Emmy-winning filmmaker Drea Cooper joins Frame By Frame to break down his latest documentary, The Master’s Wait, about Rory McIlroy, The Masters, and the long emotional road to winning at Augusta National Golf Club. In this conversation, Drea shares what it was like being at the Masters for Rory’s latest win, how the film came together, and how he approached telling a story that was bigger than golf. If you’re interested in sports documentaries, Rory McIlroy, The Masters, Augusta National, or the craft of documentary filmmaking, this episode is for you. Timestamps 0:00 Cold open: Augusta goes from dream to haunted house 0:52 Intro: Drea Cooper on The Master’s Wait and Rory’s back-to-back moment 2:09 What it was like being at the Masters in person 2:45 Augusta with no phones and why it feels different 4:37 How The Master’s Wait came together 6:19 Drea’s sports background and prepping to tell Rory’s story 9:00 What Rory McIlroy was like to work with in a documentary setting 10:33 Filming re-creations at Augusta and visualizing Rory’s mental game 14:44 The “pinch me” moments filming with Rory at Augusta and in Northern Ireland 19:30 Rory’s parents, the archive, and the interviews that unlocked the film 26:38 Why Drea chose a direct-to-camera interview style 28:44 The universal lesson in Rory’s story: persistence, instinct, and not giving up 32:06 How Drea has built range across documentaries and commercial directing 33:39 Advice for first-time feature documentary directors 36:11 Imposter syndrome, trusting your instincts, and staying open to curveballs When You're Ready 📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration) 🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear List CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, creatives, and industry insiders! SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
How do you make one of the biggest sports documentaries of the year? In this episode of Frame By Frame, Daniel sits down with director Erik LeDrew and editor Kevin Barth, the creative minds behind HBO’s Alex vs. A-Rod.They break down the entire storytelling journey—from early brainstorming sessions and gaining Alex Rodriguez’s trust, to the emotional Colorado shoot that became the heart of the series, to spending 88 weeks in the edit shaping one of the most vulnerable portraits of A-Rod ever shown on screen.This conversation goes deep into the director–editor relationship, how to collaborate under pressure, why certain scenes almost didn’t make the cut, and what it truly takes to build a multi-year documentary from scratchIf you love filmmaking, storytelling, sports docs, or the craft behind documentaries, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.00:00 – IntroDaniel sets up the episode and introduces Erik & Kevin.02:00 – How Erik & Kevin First ConnectedTheir creative partnership and early projects that shaped their process.08:30 – Origin of the Alex vs. A-Rod DocumentaryA-Rod’s blind spots, the initial pitch, and why this project mattered.14:00 – Building Trust With A-RodHow they got him comfortable enough to open up emotionally.20:00 – Developing the Structure & ToneThe “writer’s room” process and mapping out the psychological heart of the story.27:00 – Editing a Multi-Year DocumentaryFinding rhythm, musicality, pacing, and what gets left on the cutting room floor.33:00 – The Colorado ShootThe make-or-break moment of the doc—and why it almost didn’t work.45:00 – Balancing Objectivity & Collaboration With A-RodNavigating notes, integrity, and the fine line between access and honesty.52:00 – Working With HBOWhy HBO was the ideal partner and how their feedback elevated the project.58:00 – Storytelling Lessons & Advice for FilmmakersErik and Kevin share what they’ve learned across their careers.1:05:00 – The Frame They’re Most Proud OfA powerful closing reflection on their favorite moments in the film1:10:00 – Closing ThoughtsDaniel wraps the conversation and previews what’s next.
What does it take to film Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs from the inside? Emmy-winning director Kristen Lappas takes us behind the scenes of The Kingdom, the new Disney+ and ESPN documentary series on the Chiefs dynasty.In this episode of Frame By Frame, Kristen shares how she earned the trust of Mahomes, Kelce, and Coach Andy Reid, what it was like to direct the Chiefs through a historic season, and how she built one of the biggest NFL docuseries of all time. From underground bunkers of Chiefs history to emotional family moments, this is the story behind The Kingdom.If you’re a Kansas City Chiefs fan, a filmmaker, or just curious about how sports documentaries are made, this is a must-watch.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Kristen Lappas on The Kingdom01:18 – How the Chiefs project came together03:13 – Building trust with Andy Reid & the players06:06 – Filming Mahomes up close (and a Super Bowl haircut)08:13 – Structuring a dynasty story: themes & arcs11:10 – The art of pitching: how Kristen sold The Kingdom14:38 – Balancing honesty vs. PR when partnering with teams18:56 – Surprising storylines that shaped the series21:26 – Discovering the Chiefs’ underground archive bunker25:36 – Making The Kingdom appeal beyond football fans27:07 – Handling Taylor Swift’s presence in the story29:00 – Premiering The Kingdom in Kansas City31:21 – Creative swings: directing the Giannis documentary36:49 – Lessons from working with superstars (Mahomes, Giannis, Caitlin Clark)39:07 – Kristen’s career break: the story of Arthur43:49 – Advice for young filmmakers & pitching stories45:09 – Balancing filmmaking with motherhood47:49 – Kristen’s advice for first-time feature directors50:24 – What’s next for Kristen Lappas51:25 – Mentors, influences, and finding your voice54:51 – Lessons from The Kingdom & Andy Reid’s “Don’t Judge” card When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear ListCONNECT🐦 Connect on Twitter📸 Connect on Instagram💼 Connect on LinkedIn📹 Subscribe on YouTube👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, creatives, and industry insiders!SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
After a short break, I’m back — and with big news.In this episode of Frame by Frame, I’m announcing my first feature documentary: 12 — the untold story of how the city of Seattle came together in the 1990s to stop the Seahawks from relocating to Los Angeles.Backed by Marshawn Lynch, Beast Mode Productions, and Victory Sports Media, this project is the biggest opportunity of my directing career so far. I break down the inspiration behind the film, how it came together behind the scenes, and what I’ve learned so far stepping into the role of feature documentary director.We talk:Why this story matters — and why it almost got lostThe origin of 12 and the team behind itWhat it takes to make a doc at this scaleFinding the heart of a story that changed a cityBalancing creative work, parenting, and small business life If you’re a filmmaker, storyteller, or just someone who loves underdog sports stories, this episode is for you.🎧 Subscribe to Frame by Frame for more behind-the-scenes episodes as I bring this documentary to life — one frame at a time. When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear ListCONNECT🐦 Connect on Twitter📸 Connect on Instagram💼 Connect on LinkedIn📹 Subscribe on YouTube👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, creatives, and industry insiders!SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Susan Ansman spent a year embedded with LeBron James, directing Netflix’s Starting 5 and capturing the most personal moments of his career. In this episode, Susan shares how she made the leap from ESPN to freelance, what it’s really like to direct a global superstar, and how she’s paving the way for women in sports filmmaking.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: How Susan became LeBron’s director01:09 – Why she quit ESPN for this opportunity02:15 – First day: Inside LeBron’s house on Halloween03:40 – Building trust with high-profile athletes05:31 – Capturing LeBron rapping in the car07:00 – Verité filmmaking and shooting solo08:06 – The story structure behind Starting 510:00 – The toast, Bronny’s health scare & vulnerability13:30 – Being a one-woman crew with LeBron16:00 – What it takes to shoot elite athletes19:00 – The power of listening as a director21:45 – From EVS operator to Emmy-winning filmmaker24:30 – How editing shaped her directing style27:00 – Juggling directing, producing, and editing30:00 – Shooting the Olympic basketball documentary34:00 – Navigating confidence in a male-dominated industry37:30 – Advice to women entering sports filmmaking41:00 – Why representation behind the camera matters44:00 – Final reflections + what’s next for SusanWhen You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear ListCONNECT🐦 Connect on Twitter📸 Connect on Instagram💼 Connect on LinkedIn📹 Subscribe on YouTube👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, creatives, and industry insiders!SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify