As the moon rose high over Atlanta, background actors milled about in rust-colored elephant bell bottoms and Qiana shirts. It had been a long and productive day, as the National Geographic series Genius: Aretha shot the sixth episode in which the Queen of Soul records the “Amazing Grace” live album.

In a little while, it would be Friday, March 13, and the pandemic would shutter much of the country, including this production. However, on this warm night as executive producer and director Anthony Hemingway leaned against a 1972 Ford Gran Torino, no one knew that yet.

Hemingway began the day reflecting on the anthology series, which each season focuses on a genius who changed the world, first Einstein, then