01
Friday Knights
Documentary producer / Media lead
An embedded documentary series following Lane Tech football through the season.
VIEW PROJECT ↗
MICHAEL SANDERS — SPORTS MEDIA DIRECTOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR / STRATEGIST
SPORTS STORIES
BUILT TO MOVE
I build cinematic sports stories, content systems, and brand platforms designed to earn attention and create long-term value.
VIEW SELECTED WORK →MICHAEL SANDERS / PORTFOLIO
SELECTED WORK
A selection of projects where I led storytelling, media, and production.
MORE THAN COOL FOOTAGE.
EVERY FRAME NEEDS A JOB.
The work is built to grow audience, strengthen brand equity, attract partners, document the journey, and create reusable media assets.
01 / DIRECTOR’S NOTES
STORY BEFORE SPECTACLE
The final score is only one part of a sports story. I look for what happened before the game, who carried the pressure, and which moments reveal the people behind the performance.
WHAT I DO
CAPABILITIES
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Define a point of view that makes every decision pull in the same direction.
SPORTS STORYTELLING
Turn competitive moments into narratives people want to carry forward.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Build production plans that protect the story from shoot to finish.
CONTENT STRATEGY
Create systems that keep teams focused and consistent.
BRAND SYSTEMS
Give visual identity the structure to stay recognizable.
MEDIA OPERATIONS
Build workflows that turn ambitious output into reliable delivery.
SERVICES
EDITING / POST-PRODUCTION
LONG-FORM / DOCUMENTARY
Shape interviews, scenes, and archive into a clear narrative.
SPORTS / ATHLETE STORIES
Build game, athlete, and episodic edits around character and stakes.
BRANDED / YOUTUBE
Edit for the audience, platform, and purpose of each release.
SHORT-FORM / SOCIAL
Find the strongest beats for concise vertical and social cuts.
WHITE-LABEL / OVERFLOW
Support production companies and agencies with remote editing and clean handoffs.
POST WORKFLOW / FINISHING
Organize footage, refine sound and color, manage revisions, and deliver masters.
ABOUT MICHAEL
DIRECTOR’S EYE.
OPERATOR’S MIND.
Michael Sanders is a Chicago-based storyteller, strategist, and media builder. Through DOPE VZN, he develops sports documentaries, athlete narratives, and event coverage. He also leads media for RecruitLook Hoops and shapes the creative world of Operation Basketball. His work connects story, production, post-production, and the systems that help teams deliver consistently.
START A CONVERSATION
LET’S BUILD THE NEXT BODY OF WORK.
For projects, post-production, consulting, or speaking and appearances, send a note with the scope, timeline, and what you need. Chicago-based and available for select work.
EMAIL MICHAEL →