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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.
When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
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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:
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
When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
🎥: Daniel's Recommended Production Gear List
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When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
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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 Episode00:00 — 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
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
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
💜 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
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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!
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
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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!
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.
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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👍 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
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When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
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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!
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.
When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
SAY THANKS
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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!
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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When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
SAY THANKS
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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!
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
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SAY THANKS
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When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
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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
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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
💜 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
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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!
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
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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
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
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When You're Ready
📬: Frame By Frame Dispatch Newsletter (Creative Inspiration)
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
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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!
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