What crazy lengths do they go to film Below Deck. The popular Bravo franchise has always been a hit with its viewers.
Bravo's boat-based show, Below Deck, premiered in 2013, following the crew who work and live on luxury yachts that are over 100 feet long, as well as the lifestyle of the rich and famous charter guests who vacation on them. The show is currently in its 7th season, and it has no plans of ending as it has grown to become a fan favorite. A spin-off for the franchise was released called Below Deck: Mediterranean. The Bravo show follows around the excited to show a preview of the new show.
One would not necessarily think that shooting a reality show on a massive boat would be tricky. But the small hidden stateroom that is used the producer’s headquarters. Whether they are on the smaller sailboat or the massive motor yacht, production crews are ready to catch anything and everything that does down.
The cramped control room host numerous pairs of eyes who are all concentrated on a small video monitor. There are also larger computer screens that are segmented off into their own tiles. Each tile displays a different view of the drama happening up top. The room is not fancy as the monitors are sat upon simple plywood that had only been put together a couple of weeks earlier. The plywood rests on a bed in the actual master suite. The boat guests are none the wiser.
Naturally, the cast is forbidden to break the fourth wall and interact with their production crew. Along with the production crew, the cast also has to ignore editors, camera operators, audio gurus, gaffers, and even some Bravo higher-ups. The cast are never alone as there are 19 cameras always watching them. The walkie talkies that they use to communicate are also being listened to by production. Even full-scale plans of the yachts are hand-drawn to map the marina in which the captains will dock. There are also cheat sheets with everyone's name and role hung along the walls.
Fans could have assumed that logistics for the show would be intense. The idea of having to book 47 hotel rooms for the crew for over a month and a half seems daunting to orchestrate. The production crew can also not influence the captain’s decision in any way, especially when the decision is to not leave the dock. While fans may never have known the in-depth planning that went into their favorite boat show, they now can watch with a renewed sense of satisfaction knowing the countless amount of hours go into their favorite show to make it perfect.
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 8pm EST on Bravo.
Source: New York Times