Stories
On Location in Tokyo with Formula E: Tabitha Peel
date
02/05/24
author
Rona Webster
We grab 10 minutes with members of our team as they work on the ground around the world.
In this edition we talk to Tabitha Peel, in Tokyo for Formula E.
Hi, can you start by telling us your name and job title here at Aurora?
My name's Tabitha and I’m a Production Coordinator working on Formula E, primarily focusing on the travelling production crew.
A little bit about your background and how you got here?
I’ve been at Aurora since October 2022, after a summer of freelancing as a Production Coordinator and Camera Assistant. My background before that was working in Motorsport events.
I’d planned to be working freelance for longer but the Aurora offer was too good to miss!
Set the scene for us today
Today is Friday, which is the first day we have our full crew onsite with us! The morning has a lovely buzz of excitement, as we brief all crews and get everyone prepped before the track action starts.
We then go live in the afternoon for our first broadcast of the weekend, Free Practise 1.
Tell us about your role here in Tokyo
As Production Coordinator on Formula E I’m predominantly responsible for all the crew logistics relating to the Host Broadcast. Everything from flights, visas, hotels, all the way to making sure there is a killer selection of snacks and fizzy drinks in the crew welfare room. Nothing is more enjoyable than a foreign supermarket, especially in Tokyo!
In the lead-up to the race, I book and contract all crew, arrange their flights, accommodation, Visas and transfers. When onsite I manage all the crew movements and logistics – from track transfers, to crew welfare and the odd bit of printing!
What are you most looking forward to on this event?
What are the challenges of working in this location?
For now, the rain - it seems the Japanese weather likes to work in extremes!
The weather conditions in Tokyo have been constantly changing, making the camera and event rig quite challenging at times.
Can you tell us about any elements of this production which are sustainable?
Sustainability is something our Production Team and the whole Formula E event take very seriously, ranging from fewer air miles to something as simple as providing suitable waste management on site. A large portion of our crew are based remotely for this event in WestWorks, back in the UK helping, minimise our carbon footprint with a smaller crew traveling to each location.
Alongside this, we have implemented simple changes in the running of our Crew Welfare tent in the TV Compound, meaning all crew are required to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee cup to site with them, to minimise single-use plastics.
What are you hoping to do here once the event is over?
