CBS Sports' "CROWN": A Proud Cinematography Moment

Hey, what's up, guys? Marcos here. Today, I want to talk to you about a proud moment for me that really spoke to why I got into this business and wanted to do things that had meaning. This story is about finding my cinematography moment of purpose.

The other day, I spoke to someone about my favorite or maybe proudest moment in my career as a cinematographer. Although I still have a lot of my career ahead of me, it made me stop and think.

"You know what," I said to my friend. I think it has to be CROWN." When CBS Sports contacted me and asked if I wanted to be on the project, I immediately said yes. You must be ready to drop everything when an opportunity like this arises.

The pride comes from seeing it on TV and knowing it's on a respected network like CBS Sports. For me, the project is validating from all the hard work I put into it (for sure), but it also felt good to be part of a name everyone recognizes with CBS Sports. But I also had the chance to help the producer set the look for many of the interviews, giving them a modern, cinematic feel.

I remember my first meeting with the director, Sarah Kazadi-Ndoye. She was very clear about wanting a specific style—a modern cinematic look. She had ideas and references, but what was really rewarding for me was helping her bring her vision to life. Together, we talked about lighting, angles, etc., and I think it was our creative collaboration that helped her translate those ideas into reality—setting the blueprint for the rest of the shoots.

One of my favourite interviews to shoot was with Haley Jones, a women's basketball star at Stanford. It was local, so I had all my gear and the time to craft a beautiful, cinematic image. When working with high-profile individuals, you often have a very tight schedule. You don't always get the luxury of time to perfect the shot, so this one stands out for me.

Seeing Crown resonate with audiences and critics alike was incredibly fulfilling. The project even got nominated for an Emmy (Outstanding Edited Special), a huge recognition. (Sarah recently texted me about the nomination, and moments like these make all the hard work worth it.)

Looking back, CROWN stands out as one of the most rewarding projects of my career. It reaffirmed my dedication to documentary film and production and my passion for telling stories. Each project I take on is a new opportunity to explore, learn, and share compelling narratives through the art of visual storytelling.

Thanks for reading and for all your support. If you want to see more of my work or collaborate on a project, please explore my portfolio or email me to connect.

For those of you who don’t know, I work on all kinds of products, from documentaries to commercial and corporate cinematography. For most, I’ve been the director of photography for projects—from San Francisco to Los Angeles, New York and beyond. I’m often picked up by London-based production companies to do the work if they need help in the States (as they say in the UK).

Every project allows me to tell different stories from different perspectives, and I’m always excited to see where the next proejct will take me.

More updates soon.

Cheers! M.