Love At First Spike

Love At First Spike
Ivan Andrew Payawal | 2025
Nominee 54th International Emmy Awards in the Kids: Live Action category

A former basketball team captain finds himself in a tough situation as he is forced to join the school’s boys’ volleyball varsity team composed of queer members.

Cinematographer’s Notes:
I said yes to Ivan Andrew Payawal almost immediately, having built a long working relationship with him over the years. Love at First Spike was my first time shooting a sports series, and it challenged me to find a visual language that could capture both the physical intensity of volleyball and the more intimate struggles of growing up, belonging, and discovering yourself through the eyes of others. Shooting on a two-camera Ronin setup throughout the series demanded a great deal of technical coordination, especially with the limitations of a tight budget, but at its heart, this was a story I deeply wanted to tell. Queer love stories have always held a special place in my heart, and I was drawn to the way the series explored love, acceptance, and the complicated ways we come to understand one another.