Hawks Studios Recaps Atlanta's Dramatic 2021 Playoff Run With New Digital Series The three-episode series on YouTube debuted in late October By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor
Monday, November 8, 2021 - 11:36 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The Atlanta Hawks dazzled the National Basketball Association with a trip to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals after upset victories over the No. 4 New York Knicks and top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. During this five-week span, players cemented themselves as citywide legends, and Hawks Studios, the franchise's award-winning in-house creative team, were busy producing the eventual Hawks All-Access Playoffs 2021 three-episode digital series that chronicled the team's surprising postseason run.
When we went into the playoffs, says Matt Bunting, SVP/executive director, Hawks Studios, Atlanta Hawks, we never knew where this series was going to go. If you're a fan of the Hawks, you're going to want to see a little more about what's happening behind the scenes with the team, and we were lucky enough to work with guys with great personalities.
Planning Stages: Team's Resurgence Prompts Ideas for Content At the 2021 NBA All-Star break in early March, the Atlanta Hawks were in an undesirable spot in the standings. The club sat in 11th place with a sub-.500 record at 16-20, a full three places off the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and had dismissed then-head coach Lloyd Pierce three days before the midseason exhibition game. They were at a crossroads: continue on their path as a younger team on the way to maturity or make the leap to becoming a squad that could fight for a postseason berth. The organization decided to promote then-assistant coach Nate McMillan to head coach before the start of the season's second half, and at that moment, the Hawks found a new identity.
We went on an eight-game winning streak, says Kara Spierto, producer/editor, Hawks Studios, Atlanta Hawks. You could see a change in the team. The word Believe became a part of the team, and, as a content team, we tried to build off that.
Atlanta Hawks' Kara Spierto worked on the sidelines at the Wells Fargo Center during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The rejuvenated team had some sparkling moments down the stretch, including a 42-point performance on 60% shooting by Trae Young in a 120-108 home win over the Chicago Bulls and winning seven of the last eight games of the regular season. The Hawks seemingly became an entirely new team in the second half: going 25-11 and surging up to fifth seed for the franchise's 47th playoff appearance, the fourth-most in league history. Hawks fans saw a lot of what was occurring on the floor, but not many knew the chemistry and camaraderie of the team off it. That's when Spierto found the inspiration and general concept of the series.
I knew I wanted to shoot as much as I could at every practice because they have so much fun, she says. That's what made the story of this team. [The Hawks] weren't in talks like one of the top teams, and they always played with the mentality of having to prove something every time. We wanted to tell that story of who these guys are off the court.
Postseason Mode: Series Takes Shape as Schedule Shifts to Playoffs During the playoffs, the Hawks faced the challenge of defeating the New York Knicks, a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since 2013. From a production perspective, the crew had an idea of what they wanted to capture behind closed doors but weren't sure what to expect of the on-court performance in the first round.
You never know when history is going to happen, adds Bunting. You record everything and hope that the excitement continues to build upon itself. The first series became more important when there was a second series, the second became more important when there was a third, and so on. The most exciting part was what started as Get something [for the series]' turned into Wow, there's a real story brewing here.'
The only Hawks Studios crew member allowed to travel with the team because of COVID rules, Kara Spierto records Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela boarding the team plane.
The excitement was heightened when the Hawks went into the hostile environment of Madison Square Garden - the Knicks announced that they would have the largest capacity of the playoffs at the time, with 15,000 fans - and won Game 1 with a last-second, game-winning floater by their talisman. After dropping Game 2 in New York, the Hawks rattled off three straight victories, including a series-clinching 14-point road win in Game 5. This series was recapped in the 40-minute-long Episode 1.
The journey took the Hawks to another formidable place to play: Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. With notable names like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris, there were lofty expectations for the 76ers to make a deep run towards a possible appearance in the NBA Finals. The Hawks ultimately spoiled the party for the City of Brotherly Love in seven games, but the team demonstrated its toughness at a critical moment in Game 5 on the road.
We were down 22 points [near the end of the third quarter], Spierto explains, but I'd go to our huddle, and the guys were fine. We never felt like we were out of a game, and that personified this team.
Episode 2 showcases the Hawks' efforts against Philadelphia. The Eastern Conference Finals against the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks was the focus of Episode 3, but the Hawks' magical season came to an end at home in Game 6.
Overcoming Obstacles: Staff Sidesteps COVID, Travel Restrictions to Gather Content Even though the COVID-19 pandemic was in a better place at the beginning of the playoffs in late May than at
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Hawks Studios Recaps Atlanta's Dramatic 2021 Playoff Run With New Digital Series The three-episode series on YouTube debuted in late October By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor 
