The Harlem Globetrotters represent a globally recognized basketball entertainment team, known for combining performance, sport, and cultural touring. Their series Secrets of the City moves them out of stadiums and into real cities. Each episode is built around real interactions, local food, and everyday life.
This case study focuses on the Secrets of the City Limón episode, filmed in Costa Rica. The Caribbean coast brings a strong Afro-Caribbean culture that runs through everything including food, music, language, and daily rhythm. On top of that, the shoot landed during the Limón Carnival, which pushed the city into full motion and made planning a moving target.
Storytailors supported the entire production locally. We were the link between the international crew and the reality on the ground. We connected the crew with local communities, handled logistics in real time, and made sure local access didn’t slow down filming in Costa Rica.
Working on the ground in Limón
Our team provided full production support locally. The goal was to keep everything simple and workable while giving the international crew access to real spaces and people.
Limón is not a controlled environment. You deal with distance, weather, and availability all at once. Because of that, we focused on preparation and flexibility. We approached this through preparation and flexibility, working with our trusted local producers to lock locations, secure permits, and connect with contributors ahead of the shoot.
Once filming started, we adjusted constantly. Plans changed based on timing, traffic, and conditions on the ground. We kept the production moving without slowing the crew down.
Behind the scenes: what didn’t go as planned
The main pressure came from time and access.
- Short schedule: 2–3 shoot days to cover 8 segments
- Festival conditions: the Limón Carnival meant crowds, noise, and no control over movement
- Weather and distances: coastal rain and travel times required constant adjustment
How we managed a fast-turn shoot
The timeline was tight. The production had 2–3 days to capture 8 different segments across multiple locations.
We structured the shoot to reduce downtime. Locations were grouped by area, transport was planned to avoid backtracking, and contributors were scheduled with flexibility in mind. Still, no day followed the original plan fully.
We stayed in constant coordination with our crew to adjust timing and sequence. When one segment shifted, the next one moved with it. This kept the production efficient without forcing the schedule.
Conclusion
The Secrets of the City Limón episode shows how we work at Storytailors when conditions move fast and control is limited.
We focus on access, not structure. We keep crews small, coordination local, and planning flexible. This approach allowed the production to stay close to real life in Costa Rica and Limón, while following the Harlem Globetrotters through a city that never really slows down. Filming in Costa Rica shaped every decision on the ground.
