Hard Knocks is a long-established HBO documentary series that follows a struggling NFL organization in the offseason. As a Michigan native, the Lions are my football team. With their long history of being a losing organization, it was only a matter of time before the show came to the Motor City. After bugging NFL Film's field operations enough, from air land and sea, I was invited to work on the 16th season as a field assistant.
On the field, I operated as a camera assistant. Partnered with 1 of 9 camera teams, my primary responsibility involved monitoring the wire of our subject to differentiate between content that was average, good, or must-see in the final cut. Beyond the field, I compiled and sent all team's camera notes to the post-producers to accelerate the editing process. Additionally, I supported the production managers through an array of tasks including shooting permits, vendor booking, vehicle rentals, document distribution, etc.
As my first run in sports media since working with Michigan State's basketball team, this was a breath of fresh air, yet completely exhausting at the same time. Between prep, production, and tear down, 55 days had gone by with only 3 days off. But that's the GRIT it takes to create the iconic week-by-week docu-series. I applaud NFL Film's production and creative leadership in making such an intense production cycle so enjoyable.
Key Takeaway: Persistence opens doors. The smallest gestures can lead to huge changes in your career trajectory and take you to cool ass places.
↓ See the Hard Knocks trailer and photos from this experience below ↓
