[3][4] In 2019, he directed The Royal,[5] the true story of Wilkie Mays Aikens, touted from a young age as the next Reggie Jackson, had his career quickly turn disastrous when he fell into drug abuse and was ultimately sentenced to the longest prison time ever given to a professional athlete.

[6][7] He also co-wrote the story and directed Totem, a supernatural horror film was released by Blumhouse Productions for HBO/Cinemax on October 31, 2017.

[10] Sarmiento wrote and directed the "D is for Dogfight" segment of The ABCs of Death, an anthology horror film.

[11][12] In the New York Times review of The ABCs of Death it was stated, "None, however, linger like “D Is for Dogfight,” a mesmeric, slow-motion ballet of brutality so distressingly realistic that you may never be able to name a dog Buddy again.

"[15] Marcel has also written screenplays and adaptations for Gold Circle Films [1] and co-wrote the book The Modern Con Man: How to Get Something for Nothing.