Show notes
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