - follows the ABC Sports production team, who quickly shifted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage.

In addition to offering an important perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by millions of people, September 5 provides one of the most realistic behind-the-scenes depictions of a live-TV control room ever put on film. SVG had the opportunity to chat with director Tim Fehlbaum, the cast, and co-producer Geoffrey Mason to delve into the film's development and production.

The film presents the events of Sept. 5, 1972, purely from the perspective of the ABC Sports production team, shining a light on what Fehlbaum calls a watershed moment in journalism and its influential legacy.

At the heart of the story are three Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famers - Geoff Mason (played by John Magaro), then a young and ambitious producer; his boss, legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard); and his mentor, Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) - along with their German interpreter Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch). The film juxtaposes the high-tech broadcast capabilities of the time against the many lives at stake and explores the moral decisions that needed to be made in real time.

The live broadcasts marked a turning point in media reporting, bringing a new dimension to how such incidents are seen and understood by the public, says Fehlbaum. When the attack begins, a team of American sports reporters are suddenly responsible for the subsequent 22 hours of live coverage, switching their responsibilities from sporting events to geopolitics. I was interested in the unprecedented situation that the media faced: this was the first time an event of this nature was covered by a live broadcast.

Watch SVG's extended interview with Geoffrey Mason recounting his experience in 1972 and his work on the film:

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, The SVG Summit will feature a session titled The Munich Massacre: When Sports Became News, featuring Magaro, Mason, and Sean McManus and moderated by Lesley Visser. CLICK HERE for more information.

The Mission: Re-Create a Turning Point in Media Reporting' Fehlbaum and his team spoke extensively with ABC Sports crew members who were on the ground in Munich, extracting details about their experience in that control room. As a result of the research, the director decided early on to narrate the film purely from the viewpoint of the control room.

We are constantly in the TV studio, almost like in a chamber play, the cameras the only eyes cast on the tragic events unfolding before us, he says. The spatial limitation of the narrative world to the ABC Sports TV studio means that we are confronted with the moral, ethical, professional, and, ultimately, psychological dilemmas of journalists who become aware of their responsibility only when switching from sports to crisis news.

When Israeli athletes were suddenly taken hostage, the ABC Sports broadcast team had to shift from sports reporting to live news coverage. Besides the horrors of witnessing and airing a terrorist attack live to millions of people, they also faced the possibility of inadvertently sharing law enforcement's plans and movements with the terrorists themselves - who were thought to be able to watch the coverage within the Olympic Village - and potentially derailing the rescue mission.

As a filmmaker, says Fehlbaum, I felt an affinity with the complexity of the situation. On the one hand, I was critical of tragic events being processed as sensations. But, on the other, I was fascinated by the ambitions and dilemmas of the journalists to tell the story accurately.

Script Development: A Story for the Big Screen Steven Spielberg's Munich recounts the aftermath of the event, but September 5's Munich-based producers - Thomas Wo bke and Philipp Trauer of film-production company BerghausWo bke - believed that there was more to this story and it was ripe to be told for the big screen. Writer/director Moritz Binder and Fehlbaum were enlisted to write the screenplay, along with co-writer Alex David.

The producers soon discovered an article written by Jimmy Schaeffler, a production runner on that day, who spoke highly of Mason. They met with Mason, a Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, who described in vivid detail the experience of producing that 22 hours of live coverage.

Mason, who came on board as a co-producer of the film, was impressed by the depth of the research and the power of the script. After I read early versions, I was impressed by how deeply personal the experience was, not only to those of us involved in that production but in telling the story of what transpired. This is a story about the people in that control room and how we all reacted to what was happening in front of us. I am blessed to be one of the very few people still around to help tell that story.

The filmmakers also drew on biographies of Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famers Roone Arledge and Jim McKay and other ABC executives and crew. In addition, Schaeffler - the runner, who, disguised as an athlete, had smuggled film footage past the police cordons - offered first-hand insights, along
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/12/13/behind-the-scenes-of-september-...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

06/10/2025

France Tlvisions Wins Prestigious 2025 EBU Technology & Innovation Award in Groundbreaking Collaboration with Dalet

France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...

04/09/2025

Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Dalet Win Prestigious 2025 NAB Show Project of the Year Award

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...

30/06/2025

Discover Weekly Turns 10: Celebrating 100 Billion+ Tracks Streamed and a Decade of Personalized Discovery

There's nothing quite like the magic of finding music that feels made just f...

30/06/2025

Spotify's Editors Pick Their Best Songs of the Year (So Far)

When it comes to new music, Spotify's team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They're...

30/06/2025

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel 30 June, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offeri...

30/06/2025

The Forsytes Season 2 Commissioned by MASTERPIECE on PBS

Star Studded Ensemble Cast Are Joined by Richard Rankin as Filming Begins on the Second Season [June 12, 2025 - Boston, MA]: The Forsytes, Debbie Horsfield...

30/06/2025

Artemis II Mission Advances with Successful RS-25 Engine Checkout Tests

The Artemis II Space Launch System core stage is integrated with the solid rocket boosters inside High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASAs Kennedy S...

30/06/2025

WRAL-WRAZ Raleigh Names Heather Gray as VP and GM

RALEIGH, N.C. Capitol Broadcasting Co. has named Heather Gray vice president and general manager of WRAL-TV and WRAZ-TV here....

30/06/2025

VAB Awards JJ Freeman Engineering Award to Bill Sewell of WTKR/WGNT

The Virginia Association of Broadcasters has recognized Bill Sewell, Director of Engineering at WTKR & WGNT in Norfolk, Va. as the recipient of the 2025 J.J. Fr...

30/06/2025

SBE Recruits 49 New Members

The Society of Broadcast Engineers said its annual member drive resulted in the recruitment of 49 individual members....

30/06/2025

Avid Releases Full Integration of MediaCentral, Wolftech News

BURLINGTON, Mass. Avid today released its fully integrated news platform, uniting MediaCentral and Wolftech News in a single newsroom solution, and will demonst...

30/06/2025

FCC Fines Sinclair $500,000

WASHINGTON The Federal Communication's Enforcement and Media Bureaus have entered into a Consent Decree with Sinclair Broadcast Group to resolve a variety o...

30/06/2025

Qu-Bit announce the Bloom v2

Eurorack sequencer module reimagined California-based modular synth innovators Qu-Bit have announced the launch of a new module that offers a fresh new take...

30/06/2025

Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics to Host 40th Anniversary Concert

Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics to Host 40th Anniversary Concert The celebration will be held on July 10 in Perugia, Italy. By Colette Greenstein June 30, 202...

30/06/2025

PremiumBeat Tips and Tricks

PremiumBeat Tips and Tricks Brie Clayton June 30, 2025 0 Comments When editing to impress, you'll need quality music, and if your studio happens t...

30/06/2025

Techivation launch T-De-Esser Pro Mk2

Improved dynamic behaviour, improved audio quality & more Techivation have announced the release of an upgraded edition of their very first premium plug-in,...

30/06/2025

German premiere with live flight demonstration: German industry team showcases electromagnetic combat from the air

German premiere with live flight demonstration: German industry team showcases e...

30/06/2025

Beln Cuesta and Karra Elejalde Star in 'El nio', the New Film by Mariano Barroso

Back to All News Bel n Cuesta and Karra Elejalde Star in El ni o, the New Film ...

30/06/2025

A New Dangerous Troll Awakens: Netflix Unleashes Teaser for 'Troll 2'

Back to All News A New Dangerous Troll Awakens: Netflix Unleashes Teaser for Troll 2Play Video Play Video Entertainment 30 June 2025 GlobalNorwayDenmarkSwe...

30/06/2025

The Focusrite Summer Sale is now on

The Focusrite Summer Sale is now on Don't miss unbeatable deals on Scarlett, Vocaster, and more. Whether you're an artist, a producer, or a podcaste...

30/06/2025

Yellowstone origin story 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren comes to RT One and RT Player

All 8 episodes of Season 1 of 1923 will be available on RT Player from Tuesday ...

30/06/2025

Thales 2025 Global Cloud Security Study Reveals Organizations Struggle to Secure Expanding, AI-Driven Cloud Environments

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn 52% report AI security spending is displacing tr...

30/06/2025

Thales Alenia Space to develop SOLiS very-high-throughput laser communications demonstrator

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Cannes, June 30th, 2025 - Thales Alenia Space, t...

29/06/2025

Roland introduce the Mood Pan

Handpan-inspired instrument announced Roland have announced the launch of the Mood Pan, a unique electronic hand percussion instrument that has been designe...

29/06/2025

A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment's 'Mandala Murders' Premieres July 25

Back to All News A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curs...

28/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Marks Youth Month by Empowering Future Creatives Through Film & TV Bursaries

Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month 2025, the N...

28/06/2025

FCC Chair Brendan Carr Promises Very, Very Busy, Productive Summer

WASHINGTON In a press conference following the Federal Communications Commission's May Open Meeting, Chair Brendan Carr promised the agency would move rapid...

28/06/2025

Spectrum Awards $1.1 Million in 2025 Spectrum Digital Education Grants

STAMFORD, Conn. Charter Communications has awarded $1.1 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants to 55 nonprofit organizations that work to expand access to...

28/06/2025

Sonnet Announces Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock Now Veri...

LAKE FOREST, Calif. June 19, 2025 What's New: Sonnet Technologies today announced the certification of its Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock as an Engin...

28/06/2025

IDC Names MASV One of Three Most Innovative Companies in...

MASV (massive.io), the fastest and most reliable large file transfer platform for media professionals, has been named an IDC Innovator in the IDC Innovators: Me...

28/06/2025

TV SKYLINE Expands Live Production Capabilities with Late...

Grass Valley today announced that TV SKYLINE GmbH, one of Europe's top mobile production providers, has expanded its camera inventory with 30 LDX 135 UHD/HD...

28/06/2025

AgileTV has been selected to develop and implement LIWEST...

AgileTV, a European leader in TV and video technology solutions, signed an agreement with Austrian telco LIWEST to develop and implement its TV service in Austr...

28/06/2025

Scaler 3.1 update from Scaler Music

Music theory plug-in updated Three months on from the release of the latest version of their renowned music theory plug in, Scaler Music have launched an up...

28/06/2025

The 48th Annual Indian National Finals Rodeo Shot with Blackmagic PYXIS 6K

The 48th Annual Indian National Finals Rodeo Shot with Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Brie Clayton June 27, 2025 0 Comments Filmmaker Cameron Mackey relied on Bl...

28/06/2025

Social, Streaming Don't Compete, They Compliment

Social, Streaming Don't Compete, They Compliment Andy Marken June 27, 2025 0 Comments I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spir...

28/06/2025

Blackmagic Design Captures Filipino Rock Band Drama Singtala

Blackmagic Design Captures Filipino Rock Band Drama Singtala Brie Clayton June 27, 2025 0 Comments Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K and DaVinci Resolve St...

28/06/2025

Enhance Videos Faster with Aiarty Video Enhancer - Offline, Sharp, and Natural

Enhance Videos Faster with Aiarty Video Enhancer - Offline, Sharp, and Natural Brie Clayton June 27, 2025 0 Comments If you've used AI video tools...

27/06/2025

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Eva Victor, the Writer-Director Behind Sorry, Baby

By Jessica Herndon One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...

27/06/2025

Spotify Launches K-Pop Performance Video Series . . . Next Up, TWS

K-Pop remains one of the biggest genres globally, and many fans just can't get enough of it. That's why Spotify has launched a new series of K-Pop perf...

27/06/2025

Family Cybersecurity CEO: Protecting Kids, Parents, and My Sanity From Scams

In our latest blog post, Rafael Rivera highlights the rising threat of online scams, and the important role cybersecurity plays in protecting families across ge...

27/06/2025

FCC Sets Comment Deadlines on Proposed Foreign Ownership Rules

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has set deadlines for comments to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to codify certain foreign ownership re...

27/06/2025

FCC Chair Brendan Carr Promises Very, Very Busy, Productive Summer'

WASHINGTON In a press conference following the Federal Communications Commission's May Open Meeting, Chair Brendan Carr promised the agency would move rapid...

27/06/2025

Klevgrand introduce Walls reverb plug-in

From grounded realism to bending, impossible geometries Klevgrand have announced the release of a new algorithmic reverb plug-in which they say deconstruct...

27/06/2025

GIK Acoustics: Room EQ Wizard Tutorial

Learn to use REW for room analysis Acoustic treatment is one of the most important factors in any studio, and with the extensive range of products available...

27/06/2025

HDMI Forum Introduces v2.2 of the HDMI Specification

SAN JOSE, Calif. The HDMI Forum has released Version 2.2. of the HDMI Specification with 96Gbps bandwidth and next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology to provid...

27/06/2025

TV Skyline Expands Live Production Capabilities with Grass Valley Cameras

MONTREAL Grass Valley has announced that TV Skyline GmbH, one of Europe's top mobile production providers, has expanded its camera inventory with the acquis...

27/06/2025

Fubo Adds Weigel Broadcasting's Networks

NEW YORK & CHICAGO FuboTV Inc. and Weigel Broadcasting Co. have announced a multi-year agreement for distribution of seven networks including MeTV, H&I, Movies!...

27/06/2025

Americans' Favorite Pastime is Watching TV

NEW YORK A national survey of U.S. consumers shows 66% of us watch TV all or most of the time and also multitask while doing it....

27/06/2025

Sunbeam, Findal Media Ink Deal to Broadcast ABC Miami

MIAMI Sunbeam Television has reached a multiyear agreement with Findal Media & Technology Group to broadcast the new ABC Miami beginning Aug. 4....

27/06/2025

AccuWeather Signs Weather Data Deal with AI Search Provider Perplexity

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. AccuWeather has announced a deal with Perplexity, a AI-powered search and answer engine, that will bring AccuWeathers weather data and severe...