Antonio Brown & Russell Okung - two NFL stars
Written by Carlos Colmenares
How do you prep for an interview with two NFL stars on short notice?
That question was on my mind as I waited for the call that would confirm a key moment: Russell Okung proposing to Antonio Brown to join Bitball, the event set to take place in Abu Dhabi. As the director and producer of the video, I knew every second mattered. I had to be ready to capture the magic with top quality.
Preparing Amid Uncertainty
The biggest challenge was the unknown. Antonio Brown is a football icon with an unpredictable schedule. I didn’t know if he’d accept the meeting or when it might happen, so I treated every day like it could be the day.
On Sunday, October 27, 2024, Okung called me around 10 a.m. asking for a video session the night of November 3. He didn’t give names, just said it was with an elite athlete. That’s when I knew: the moment was coming, and I had a week to prep for a major meeting that could impact both the crypto and NFL worlds.
We had already scouted the location. Houston, an upscale restaurant in Aventura, Florida. Elegant and dimly lit. The low lighting became our first technical challenge, so we brought a pair of NEEWER 65cm lights to create a clean, cinematic look.
Gear and Audio Setup
Audio is everything in interviews. I went with two layers of sound: one ambient and one direct. Since we were filming in a busy restaurant, noise was a concern. My team coordinated with the venue to keep background music and conversation to a minimum.
For the setup, I used a Sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun mic as a backup and two Rode Wireless Go II lavs for crystal-clear dialogue from each guest.
Acting Fast and Capturing the Moment
Once the call came, things moved quickly. I arrived and set up the gear in minutes. The key was staying calm and flexible. Antonio Brown came in with big energy, and Russell Okung led the conversation like a pro. My job was to capture the authenticity without disrupting the flow.
This moment could’ve gone one of two ways: Antonio says yes and joins Bitball, or he says no and all the work goes out the window. But Russell did something brilliant he welcomed Antonio like an old friend. They chatted briefly about family before shifting smoothly into topics like economics, finance, and crypto. That opened the door.
Brown got genuinely curious about Russell’s project, especially when he learned that players would be paid in Bitcoin. In just 45 minutes, the connection was solid. Russell brought out a contract from his jacket. Antonio signed it right there with a pen that was already on the table a small detail that made a big difference.
Editing the Final Product
I used Fujifilm LUTs to give the footage a cinematic tone. The video was cut in Adobe Premiere and the audio cleaned up using Adobe Podcast AI. Editing is where the story comes alive. Dynamic cuts and good pacing are essential. viewers have short attention spans, so the narrative needs to flow. I applied the LUT with adjustment layers to keep the color grade consistent across shots, giving it a polished, professional feel.
Final Thoughts
Filming an interview with two NFL legends isn’t just about the tech. it’s about being ready, adapting, and telling the story with intention. This project pushed me in the best way and taught me a lot.
If you’re getting into sports videography, here’s my advice: always be ready, build a reliable crew, learn your locations, and think ahead about what might go wrong. Noise, delays, bad weather, a guest dropping out—you need a plan B for everything.
In the end, Antonio not only signed, he showed up at the Bitball flag football event, connected with players and fans, and helped spark a new chapter in the intersection of sports and crypto.
