By: Kris Woods, Director of The Main Event: Mobile Mardi Gras
Behind the Scenes—Capturing Mobile’s Mardi Gras: A Director’s Reflection
Producing content for events like Mobile’s historic Mardi Gras isn’t just about getting the perfect shot—it’s about telling the stories that lie beneath the surface. When Odyssey Studios approached Mobile to create a unique micro-doc, capturing this incredible celebration, we wanted to deliver something fittingly original. Enter a multi-format concept, both high-energy doc paired with a podcast hosted by the indomitable J Damany Daniel and Amon Focus. Obviously, producing two completely separate pieces of media, along with social media content, all in the chaos of Mardi Gras, presented some unique challenges.
But before I jump into the challenges and our solutions, let me tell you why we chose Mobile’s Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras in Mobile is more than parades and beads. It’s a deep, cultural experience rooted in the city’s history and traditions. We knew our job wasn’t just to film the floats, but to connect viewers to the people and stories behind them. To do this, we selected locations like the beautiful, historic churches and quieter streets, which gave us the perfect backdrop for those intimate podcast moments. It wasn’t just about showing the celebration—it was about giving the audience a glimpse into the heartbeat of Mobile’s Mardi Gras.
When you’re juggling both a video and podcast, atmosphere is everything. While the parades made for great visual content, we needed spaces that allowed for deeper conversations. Finding that balance—capturing the excitement of the event without drowning out the dialogue—was one of the main challenges. By planning around the parade schedule and downtime, we found those perfect pockets of calm amidst the festivities where we could record podcast segments.
Okay, into the nitty gritty.
- Staying Flexible
- No shoot ever goes exactly as planned, especially at an event like this. But being able to adapt was key to making sure we captured everything we needed. Sometimes, the best moments happened when we weren’t even looking for them—a street performer, a quick interview with a local vendor, or the sound of the crowd cheering as we navigated through the streets. Those moments are what made this project so special.
- Maintaining Crew Energy
- The energy of our crew kept the project moving. Despite the tight schedules and crowded streets, we found ways to keep things fun and light-hearted. Everyone brought their A-game, and that energy translated into the final product. We shot some of our most memorable podcast footage in the peaceful atmosphere of an old church, right after wrapping up a dynamic, visually rich segment on the streets of Mobile.
- Limited Timing And Space
- When you’re shooting for multiple outputs, time and space become your biggest obstacles. We had to plan carefully to ensure that both the video and podcast had the right settings. It was tricky finding a spot that worked for both media, especially when we were on a tight schedule. But by staying flexible and using what we had, we made it work. Sometimes, it meant getting creative—turning what seemed like a challenge into an opportunity.
- Focusing On Story Over Spectacle
- Mardi Gras is a visual feast, but what stood out was the emotional connection we were able to capture. The real story wasn’t just in the parades or the floats—it was in the personal moments, the traditions, and the people we met. It was this connection that made our final product feel authentic and relatable, resonating beyond the event itself.
What other DMOs can learn: For other DMOs looking to highlight their events, find those human stories. That’s what humans connect with. And if you’re going to tell the story in multiple formats, it’s critical to plan for each one from the start. Each will present its own unique challenges, so coming up with a playbook before you hit record is crucial. And lastly, whether it’s a documentary, series, long or short form, social or a podcast, finding the right production partner to make the process seamlessly is essential.
In the end, the Mobile Mardi Gras project turned out better than we could have hoped for. By balancing atmosphere, content, and storytelling, we were able to deliver a dynamic video, integrated social content and a full podcast, all connecting potential travelers to the true spirit of the event. It’s projects like this that remind me why I love what I do—because at the core of every celebration is a story just waiting to be told.