The 2025 sports documentary Elway began streaming on Netflix on December 22, edited by MakeMake’s Carlos Haynes.
The documentary chronicles the legendary career of NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, told in his own words and centered on his iconic run as quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Fittingly, the film had its world premiere at last year’s Denver Film Festival, where it closed the event and received a standing ovation from an audience of 1,500.
To celebrate the release, we sat down with Carlos to talk about Elway and his journey as an editor. Watch the full conversation below, and don’t miss Elway, now streaming on Netflix.
How long have you been editing?
I’ve been editing on and off for about 20 years, mixed in with some writing and producing. I started as a commercial editor in Chicago, cutting my teeth on sports brands like Gatorade and Wilson. TV and film were always my goal and when I moved to LA I was fortunate to jump on board the streaming revolution.
What is your favorite scene from the ELWAY documentary?
The opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers really sets the tone for the film. Elway comes in a bright eyed rookie and immediately gets the innocence knocked out of him. This sequence also highlights the depth of our archival footage, and how we’re about to see Elway captured with an intimacy you’ve never seen before.
What’s your favorite part of being an editor?
As an editor there is nothing more fulfilling than breaking a story in ways the filmmakers did not originally intend. Documentaries are often found in the edit and sometimes you end up “writing” the film along side the director. Creating unexpected meaning while you begin to juxtapose words and images is, chef’s kiss…
What is your dream project?
I’d love to give the Elway treatment to another iconic sports figures - a non-sports “sports” movie that captures the duality of someone whose public and private life are at odds; where the journey is about finding yourself in a world that has mythologized you.
