300 Cameras, Petabytes of Data: Inside MrBeast's YouTube Production Machine

MrBeast's Director of Photography, Jason Elliott, shared behind-the-scenes details on how the YouTube star's team captures his ultra-viral videos, including the recent '1-100' video where 100 people competed for $250,000.

The project involved rigging 300 cameras and 100 tablets, recording petabytes of data.

Behind the Scenes

• The team used GoPro Hero 12s with media mods, Marshal POV cameras, ceiling and perimeter cameras, and handheld operators to capture every moment.

• Atomos Shogun Studio 2s were used to record the cameras remotely, reducing physical media on set. In total, 46 units were used.

• The post team spent hundreds of hours processing footage and crafting the story, as everything was unscripted and captured in real time.

The Breakdown

• Challenges included powering and recording hundreds of cameras 24/7 without disturbing contestants. "Our camera team has a policy of non-interference or influence when it comes to contestants," Elliott said.

• The team ran nearly 56 miles of cable and used Atomos Sumo 19s and Shogun Studio 2s to efficiently record and monitor the massive number of cameras.

What's Next?

While they would love to record everything in UHD, the cost doesn't make sense yet. They're also looking for wider PTZ camera options to provide more dynamic, up-close viewer experiences.