Directing LeBron James for Netflix: The Untold Story w/ Susan Ansman

Susan Ansman spent a year embedded with LeBron James, directing Netflix’s Starting 5 and capturing the most personal moments of his career. In this episode, Susan shares how she made the leap from ESPN to freelance, what it’s really like to direct a global superstar, and how she’s paving the way for women in sports filmmaking.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: How Susan became LeBron’s director01:09 – Why she quit ESPN for this opportunity02:15 – First day: Inside LeBron’s house on Halloween03:40 – Building trust with high-profile athletes05:31 – Capturing LeBron rapping in the car07:00 – Verité filmmaking and shooting solo08:06 – The story structure behind Starting 510:00 – The toast, Bronny’s health scare & vulnerability13:30 – Being a one-woman crew with LeBron16:00 – What it takes to shoot elite athletes19:00 – The power of listening as a director21:45 – From EVS operator to Emmy-winning filmmaker24:30 – How editing shaped her directing style27:00 – Juggling directing, producing, and editing30:00 – Shooting the Olympic basketball documentary34:00 – Navigating confidence in a male-dominated industry37:30 – Advice to women entering sports filmmaking41:00 – Why representation behind the camera matters44:00 – Final reflections + what’s next for SusanWhen 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