There have been a number of negatives as a result of the quarantine and social distancing due to the current epidemic but there have also been some innovative and positive things happening as well. BMW Group Classic recently released a new video series on its YouTube channel titled “Inside BMW Group Classic.” These short web shows which run about 4 1/2 each.
What is amazing is that even though they are of short duration, each contains a number of nuggets of information about each car discussed while at the same time being fun and entertaining.
The series was created and is hosted by Benjamin Voss, BMW Group Classic spokesperson and Christoph Gontard, head of marketing and public relations. Of interest is that while Voss has been at BMW Group Classic since 2015, Gontard just transferred there in March. Their on-screen chemistry is terrific, as though they had been doing the show for years.
The ClassicCars.com Journal had the opportunity to speak with co-host Benny Voss about the videos:
Journal: What was the general idea behind the videos?
Benny: “We wanted to inform and entertain people about the history of BMW and BMW Group Classic. Basically a look ‘behind the curtain’ of what is happening at BMW Group Classsic. We want to inform as a main task but also want to give it a little twist. The goal is to surprise people with the information and presentation.”
Journal: When did you come up with the idea?
Benny: “The videos were planned last fall as a look behind the curtain of what is happening at classic.”
Journal: What was different from the other videos BMW Group Classic has done?
Benny: “We could have been like other videos and just stand in front of the car explaining the technical specifications of the cars and motorbikes like most do. Our goal was to show these technical ideas of each car or motorbike as entertainment. We wanted to tell a story about each of the cars that is not as well known or has not yet been told.”
Journal: What have you done in order to do video production in the time of social distancing?
Benny: “The production is quite simple involving only the two hosts or a host and a special guest, 1 camera, 1 sound technician and 1 editor; a total of only 5 people which is all about social distancing production techniques.“
“A nice thing about these is that they don’t get old because they offer entertainment and information because the topic is not old but classic. The information does not expire because we are discussing classic BMW models.”
The first video in the Inside BMW Group Classic series is “Inside BMW Group Classic. – The BMW M3 E30. Something is missing…”
This video discusses the original E30 M3 but does not go as expected, but in a good way. One thing I will give away is that there is a German term called, Gesperrt Durch Musterteileverbau. What this means is the car with this designation is blocked from use. You can find out why it is blocked from use by watching the video and will learn something about the inner workings of BMW Group Classic in the process.
Since the BMW collection has more than 1.400 total cars and motorbikes the there are quite a few stories that Christoph and Benny can tell.
The airing schedule offers a new video each Thursday, airing first at 5 p.m. (European) time.
