The CAMERA MAN

“Dean Papadeas is a name that many avid drag racing fans don’t know but they should. Papadeas was the man who single-handedly changed the way that drag races were filmed and presented on television. He, through his Main Event Entertainment company, invented the swoopy camera moves, in your face techniques and frenetic editing cuts that are now standard practice in the TV presentation of racing today.”
Brian Lohnes, PUBLISHER, BANGshift.com (2017)

Inventing the ‘Swoopy Shot” 4 min Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqhm7UB_SK8
“Dean Papadeas changed the look of drag racing video presentation. The “swoopy shot” of running alongside and around fuel cars, shooting from the hip, and in the driver’s face style of camera work that he invented during the 1980s with Main Event Video have since become standard in TV motorsports coverage.”Chris Martin, SENIOR EDITOR, DRAGRACINGONLINE.com
“Dean Papadeas was the original innovator of the “Floating Camera”! In 1986, he took his camera off his shoulder, held it in his hands and created a seamless movement of video production that revolutionized motorsports TV! His cool techniques were so futuristic that if you’ve watched the NHRA on ESPN and even Fox today, you’ll see Dean’s techniques being used throughout their broadcasts! Thank you for changing Drag Racing TV and taking the fans out of the stands and onto the playing field”
Gil Rebilas,SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER, DRAG RACER MAGAZINE

The MAIN EVENT TEAM

All Original Music is in sync with each segment in every show by the
MAIN EVENT BLUES BAND
Led by Incomparable Claptonesque Lead Guitarist
DONNIE CELENZA
who composes blues/rock songs to fit each scene.
A fast-paced assault of Tunes over intense Visuals.

GUITAR Magazine called Donnie Celenza, a “Long Island Eric Clapton”

The PHOTOGRAPHERS

Watching awesome still photographers risk their lives getting those shots. Great action pics. But we were looking for great pics that would tell a story not just look awesome. Kindred spirits with artistic eyes. Enter Dave and Gil, the top 2 guns in the field.Period. Their pictures, as you’ll see in this catalog, best represent the content inside.

 

A fixture at Englishtown Raceway Park, Atco Raceway and Maple Grove, Dave Milcarek has worked over 40 years in the sport. His pictures are nothing less than spectacular. A most fascinating person, Dave is quiet, unassuming, humble amongst the drag racing shutterbugs. Yet his work is far superior over all. His trusted assistant and beautiful wife,onna, are a team at work. His catalog of nitro cars are categorized from the 70s on http://davemilcarek.com/old.htm
You feel his work. Like you walked through history in a museum of drag racing. DGP

No hyperbole is adequate in describing Gil Rebilas. Let’s just say this was a one of a kind human being. And by the waythe best top end guy no one could come close to. An invaluable Main Event cameraman. And brought back stunning top end stuff you’ll only see in our videos. Proud to be his friend. I gave nicknames to my crew that applied. I called him Jill forhis gentle soul. “Hey Jill get to top end. The cars are coming out” He was surprised. With that cherubic face he says “it’s Gil not Jill”. I said, “I know.” He said, “Oh! “ I’m so thankful I had him on the team. He filled hearts. I would describe him as theChrist child. Never cursed. Always positive. Those sayings: “a good man is hard to find”, “he’d give you the shirt off his back”,“he’d never refuse a favor” etc., are all embedded expressions in our lives and written by authors after they met Gil.Covid took our boy this year. I loved Jill. Privileged to have known him. DGP

42 Years the Leader
[email protected]
NITRODIGGERS.com
“Main Event’s videos are the best. Well paced, well shot, well edited, and consistently entertaining.”
Chuck Schifsky,
CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE

Dick Schaap presents Dean
with 4 HBO Sports Spirit Awards

“Main Event takes you where your admission pass won’t!”
SUPER STOCK MAGAZINE
* 5 TELLY AWARDS * 3 MOTO AWARDS * 3 IAMC AUTO AWARDS * *
3 SPIRIT AWARDS * 2 SUFFOLK FILM FESTIVAL * *
2 COMMUNICATOR AWARDS * US INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL * *
AURORA AWARD * 3 CATALYST AWARDS * NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL *