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Bengals in the spotlight as Hard Knocks starts filming

Mark Heyne
/
WVXU News

Camera crews are in Cincinnati to shoot the Cincinnati Bengals training camp for the HBO series Hard Knocks.  They'll be putting in a lot of time and effort as they record the daily routines of the players and coaches for the sports-based reality show.

"More ends up on the cutting room floor for this show than any other series we do," said NFL Films senior coordinating producer Ross Ketover.  "As most of you who are around here in camp know there's a lot of repetition, so I think we shoot about 400 hours of footage for every hour that airs on television."

Ketover said they've already started gathering scenic shots of Cincinnati and will start filming players next week.

This is the eighth season for the sports-based reality show focusing on the daily routines of NFL players and coaches during training camp.  It's the second time the Bengals have been featured, the last time being 2009. 

Coach Marvin Lewis has two reasons for liking this second go around with Hard Knocks.  It helps fans get to know the team better and it's a good experience for his players.

"We're used to the people from NFL Films being around," said Lewis.  "They're very professional.  They work extremely hard and I think that's a good thing for my players to witness."

One big difference between this time and last will be the setting.  Four years ago, the Bengals held their training camp in Georgetown, Kentucky.  Now they're holding it at Paul Brown Stadium.

The five-episode season of Hard Knocks featuring the Bengals starts August 6.