The Slow Mo Guys is heavily influenced by Mythbusters; in a typical episode, Free and Gruchy attempt to film some sort of natural or physical phenomenon in extreme slow motion: subjects of the filming are often some type of spectacular chemical or physical reaction, stress tests of certain objects under extreme conditions, while some episodes simply aim for an aesthetically pleasing result, usually by the use of rainbow-coloured paints. To emphasise the science angle, the pair wear lab coats; because the original lab coats Free ordered were too small, Gruchy's lab coat has traditionally had a torn off right sleeve. The episodes generally feature Free as the cinematographer and camera operator, and Gruchy, a former explosives expert from the British Army and Afghanistan vet, as the rigger and often also as the stuntman. Over the years, Gruchy suffered numerous injuries, such as a lacerated ear, a glass shard lodged in his finger, an oil burn and a fractured wrist; he jokingly noted that he has suffered more injuries during the filming of the show than during his tour in the Afghanistan war zone. Some episodes feature Gruchy explaining how some explosives work, such as grenades and detonation cord, allowing him to draw on his background in the military. The episodes are generally filmed in Free's backyard in Texas, usually with only the two of them involved. In the case of The Super Slow Show and Planet Slow Mo, as the budget of the show increased and more cast was involved, the experiments got larger and more elaborate; the availability of a designated camera crew allowed Free to participate in the stunts as well.
History
Inception
In 2007, Gavin Free joined Green Door Films, the first production house in Europe to utilise Phantom digital high-speed cameras as a source of slow motion, working as a data technician and camera operator. He began working on adverts, music videos, and films such as Hot Fuzz. In 2008, he was hired to direct the of the Rooster Teethmachinima series Red vs. Blue. Afterwards, he had decided to make a move to Austin, Texas and work full-time for Rooster Teeth, for which he needed to get a work visa; however, as he didn't go to university, his only option was an application for an O visa, a visa that requires an "extraordinary achievement" in arts or science. Being a video/film producer, he decided to utilise his access to slow motion cameras to create The Slow Mo Guys along with his friend Daniel Gruchy, and reach viral success. Free and Gruchy met while working in a Waitrose in their home county of Oxfordshire. The Slow Mo Guys, featuring slow motion footage of various pranks and stunts of the pair, has garnered millions of views since it launched in 2010. According to Free, the name partially comes from a comment Richard Hammond made on the set of Top Gear:
Success
In April 2011, the channel was voted the winner of YouTube's On The Rise program, which highlights up-and-coming YouTube partners on the homepage. In September 2012, their episode involving crushing watermelons was featured on The Tonight Show. On 20 February 2013, Free confirmed that the series had been picked up by Rooster Teeth and that further episodes of the series would be released on Rooster Teeth's website, as well as the series' existing YouTube channel. A best of compilation was released by Rooster Teeth Productions for home video on 10 September 2013. In January 2014, in collaboration with GE Global Research, the R&D division of General Electric, they released a video showcasing the company's latest innovations, including superhydrophobic surfaces and how magnetic nanoparticles behave like liquid magnets. Two additional videos featuring them demonstrating MEMS and "cold spray" 3D painting technology were also released on the official GE YouTube channel. The series has been featured as part of YouTube's "Rewind" year-in-review video in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The series was used as part of a 2014 YouTube advertising campaign. The advertisements featuring Free and Gruchy were titled "You Make Every Second Epic". A large image of Free and Gruchy was printed on a London bus as part of the campaign, alongside TV commercials, billboards and Tube station posters. The series was nominated for a Webby Award in Best Web Personality/Host in 2016. At the 2016 Streamy Awards, the series won in the Cinematography category.
YouTube Originals
In 2018, Free and Gruchy launched their first YouTube Original, The Super Slow Show. This was essentially The Slow Mo Guys, but on a grander scale, featuring new equipment; larger stunts, such as crashing through walls; and special guests, including Dylan Sprouse and Mayim Bialik. There was some confusion among viewers as to whether this was a YouTube Premium exclusive, or an ad-supported show, in the same vein as Rhett and Link's Good Mythical Morning, but Free took to the comments to confirm the latter. In 2019, Free and Gruchy launched their second YouTube Original, Planet Slow Mo, in which the duo would travel around the world and film special events and stunts. A trailer was released on 21 January, with the first episode airing on 23 January.
