Frame By Frame

What does it take to tell the story of one of the greatest coaches in college football history?Director Russell Dinallo joins Daniel Mogg on Frame By Frame to take us behind the scenes of ESPN’s six-part Nick Saban documentary.From pitching Saban at his lake house to spending more than 20 hours interviewing the legendary coach, Russell shares the creative process behind a documentary two years in the making.We explore how his team uncovered never-before-seen footage of the famous Jalen Hurts–Tua Tagovailoa halftime decision, captured an unexpectedly emotional interview with Julio Jones, and shaped hundreds of hours of interviews and archival footage into a compelling series.Along the way, Russell breaks down the art of documentary interviewing, earning a subject’s trust, making bold creative decisions, and finding the human stories behind larger-than-life figures.Whether you’re a filmmaker, storyteller, or fan of great documentaries, this episode is a fascinating look at what goes into making a premium sports documentary.In This EpisodePitching Nick Saban and earning his trustConducting seven interviews totaling more than 20 hoursFinding compelling characters and emotional momentsUncovering never-before-seen archival footageStructuring and editing a six-part documentary seriesDesigning cinematic documentary interviewsLessons from ESPN’s E60 and advice for aspiring filmmakersEpisode Chapters00:00 — Introduction: Directing the Nick Saban Documentary00:59 — How Russell Landed the Project02:44 — Pitching Nick Saban at His Lake House04:40 — Discovering the Characters Behind Saban06:47 — The Art of Documentary Pre-Interviews08:32 — What Filmmakers Can Learn From Nick Saban10:34 — Seven Interviews and 20+ Hours With Saban12:06 — Organizing a Massive Documentary Production13:22 — Interviewing Football’s Biggest Names14:43 — Finding Unexpected Documentary Characters16:20 — The Importance of Miss Terry19:31 — Uncovering Never-Before-Seen Alabama Footage22:21 — Crafting Dramatic Moments in the Edit24:59 — Capturing Julio Jones’ Emotional Interview27:19 — Taking Creative Risks in Documentary Filmmaking29:09 — Designing Cinematic Documentary Interviews30:55 — Lessons From ESPN’s E6033:21 — Advice for Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers34:40 — The Two-Year Production Timeline36:03 — The Future of Sports Documentaries37:11 — Finding Fresh Ideas as a DirectorAbout Frame By FrameFrame By Frame is a filmmaking podcast hosted by Emmy Award-winning director Daniel Mogg. Each episode goes behind the scenes with the directors, cinematographers, and creative minds shaping today’s most compelling films, documentaries, and commercials.  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 When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on SpotifyCONNECT📸 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!

How does NFL Films create some of the most iconic images in sports?On this episode of Frame By Frame, Daniel sits down with NFL Films cinematographer Hannah Epstein, DP of Hard Knocks with the Seattle Seahawks, to go behind the camera of one of the biggest productions in sports.Hannah breaks down the making of the JSN “Silver Surfer” sequence, capturing Sam Darnold’s spiral at extreme slow motion, and how NFL Films approached photographing the Pacific Northwest. She also takes us inside the massive operation behind Hard Knocks — from a 35-person field crew to shooting 12–14 hour days and turning around an episode every week.They also nerd out on the tools of the trade, including the ARRI Alexa 35 Extreme, shooting at 660fps, NFL Films’ incredibly rare 33:1 lens, and how Hannah developed her signature style using negative space, abstraction and emotional moments away from the football.Plus, Hannah shares her journey from being rejected from the NFL Films internship program twice to eventually becoming a staff cinematographer and DP — and what she’s learned about breaking into sports filmmaking along the way.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro00:57 — Breaking down the JSN “Silver Surfer” sequence04:09 — Capturing Sam Darnold’s spiral in extreme slow motion06:00 — Advice for learning to shoot football07:11 — Capturing the look of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest08:18 — Inside the massive Hard Knocks production machine11:23 — How Hannah assigns the Hard Knocks camera crews12:14 — Hannah’s specialty as a cinematographer12:41 — Finding fresh ways to photograph football15:05 — The six-week Hard Knocks marathon16:34 — Hannah’s favorite moments from the Seahawks season18:28 — Hannah’s journey into NFL Films21:22 — How NFL Films trains its cinematographers23:22 — Why NFL Films was always the goal24:14 — The football shot Hannah is still chasing25:14 — Developing a signature visual style26:11 — Where NFL Films cinematographers find inspiration27:16 — ARRI Alexa 35 vs. AMIRA28:39 — Shooting the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory30:05 — Hard Knocks vs. Quarterback and Receiver31:19 — Hannah’s advice for aspiring sports filmmakersFrame By Frame is a podcast about the craft behind great filmmaking, hosted by director Daniel Mogg. When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on SpotifyCONNECT📸 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!

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 When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on SpotifyCONNECT📸 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!

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. When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on SpotifyCONNECT📸 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!

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 When You're Ready📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)SAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on SpotifyCONNECT📸 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!