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

🐦 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