Director of Photography | Paramount
This Story Matters
Chicago isn’t a backdrop in The Chi—it’s a living system. Streets, kitchens, classrooms, and corner stores carry memory. Over seven seasons, the series has earned its place by staying close to lived experience, letting intimacy and contradiction coexist.
This is prestige television built on continuity: of character, of community, of visual language. Returning audiences don’t just watch The Chi—they recognize it. The work asks for restraint, empathy, and an eye that understands how quiet moments accumulate into legacy.
The Work
I joined The Chi as a cinematographer on a mature, deeply trusted series—one with an established visual grammar and a loyal audience. My role was to honor that grammar while subtly evolving it: refining texture, sharpening emotional focus, and supporting a story engine designed to run season after season.
The camera privileges proximity over spectacle. Light is motivated by place—windows, street spill, practicals—so scenes feel found rather than staged. The goal is continuity with momentum: visuals that feel inevitable, not imposed.
The Experience
Watching The Chi should feel like being welcomed into a room you already know—then realizing something has shifted.
The experience is grounded, human, and emotionally legible - attributes that create trust, and trust is what allows the series to go deeper with each returning season.
Impact & Reach
Now in its seventh season, The Chi stands as one of contemporary television’s most durable dramas—an ensemble series with cultural resonance and sustained viewership. Its longevity is proof of audience connection and creative stewardship.
As a flagship credit, The Chi represents long-form storytelling at scale: a show that evolves without losing itself, reaching viewers who come back not for novelty, but for recognition.
Reflection
Working on a series with this kind of history sharpens discipline. You learn when to push—and when not to. You learn that authorship in long-running television is cumulative: small, precise choices repeated with care.
The Chi reaffirmed a core belief in my practice—cinematography isn’t about leaving a mark. It’s about holding a line, protecting emotional truth, and letting the work endure.
Our Team at a glance
Director Malakai, Writers, Whitney Beckwith & Jewel Coronel, Camera Operator Chris Dame, Gary Malouf, 1st AC Kate Moss, Hunter Whelan, Key Grip Ryan Nelson, Gaffer Jeremy Graham