Behind the Scenes with Simone Biles: A Snapshot of an Unforgettable Shoot
When an out-of-state production company brought us in to film short pieces for an upcoming documentary on Simone Biles, we knew the margin for error was basically nonexistent. The entire pre-production process had to happen over Zoom, and once shoot day arrived, Simone was only available for about 90 minutes. That meant every detail had to be locked before she ever stepped on set.
With a schedule that tight, prep was everything. We brought in extra lighting and sound crew, built out a detailed stage plot, and storyboarded the key shots in advance. There was no time to figure things out in the moment. The plan was simple: get in, move fast, and make it look great.
One of the more fun challenges came from a shot the production company wanted of Simone filming herself selfie-style with youth gymnasts behind her. The original idea was to use a phone, but we wanted the shot to still feel casual without sacrificing image quality. So we rigged one of our smaller cinema cameras with a handle setup that gave it the same feel as a phone. On camera, it looked natural. Technically, it held up way better.
What stood out most, though, was Simone herself. She was relaxed, helpful, and completely unpretentious. At one point, someone mentioned that a large fan needed to be shut off because of audio noise. Simone immediately ran over and turned it off herself. Since we were filming in her gym, she knew exactly where everything was. It was a small moment, but it said a lot about who she is.
The location added another layer to the shoot. Being inside Simone’s gym, a place known around the world by athletes who come there to train, made the whole thing feel even bigger. It was not just another set. It was a space built around discipline, repetition, and excellence.
Then, just like that, it was over. The shoot moved fast, everyone stayed locked in, and the whole thing came together with the kind of rhythm you hope for but do not always get. The client was happy, the footage looked strong, and our team walked away knowing we pulled off something special in a very small window.
Working with Simone Biles was a reminder of what solid prep and a good team can do. Tight timeline, high expectations, no wasted movement. Exactly the kind of challenge we like.
