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The production company has long been under the guidance of Ed Sabol’s son Steve, now 65 and the subject of his father’s football films all those years ago. Whether producing highlight films, programs for television or DVDs for fans, NFL Films has become the sport’s cinematic historian. But shooting a game is just the first of many steps in the complex process of creating an NFL Films program.
It is a process that has grown more sophisticated with technology and evolving production equipment.
"The only time people need to leave the building is to film something on location," said Angelucci. "Everything else is done here. The next time the footage leaves here, it’s a finished piece."
The game film is processed and color-corrected, so the images appear clean and sharp. It is then digitized into the NFL Films production and ultimately molded into a final cut known for its action cinematography, crisp editing and effects, and audio that tells the story.
Beyond the games, NFL Films has created countless television series and specials throughout the years. One of its more famous creations, NFL Films Presents, debuted in 1967 and today has the distinction of being television’s longest-running sports series.
Storytelling has been a big part of the series’ appeal — for example a 1998 episode of the series that showcased Dat Nguyen, at the time a budding linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. But the real story was his distinction of being the first Vietnamese-American player in the NFL. He was born to a mother who had been pregnant with him when she fled to America after the fall of South Vietnam in the mid-’70s.
Nguyen played for the Cowboys until 2005. He’s now a coach with the team.
But he also illustrates the human side of the sport that NFL Films producers and directors often search for in the stories they tell.
And with 92 Emmy awards displayed proudly around the NFL Films building — awards earned over the years for outstanding cinematography, writing, sound, features and sports series — it’s apparent that the company has plenty of fans.
"We have some of the best writers and cinematographers in the world here," said Angelucci. "It’s one of the best learning environments around."
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Dave Douglas, a senior producer with NFL Films, is working on a piece about Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.
"Brian is a twelve-year pro, a very intense player, and he actually transforms," said Douglas, a 30-year company employee, of Dawkins’ weekly change from nice guy off the field to nasty guy on it.
"I mean, all players go through some kind of transformation to get them in the right mindset to beat the crap out of people," Douglas explained. "But his is very odd. He is the only Eagle who has two lockers. And they’re side by side. Above one it says ‘Dawkins.’ And above the other it says ‘Weapon X’."
Weapon X is a fictional secret government project from Marvel Comics. The character later became known as Wolverine — a feral warrior hero with retractable claws, superhuman strength and an ability to heal any injury.
"Brian considers himself to actually become the Wolverine on game day," explained Douglas. "One whole locker is just full of these Wolverine characters sent in by his fans — big ones, little ones, everything."
As part of the research for this NFL Films project, Dawkins — who has missed several games to injury this season — was wired for sound during a past Eagles game. Pieces of the audio will be included in the special, which is scheduled to air on NFL Films Presents in early November.
In 1965, NFL Films started the practice of putting microphones on athletes and coaches during regular-season games. The tradition continues, with a wire rigged on one player every week to capture that on-the-field grittiness.
"There are things we can’t use," said Angelucci. "We cut out all the profanity. We can’t show play calls. If it’s something that makes us question the integrity of the game itself, then it’s something we can’t put it in there."
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In addition to voiceovers and direct player audio, NFL Films also creates its own music — in a soundproof recording studio at the Mount Laurel site.
"We have two on-staff composers who do all of our music," said Angelucci. "Everything you hear on our pieces is ours — composed, edited and performed here."
A recording studio is just one of the impressive facilities within the massive NFL Films building. It’s also equipped with what is hailed as the largest film library in the world, holding more than 100 million feet of game coverage. The library includes footage of every championship game since 1933, and even film of an 1894 game between Princeton and Rutgers — shot by Thomas Edison.
"It’s the only place like this on the East Coast," said Angelucci. "Some people call us ‘Hollywood on the Delaware’ because we function like old Hollywood used to. We’ll do everything from start to finish. And that’s not something you’ll ever find anymore.
"We are a film production company, so we can do anything really," she continued. "In the offseason we’ll do commercials or music videos. We have all the facilities here, and if they’re not being used for us, then we try to put them to use with something else."
During the offseason, a lot of work is composed for the NFL Network. NFL Films also has helped out with such movies as Jerry Maguire, Rudy, When Harry Met Sally and The Waterboy, and others.
"We’ve been in the business so long that we’ve figured out the most efficient ways to get things done," said Angelucci.
One thing that is continuously encouraged at NFL Films, she added, is creativity. The philosophy is, despite whatever obstacles may arise, take what you can get and make it great.
To encourage this mindset, a meeting is held every Thursday to spur employee creativity. All the final film cuts from that week are shown and analyzed.
"Afterward, they’ll have a big production meeting and talk about it," said Angelucci. "‘Why did you ask that question in the interview? How did you get that shot?’ It helps to better future pieces. Steve Sabol has really developed a creative environment for filmmakers to function."
It’s an atmosphere that senior producer David Plaut enjoys. "There’s a creative spirit here that the company stands for," Plaut said. "And that’s what’s so great about NFL Films. You have the freedom to do things a little unusual, and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com