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
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