How we prepared for the Interview with NFL Stars: Antonio Brown and Russell Okung
How would you prepare for an interview with two NFL stars in just a few days?
This question crossed my mind as I waited for the call that would confirm the recording of a key moment: Russell Okung’s proposal to Antonio Brown to join Bitball, the event set to take place in Abu Dhabi. As the director and producer of this video, I knew every second counted, and I had to be ready to capture the magic of the moment with the highest possible quality.
Preparation and Planning
The first challenge was uncertainty. Antonio Brown is an iconic figure in American football, and his schedule is unpredictable. I had no idea whether he would accept the meeting or when it might happen. So, my strategy was to prepare as if the call could come at any moment.
On Sunday, October 27, 2024, Okung called me around 10 AM to request a video session for an interview on the night of November 3rd. Without naming names, he only mentioned it was for an elite athlete. At that moment, I knew the day had probably come and that I had one week to direct an important meeting that would be a milestone for both the crypto and NFL worlds.
The location scouting had already been done: Houston, an exclusive restaurant in Aventura, Florida. An elegant spot with low lighting, which became the first challenge of the night. To resolve it, I brought NEEWER 65CM lights, ensuring the color temperature and intensity were just right to highlight the presence of the players.
Equipment and Logistics
Audio is one of the most important aspects of an interview. To ensure every word was captured clearly, I used two methods: one general and one personalized. Since it was a busy venue, the second challenge was ambient noise. To address this, the production team coordinated with the restaurant to minimize sounds like music and conversations from other guests.
As a backup, I used a Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun mic for a general take and two Rode Wireless Go II mics for each player, ensuring clean and professional audio.
Adaptability and Capturing the Moment
When the call finally came, everything happened fast. I arrived at the venue and set up the gear within minutes. The key was to stay calm and follow a structured yet flexible plan. Antonio Brown arrived with unmatched energy, and Russell Okung led the conversation like a seasoned pro. My job was to capture the authenticity of the moment without interfering with the natural flow of the conversation.
During the shoot, two things could have happened: Antonio Brown accepts the deal, and Russell gets another former NFL player for his event—or Antonio rejects it, and all the production effort is lost. Here’s a tip from Russell that made a big difference: as host, he welcomed Antonio like a lifelong friend. They had a quick chat about family before smoothly transitioning to topics like economics, finance, and cryptocurrency. This sparked Antonio’s interest in Russell’s project, especially since it involved paying athletes in Bitcoin.
In just 45 minutes of conversation, the potential grew for both sides, which Russell capitalized on by pulling out a contract. Antonio Brown signed it without hesitation using a pen that was already on the dinner table—a key detail that avoided improvisation during the shoot and overcame the final challenge of the night.
Postproduction and Final Delivery
For postproduction, I used professional LUTs by Fujifilm, giving the video a cinematic look. The editing was done in Adobe Premiere, and the audio was enhanced using Adobe Podcast AI, leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize sound quality.
Editing is crucial—it’s how you sell the story. A well-told narrative draws viewers into the project. It’s important to make dynamic cuts, avoiding long pauses that could bore the audience. Attention spans are short, so adopting a more fluid and engaging style is essential. For color grading, I used adjustment layers on the clips where I applied the Fujifilm LUT, ensuring visual consistency and a professional look.
Shooting an interview with two NFL legends isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about preparation, adaptability, and visual storytelling. This project was an exciting challenge and an invaluable learning experience. For anyone looking to get into sports videography, my advice is to always be ready, have an efficient team, get familiar with the location, and analyze potential challenges.
It’s crucial to anticipate issues like noise, bad weather, or the possibility of a guest backing out of the shoot. What’s your plan B if things don’t go as expected?
Planning and responsiveness are essential skills in this world. Sports are passion, and our job as creators is to transmit that energy through the camera!
Antonio Brown not only signed the contract but also attended the successful flag football event, where he engaged with players and fans—marking a new chapter in the fusion between sports and the crypto world.
by Carlos Colmenares
¨Juan Arango¨ - Behind the Scenes
Written by Carlos Colmenares
Interviewing Juan Arango is a rare privilege
The Venezuelan football star, known for his exquisite technique and his career with top-level clubs, is not someone who grants many interviews. In fact, this was only the second time he had participated in a podcast at the time of this blog. So, when discussions for recording a special episode of The Players Podcast began, we decided that the setting had to be one that would make him feel comfortable and relaxed.
A Perfect Environment for the Conversation
From the scheduling phase, I knew I wanted to conduct the interview in a space that reflected the essence of "Arangol." That’s how we ended up at his high-performance training center, a place where he is shaping the next generation of talent. What was interesting about recording there was that Juan agreed without hesitation, knowing that being surrounded by a soccer environment and people close to him would ensure the conversation flowed naturally.
Choosing the Lighting
For this production, we decided to use a Neewer 660 Pro light kit instead of the Astera lights we had used in the previous interview with Alejandro "El Lobito" Guerra. The reason was simple: unlike the open and well-lit space of the chat with Guerra, Arango’s training center had dark walls, which allowed us to better utilize the softboxes, achieving a more cinematic lighting effect.
A Minimalist Yet Effective Format
There’s a common belief that these types of interviews require multiple cameras from different angles. However, we decided that one camera focused on the guest and another on the interviewers would be enough to maintain the intimacy of the conversation without losing dynamism. This approach allowed us to capture every gesture, every smile, and every pause from Arango with a proximity that enriched the experience.
A Relaxed Talk Filled with Stories
One of the factors that most favored the interview was the presence of Nehomar Matías, Arango’s right-hand man and someone with experience in international professional football. His participation added an interesting perspective on Arango’s commitment to developing young talent and allowed us to delve into topics that are usually not covered in traditional interviews.
Arango was at ease, eager to share stories about his best goals, funny moments with elite players, and even the reason behind his controversial retirement from the national team. Every word reflected the personality of a footballer who has left a mark both on and off the field.
If you’re a football fan and want to get to know the more personal and human side of Juan Arango, you can't miss this exclusive interview on The Players Podcast.
Written by Carlos Colmenares
" La Barra Real " - Real Salt Lake
Yesterday, another cold winter morning, I woke up thinking about an idea that I had been consolidating for a long time. I wanted to enjoy the quarterfinals of the team in the city where I live. Football is a passion and joy that I get wherever I go. It allows me to learn from society and surrounds me in its culture and its principles.
The snow would not be an impediment to see a full stadium. Worthy scenario of the quarterfinals that were disputed between the Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers. A game with rain and snow that could not show us anything else than a stuck rustic game and some other moment of magic.
We wanted to live this experience. Being a part of the first latin fans supporter in MLS, created in the city of Sandy, UT; by Mexicans and their descendants, as if we were in Mexico or in any Latino field in the Americas.
“Ya llego la barraaaa, con la orquesta y con la bandaaa, ya me voy para la 10, alla se canta con todo el almaaa”
An overwhelming sound in this quiet city, where the Mormon religion is the basis of society. The supporters are called "La Barra Real" and they settle outside the stadium 2 hours before each game. They welcome us and show us their routine. They give us delicious tamales filled with larded meat and a hot drink made of milk and chocolate called "Champurrado." The drink warms us up and displays an amazing atmosphere which makes us feel at home.
They tell us that they use the profits from the tamales to pay for the implements and travel expenses for each game. Since their origins they had not received any support of the board for social issues. It wasn’t until a few years ago the "Navajios" joined them to make the bar bigger and they achieved an agreement with the board for an unconditional support.
"Football is only one language, it doesn't matter where you're from"
They are the only ones who cheer the 90 minutes non-stop with original songs in spanish and encourage each other to sing in english with the Americans who arrived to the stadium. Without them, the atmosphere we experienced would not be the same and despite the temperature below zero, we felt like we were south of the border, standing for the entire game as if it were our team. Celebrating the opportunity to experience it in their own way.
We shared with them as if they opened the doors of their house to us. We learned about their manners, before and during the game. It is a moment to share with family and friends. It's a moment to support your city's team and it's a feeling that surrounds football and without us, the fans, it wouldn't be the same.
The Voices of Football.
