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Frame By Frame episodes

  • TJ Regan: From Filming NBA Players to Directing Feature Films

    How do you build a filmmaking career when nobody's handing you opportunities?

    For Seattle-based director TJ Regan, the answer was simple: pick up a camera and start filming.

    TJ's career began with an unlikely connection to NBA star Isaiah Thomas, eventually leading to years of behind-the-scenes storytelling, a creative partnership through Slow Grind Media, and documentary projects exploring sports, adversity, and the human experience.

    In this conversation, TJ and Daniel discuss the early days of athlete-driven YouTube content, the realities of producing independent films, and what it takes to turn an idea into a finished feature.

    TJ also shares the deeply personal story behind his recent Lenny Wilkens documentary, including how the legendary coach's passing transformed the film into a story about fathers, sons, grief, and legacy.

    Episode Chapters

    00:00 – Introduction
    01:57 – Meeting Isaiah Thomas
    04:55 – The Early Days of Athlete YouTube Content
    08:26 – Building Trust With Athletes
    11:07 – Taking Chances and Working With Nate Robinson
    14:30 – Building a Career Outside the Traditional Industry
    17:49 – Making I Am DB Cooper
    20:25 – Film Distribution and Amazon Prime
    21:15 – The Economics of Independent Filmmaking
    23:20 – The Hardest Part of Making a Film
    25:26 – Immersive Documentary Storytelling
    28:44 – Grief, Adversity, and Meaningful Stories
    32:35 – Finding the Story in the Edit
    34:58 – Making the Lenny Wilkens Documentary
    41:11 – The Power of a Community Screening
    44:17 – Why Seattle Remains Home

    Frame By Frame is hosted by filmmaker and director Daniel Mogg, featuring conversations about the craft, creativity, and business of filmmaking.

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    47 min
  • How One Viral Video Changed His Career | Rudy Willingham

    What happens when a rejected advertising idea becomes the foundation of an entirely new career?

    This week on Frame By Frame, filmmaker Daniel Mogg sits down with artist and viral creator Rudy Willingham, whose imaginative, handcrafted artwork has captivated millions and led to collaborations with brands like Nike, Amazon, Netflix, and Whole Foods.

    After spending a decade in advertising, Rudy developed a signature stop-motion style that transformed his creative career. But behind the viral success is a story of persistence, experimentation, and learning how to turn artistic passion into a sustainable business.

    In this conversation, Rudy shares the story behind his breakthrough Kobe Bryant tribute, the painstaking process of creating his artwork, and what it takes to build a recognizable creative identity in an increasingly crowded digital landscape.

    They also explore when to take the leap into full-time creative work, balancing personal projects with commercial opportunities, and why developing your craft matters more than chasing followers.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    • How a rejected advertising idea launched Rudy’s creative journey
    • The Kobe Bryant tribute that changed his career
    • Behind the scenes of his handcrafted stop-motion artwork
    • When to leave your day job and pursue creative work full-time
    • Finding your creative voice and staying original
    • Turning viral success into major brand partnerships
    • The challenges of building a sustainable creative business
    • Why one video can change everything

    EPISODE CHAPTERS

    00:00 — Introduction to Rudy Willingham
    01:02 — The Rejected Idea That Started Everything
    03:00 — The Kobe Bryant Video That Changed His Career
    05:00 — Behind the Scenes of His Creative Process
    08:21 — Making the Leap to Full-Time Creator
    10:29 — How Music Influences His Artwork
    14:22 — Finding Inspiration and Staying Creative
    19:09 — Working With Major Brands
    22:18 — Collaborating With Hollywood Celebrities
    25:03 — Lessons From Building a Creative Career
    29:42 — Why Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight
    31:23 — Turning Creativity Into a Sustainable Business
    38:00 — Growing His YouTube Audience
    42:06 — Originality, AI, and the Future of Creativity

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    🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear List

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    41 min
  • How Do You Direct a Documentary About Nick Saban? | Russell Dinallo

    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 Episode
    • Pitching Nick Saban and earning his trust
    • Conducting seven interviews totaling more than 20 hours
    • Finding compelling characters and emotional moments
    • Uncovering never-before-seen archival footage
    • Structuring and editing a six-part documentary series
    • Designing cinematic documentary interviews
    • Lessons from ESPN’s E60 and advice for aspiring filmmakers
    Episode Chapters

    00:00 — Introduction: Directing the Nick Saban Documentary
    00:59 — How Russell Landed the Project
    02:44 — Pitching Nick Saban at His Lake House
    04:40 — Discovering the Characters Behind Saban
    06:47 — The Art of Documentary Pre-Interviews
    08:32 — What Filmmakers Can Learn From Nick Saban
    10:34 — Seven Interviews and 20+ Hours With Saban
    12:06 — Organizing a Massive Documentary Production
    13:22 — Interviewing Football’s Biggest Names
    14:43 — Finding Unexpected Documentary Characters
    16:20 — The Importance of Miss Terry
    19:31 — Uncovering Never-Before-Seen Alabama Footage
    22:21 — Crafting Dramatic Moments in the Edit
    24:59 — Capturing Julio Jones’ Emotional Interview
    27:19 — Taking Creative Risks in Documentary Filmmaking
    29:09 — Designing Cinematic Documentary Interviews
    30:55 — Lessons From ESPN’s E60
    33:21 — Advice for Aspiring Documentary Filmmakers
    34:40 — The Two-Year Production Timeline
    36:03 — The Future of Sports Documentaries
    37:11 — Finding Fresh Ideas as a Director

    About Frame By Frame

    Frame 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 List

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    SAY THANKS

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    When You're Ready

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    39 min
  • How NFL Films Shoots Hard Knocks with DP Hannah Epstein

    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.

    TIMESTAMPS

    00:00 — Intro
    00:57 — Breaking down the JSN “Silver Surfer” sequence
    04:09 — Capturing Sam Darnold’s spiral in extreme slow motion
    06:00 — Advice for learning to shoot football
    07:11 — Capturing the look of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
    08:18 — Inside the massive Hard Knocks production machine
    11:23 — How Hannah assigns the Hard Knocks camera crews
    12:14 — Hannah’s specialty as a cinematographer
    12:41 — Finding fresh ways to photograph football
    15:05 — The six-week Hard Knocks marathon
    16:34 — Hannah’s favorite moments from the Seahawks season
    18:28 — Hannah’s journey into NFL Films
    21:22 — How NFL Films trains its cinematographers
    23:22 — Why NFL Films was always the goal
    24:14 — The football shot Hannah is still chasing
    25:14 — Developing a signature visual style
    26:11 — Where NFL Films cinematographers find inspiration
    27:16 — ARRI Alexa 35 vs. AMIRA
    28:39 — Shooting the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory
    30:05 — Hard Knocks vs. Quarterback and Receiver
    31:19 — Hannah’s advice for aspiring sports filmmakers

    Frame By Frame is a podcast about the craft behind great filmmaking, hosted by director Daniel Mogg.

    When You're Ready

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    SAY THANKS

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    CONNECT

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    32 min
  • Inside Rory McIlroy’s “The Master’s Wait” with Director Drea Cooper

    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

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    SAY THANKS

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    When You're Ready

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    42 min
  • How Alex vs. A-Rod Was Really Made: A Deep Dive With Director Erik LeDrew & Editor Kevin Barth

    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.

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    1 hr 19 min
  • Filming Mahomes, Kelce & the Chiefs: Inside The Kingdom w/ Kristin Lappas

    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

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    🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear List

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    57 min
  • I’ve Waited My Whole Career to Tell This Story (My Director Debut)

    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)

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    CONNECT

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    SAY THANKS

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    11 min
  • Directing LeBron James for Netflix: The Untold Story w/ Susan Ansman

    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

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    56 min
  • What a Creative Director Actually Does (That No One Talks About) w/ Will Shanahan Ep. 013

    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

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    SAY THANKS

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    When You're Ready

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    42 min

About Frame By Frame

From the publisher's feed

Frame By Frame is a filmmaking podcast for commercial directors, documentary filmmakers, and creative professionals building careers in the industry. Hosted by 4x Emmy Award winner Daniel Mogg — director for Nike, Alaska Airlines, NBC Sports Sunday Night Football, and multiple Olympics.