Thame Hub caught up with Gavin Free and Dan Gruchy, AKA The Slow Mo Guys to talk about how they are getting on with their careers, coping with fame and to talk all things Thame.
As Thame's most famous exports we thank Gavin and Dan for speaking to us today.
For any of our readers who don't know what the Slow Mo Guys do, can you give us a brief summary?
GF) The Slow Mo Guys is a YouTube channel dedicated to filming a variety of subjects in super-slow motion with a specialised high-speed camera.
Where did it all start?
DG) We filmed the first of the videos in our back gardens in Thame.
Where are you both based at the moment?
GF) I live in Austin, Texas.
DG) I am actually still local to Thame, I regularly go out to the pub or go to the shops so you may see me around.
What's an average day in the life of the Slow Mo Guys?
GF) We both have full time jobs. I work at Rooster Teeth productions in Austin as one of their on screen personalities and Dan is in the British Army. Maybe 4 or 5 times a year, Dan flies over to Texas and we have a dedicated week of filming. We typically get 5-10 episodes shot during this time.
You've got over 8 million subscribers on your YouTube channel - which was your favourite video to film?
GF) I always like the ones that have huge build up. A lot of the giant balloon ones have this because you are waiting for that one moment. It’s always a great pay off in slow mo.
DG) Anything where I don’t get hurt.
Having your faces plastered all over London and the Internet, it must be hard to walk down the street without someone noticing you - do you get a lot of people coming up to you in the street?
GF) It happens almost everywhere I go. Especially in airports for some reason. It seems to happen 3 times more often when we are walking around together, though. People can sometimes find it hard to place a familiar looking face but when you see both of us together people seem to think “oh that’s both of the slow mo guys right there.”
DG) I have been recognised in very strange places, for instance, I was recently travelling in Nepal with some friends when a few school children recognised me, wanted to say hi and have some pictures. One of them even said he had made his school lab coat to look like mine. I was amazed.
I sometimes get recognised walking through Thame or in the shops and people don’t realise it's where I live, and they ask me what on earth I’m doing there.
What's the strangest encounter you've had with a fan?
GF) Nothing too bad. Our audience is actually quite laid back compared to people who follow vloggers for example. Sometimes people get overwhelmed and start crying but it’s nothing that makes us uncomfortable.
You are into your 6th year of success with the Slow Mo Guys what's been your favourite part of the experience?
GF) Finding out that people show their young children and teachers play our videos in their classrooms is very rewarding to me. It’s lovely to know our videos span multiple languages and generations.
DG) I would agree with Gav but I also love it when people say they are binge watching our videos instead of revising for important exams, or doing homework.
When you're shooting at 1000 frames a second does it make you see the world in a different light?
GF) I look at almost everything in life wondering if it would look good in slow mo. Sometimes if I see something interesting I quickly shut my eyes and am left with a freeze frame of the last thing that I saw. Typically, if that freeze frame looks good it is worth filming in slow mo.
As you both grew up in Thame - how did you first meet?
GF) We went to Lord Bills but didn't really become friends until we realized we both enjoyed playing Halo. We made this discovery while we were both working at Waitrose.
When you are back in Thame, what's your favourite part?
GF) Nice to see family and friends. Thame is a lot more peaceful than where I live in Texas so I like to just sit in the bark garden or walk down the high street.
DG) Going to the pub.
Growing up in Thame, what's your favourite childhood memory?
DG) Has to be riding bikes and skateboarding around with friends, now that I drive everywhere I don’t get to see those parts of Thame so much anymore.
Without giving to much away, what's next for the Slow Mo Guys in 2016 and beyond?
GF) Hopefully this year we’ll get hold of a newer camera that shoots more frames per second. Basically, even slower slow mo.
And finally do you have any inspiring words for the next generation of cinematographers from Thame?
GF) Film and edit random stuff all the time. I did this constantly as a kid with friends and having a basic knowledge of both has been really helpful. I would also recommend getting experience in the industry even if no money is involved. I got involved in the film industry while I still worked at Waitrose by shadowing Thame resident John Hadfield. He taught me everything I know about high speed cameras. I worked with him for free as a trainee for about a year and then left Waitrose to work full time with him. I never got a degree as I learned all I needed to first hand but I’m sure it wouldn't hurt as a solid base of knowledge.
Thanks guys, on behalf of Thame Hub and all of Thame we'd like to wish you all the best for the future.
If you want to watch more of The Slo Mo Guy's work then you can check their YouTube channel out here.
If you want to keep up with what Gavin and Dan are getting up to then you can follow them on twitter @GavinFree and @DanielGruchy
