CU Buffs
Deion Sanders' Amazon Prime series being shot on Colorado's campus
If you wanted to see the continuation of 'Coach Prime' on Amazon, it's now a reality at the University of Colorado. The SMAC Entertainment group based in Los Angeles was recently on campus shooting scenes for a docuseries syndicated through the major streaming provider.
Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano and Sanders’ business manager, Constance Schwartz-Morini, the co-founder of SMAC Productions, entered into a contract to feature Sanders and the Buffs football program, according to USA TODAY. The series will give an unprecedented look into Coach Prime's first year in Boulder but will be produced differently from past seasons at Jackson State.
"The access and participation from the school and the students will showcase real-time moments of turning a football program around while bringing global exposure to the University of Colorado," a rep from SMAC told USA TODAY.
With Sanders, CU has experienced an uptick of media involvement, along with record-breaking ticket and merchandise sales. It's part of the 'Prime Effect' that has hit campus and beyond prior to the start of the season. The trio of Well Off Media, Reach the People, and Thee Pregame Show have covered the Buffs as a lead up to the opener with TCU. However, the Prime feature will be a more "manufactured look and less raw" from a production standpoint.
CU's athletic department will have weekly meetings with SMAC productions to ensure both sides are being represented fairly. It's more for compliance with NCAA rules and laws, which aren't expected to come into play that often.
The contract for the docuseries states "Colorado has the right to request removal of any footage that a reasonable person would deem portrays CU, its students, faculty, and/or staff in an extremely negative manner and is damaging to the value of the university brand." DiStefano and CU also have the option to extend production past the end of 2023, if they deem the series is successful in representing the university.
Overall, it is a great collaboration for the Sanders family, CU athletics, and SMAC Entertainment, which gives fans an ultimate value.
Colorado ended the 2022 football season with a 1-11 record. Sanders took the world by storm after he left Jackson State in December of last year. A sold-out CU Black-Gold Spring Game with an ESPN broadcast, along with a full season ticket sell out (students include) for the first time since 1996.
Sanders' FBS debut comes outside his old stomping ground in Fort Worth, Texas vs. 17th-ranked TCU on Sept. 2. The first of a back-to-back feature on FOX's Big Noon Saturday.