CHARLOTTE — Brian Burns stepped out of his locker room, and into a movie set.
Just inside the doorway of a previously industrial-looking space, blue lights beamed like lasers, and a host of cameras prepared to capture the cinematic scene.
Flashes of bright light coupled with Panthers’ logos and curated details for players created an atmosphere reminiscent of a major studio production or a rock concert. The Panthers were the stars of the day, posing, shouting, and shooting smiles toward the lenses as bass-heavy hip-hop music blared in the backdrop.
Behind Burns, a black spider web rotated on a blue screen as he reached down in front of a camera. The Panthers’ pass-rusher channeled his inner superhero as he replicated a pose from his childhood favorite, Spider-Man.
“That was the hardest background I’ve seen in a long time,” Burns said, clearly impressed. “It’s just amazing, all the things they can do with the Spider-Man thing. It’s pretty much a dream come true.”
“Spider-Burns” was one of the elements included in Carolina’s annual production day this year, when players rotated between photo and video sets. The content harvested over the four-day event will be seen throughout the season — on the scoreboard during games, during preseason broadcasts and television shows, and on the team’s social media channels. There are also the player introductions for network broadcasts, which are shared for use throughout the year.
And pulling it all together is, in fact, a production.
After Charlotte FC’s nationally broadcast game with New York Red Bulls on Saturday, June 11, four ESPN trucks rolled out of the production bay at Bank of America Stadium, and a crew came in to begin assembly of the sets. Ten workers arrived Saturday night at 9 p.m., and worked through the night until 5 a.m., hanging trusses and rigging and laying down the floor. After a four-hour break, another crew of 30 more workers came back for another 12-hour day to get it all ready, putting up lighting, an LED wall, and setting up the cameras and smoke machines to make it look the way it did. There were also camera sets and a green-screen room to capture footage beginning Monday morning, when players arrived.
There were around 50 people working Monday, many of them on the scene hours before defensive tackle Derrick Brown became the first player on the set at 6:15 a.m.
It’s a lot of logistics to get to the point players can go station-to-station in full uniform (with the team’s PR department instrumental in keeping things moving on schedule), but being part of such a scene also leaves room for some wide-eyed wonder, with a few players capturing some behind-the-scenes footage for themselves.
“It can be kind of a drag getting everything set up and getting everyone in the right place,” senior director of game presentation and production Mike Bonner said. “But once they’re in the room, they’re like kids again.”
Burns called this year’s production day the best of his career. As he heads into his fourth NFL season, Burns said he’s grown more comfortable being himself in front of the production day cameras, though he admitted to feeling some nerves before his first one in 2019.
But some rookies, like Charlotte native and first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu, appeared camera-ready in their first go-around, as Ekwonu showed off the “Ickey shuffle” and was smiling throughout the process.
A jovial atmosphere floated across the bay and adjoining rooms, which were transformed to include a traditional video studio, an area illuminated by LED light tubes, traditional photography sets for head shots, and the glowing blue laser light set for videos and photos.
Running backs Christian McCaffrey, Chuba Hubbard ,and D’Onta Foreman flexed between the LED lights. Defensive veterans Shaq Thompson, Jeremy Chinn, Donte Jackson, and Myles Hartsfield jumped in to hype each other up with roaring yells – a sound that echoed through the loading dock, startling people passing by.
Frankie Luvu danced for the camera. Taylor Moton spiked a football, as he has been known to do. Sam Darnold and Pat Elflein recreated the family photo from the “Step Brothers” movie poster. Burns linked up with Yetur Gross-Matos to show off a teammate handshake in front of the green screen – showing off personality to build the season’s in-game experiences.
“It takes you away from football for a minute just to have fun,” Burns said. “You show your personality on camera. It’s pretty cool, and it was really a dope set that they did in the loading dock area.”
For second-year wideout Terrace Marshall Jr., the lights and camera flashes signal the season is growing closer. Just a few weeks separate the Panthers from training camp in Spartanburg, and the fun on a set means the work on the field is on the horizon.
“Personally, I like it,” Marshall said. “Because it’s letting me know that we’re getting ready for the season.”
1 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
2 / 114
DT – 71 – Phil Hoskins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
3 / 114
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
4 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
5 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
6 / 114
P – 6 – Johnny Hekker
LS – 44 – JJ Jansen
K – 5 – Zane Gonzalez
LS – 46 – Thomas Fletcher
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
7 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
8 / 114
C – 68 – Sam Tecklenburg
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
9 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
10 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
11 / 114
CB – 23 – Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
12 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
13 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
14 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
15 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
18 / 114
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
19 / 114
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
20 / 114
G – 60 – Pat Elflein
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
21 / 114
G – 60 – Pat Elflein
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
22 / 114
WR – 2 – DJ Moore
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
23 / 114
WR – 2 – DJ Moore
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
24 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
25 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
26 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
27 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
28 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
29 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
30 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
31 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
32 / 114
WR – 18 – Andre Roberts
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
33 / 114
WR – 18 – Andre Roberts
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
34 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
35 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
36 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
37 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
38 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
39 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
40 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
41 / 114
CB – 35 – Kalon Barnes
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
42 / 114
CB – 35 – Kalon Barnes
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
43 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
44 / 114
LB – 40 – Brandon Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
45 / 114
LB – 40 – Brandon Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
46 / 114
DE – 98 – Marquis Haynes Sr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
47 / 114
OL – 64 – Cade Mays
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
48 / 114
OL – 64 – Cade Mays
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
49 / 114
T – 70 – Brady Christensen
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
50 / 114
WR – 88 – Terrace Marshall Jr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
51 / 114
WR – 88 – Terrace Marshall Jr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
52 / 114
T – 70 – Brady Christensen
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
53 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
54 / 114
WR – 12 – Shi Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
55 / 114
DE – 46 – Amaré Barno
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
56 / 114
CB – 36 – Madre Harper
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
57 / 114
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
58 / 114
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
60 / 114
G – 63 – Austin Corbett
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
61 / 114
WR – 3 – Robbie Anderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
62 / 114
WR – 3 – Robbie Anderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
63 / 114
WR – 16 – Brandon Zylstra
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
64 / 114
CB – 24 – CJ Henderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
65 / 114
G – 63 – Austin Corbett
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
66 / 114
CB – 24 – CJ Henderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
67 / 114
DT – 93 – Bravvion Roy
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
68 / 114
C/G – 56 – Bradley Bozeman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
69 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
70 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
71 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
72 / 114
DE – 97 – Yetur Gross-Matos
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
73 / 114
DE – 97 – Yetur Gross-Matos
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
74 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
75 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
76 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
77 / 114
DT – 99 – Matt Loannidis
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
78 / 114
DT – 99 – Matt Loannidis
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
79 / 114
CB – 8 – Jaycee Horn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
80 / 114
G – 65 – Dennis Daley
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
81 / 114
CB – 8 – Jaycee Horn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
82 / 114
LB – 49 – Frankie Luvu
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
83 / 114
CB – 29 – Rashaan Melvin
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
84 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
85 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
86 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
87 / 114
RB – 41 – Spencer Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
88 / 114
DT – 95 – Derrick Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
89 / 114
DE – 92 – Darryl Johnson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
90 / 114
DE – 92 – Darryl Johnson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
91 / 114
DT – 48 – Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
92 / 114
DT – 48 – Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
93 / 114
DE – 96 – Austin Larkin
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
94 / 114
DT – 95 – Derrick Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
95 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
96 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
97 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
98 / 114
T – 72 – Taylor Moton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
99 / 114
T – 72 – Taylor Moton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
100 / 114
TE – 82 – Tommy Tremble
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
101 / 114
TE – 82 – Tommy Tremble
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
102 / 114
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
103 / 114
WR – 17 – Rashard Higgins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
104 / 114
WR – 17 – Rashard Higgins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
105 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
106 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
107 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
108 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
109 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
110 / 114
G – 73 – Michael Jordan
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
111 / 114
G – 73 – Michael Jordan
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
112 / 114
S – 42 – Sam Franklin Sr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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TE – 80 – Ian Thomas
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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TE – 80 – Ian Thomas
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
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