Frame By Frame

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 scratch
If 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 – Intro
Daniel sets up the episode and introduces Erik & Kevin.
02:00 – How Erik & Kevin First Connected
Their creative partnership and early projects that shaped their process.
08:30 – Origin of the Alex vs. A-Rod Documentary
A-Rod’s blind spots, the initial pitch, and why this project mattered.
14:00 – Building Trust With A-Rod
How they got him comfortable enough to open up emotionally.
20:00 – Developing the Structure & Tone
The “writer’s room” process and mapping out the psychological heart of the story.
27:00 – Editing a Multi-Year Documentary
Finding rhythm, musicality, pacing, and what gets left on the cutting room floor.
33:00 – The Colorado Shoot
The make-or-break moment of the doc—and why it almost didn’t work.
45:00 – Balancing Objectivity & Collaboration With A-Rod
Navigating notes, integrity, and the fine line between access and honesty.
52:00 – Working With HBO
Why HBO was the ideal partner and how their feedback elevated the project.
58:00 – Storytelling Lessons & Advice for Filmmakers
Erik and Kevin share what they’ve learned across their careers.
1:05:00 – The Frame They’re Most Proud Of
A powerful closing reflection on their favorite moments in the film
1:10:00 – Closing Thoughts
Daniel 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.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Kristen Lappas on The Kingdom
01:18 – How the Chiefs project came together
03:13 – Building trust with Andy Reid & the players
06:06 – Filming Mahomes up close (and a Super Bowl haircut)
08:13 – Structuring a dynasty story: themes & arcs
11:10 – The art of pitching: how Kristen sold The Kingdom
14:38 – Balancing honesty vs. PR when partnering with teams
18:56 – Surprising storylines that shaped the series
21:26 – Discovering the Chiefs’ underground archive bunker
25:36 – Making The Kingdom appeal beyond football fans
27:07 – Handling Taylor Swift’s presence in the story
29:00 – Premiering The Kingdom in Kansas City
31:21 – Creative swings: directing the Giannis documentary
36:49 – Lessons from working with superstars (Mahomes, Giannis, Caitlin Clark)
39:07 – Kristen’s career break: the story of Arthur
43:49 – Advice for young filmmakers & pitching stories
45:09 – Balancing filmmaking with motherhood
47:49 – Kristen’s advice for first-time feature directors
50:24 – What’s next for Kristen Lappas
51:25 – Mentors, influences, and finding your voice
54:51 – 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 List
CONNECT
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👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with filmmakers, creatives, and industry insiders!
SAY THANKS
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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 lost
The origin of 12 and the team behind it
What it takes to make a doc at this scale
Finding the heart of a story that changed a city
Balancing 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 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

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.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: How Susan became LeBron’s director
01:09 – Why she quit ESPN for this opportunity
02:15 – First day: Inside LeBron’s house on Halloween
03:40 – Building trust with high-profile athletes
05:31 – Capturing LeBron rapping in the car
07:00 – Verité filmmaking and shooting solo
08:06 – The story structure behind Starting 5
10:00 – The toast, Bronny’s health scare & vulnerability
13:30 – Being a one-woman crew with LeBron
16:00 – What it takes to shoot elite athletes
19:00 – The power of listening as a director
21:45 – From EVS operator to Emmy-winning filmmaker
24:30 – How editing shaped her directing style
27:00 – Juggling directing, producing, and editing
30:00 – Shooting the Olympic basketball documentary
34:00 – Navigating confidence in a male-dominated industry
37:30 – Advice to women entering sports filmmaking
41:00 – Why representation behind the camera matters
44:00 – Final reflections + what’s next for Susan
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

Creative Director. It’s a title everyone wants—but few truly understand. In this episode of Frame By Frame, I sit down with Will Shanahan, VP of Creative at The Unlisted Company, to break down what this role really means in the world of branded content, advertising, and filmmaking.
Whether you’re an aspiring CD, a freelance director, or just curious about how creative projects actually get made—this episode pulls back the curtain.
📍 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Why speaking your mind matters
01:06 – What does a Creative Director actually do?
03:38 – The difference between title and responsibility
07:41 – Defining the role in one sentence
08:00 – Creative Director vs. Head Coach vs. GM
09:21 – Director vs. Creative Director collaboration
11:10 – How to build relationships between directors and CDs
12:32 – The one skill no one talks about—but every CD needs
14:35 – Business lessons learned as a Creative Director
17:06 – Navigating budget conversations with clients
19:59 – Why the word “partnership” changes everything
20:16 – The rare project that went exactly as planned
22:47 – Will’s origin story: How he became a CD
24:07 – Staying creative while managing meetings and chaos
26:26 – The creative power of not trying too hard
27:16 – Advice for new Creative Directors
29:43 – Why pitching is more than just presenting ideas
33:14 – How to make clients feel something during a pitch
34:16 – Real pitch example: The New York Giants
35:40 – Will’s favorite deck-building tools and resources
36:33 – Making the leap: Why Will joined The Unlisted Co.
39:34 – Trusting your gut in a creative career
40:24 – Closing thoughts + why relationships create opportunity
 
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