Regional Filmmakers Spotlight:
BLUE CHIPPERS: NEXT MAN UP
7 p.m. April 17
This powerful documentary explores the high-stakes world of high school and college athletics. It examines the pressures young athletes face, from the relentless competition to the ever-present possibility of injury or losing a spot to the "next man up." The film shines a light on the realities of student-athletes, who are often viewed as future professional stars but may end up grappling with the harsh transition from the spotlight of college sports to "regular life." The film features all-pro running back Marshawn Lynch, Senator Corey Booker, and Hall of Fame coach Pete Richardson. Documentary, 1hr 42min., PG.
Our Regional Filmmakers Spotlight series showcases emerging and talented independent filmmakers from Louisiana and the South. It also highlights the growth of Louisiana’s indigenous independent film industry. The screening will be held in Theater 1, RFC’s 124-seat capacity theater and followed by a panel discussion with Filmmakers Derek Dark & Preston Dark and Executive Producer Jeremiah Gray.
About the Filmmakers
The Dark Brothers
Derek and Preston Dark are an identical twin-director duo from Houma, LA, who graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. During their junior year at ULM, they bought their first camera and established their production company, Dark Films.
Since then, the brothers have been in business for over 10 years, producing and directing more than 100 music videos, commercials, and films, working with artists like NBA YoungBoy, Flo Rida, Dear Silas, Ying Yang Twins, Aha Gazelle, and Mista Cain, as well as national brands like Axel Audio, Empire Records, Atlantic Records, Universal Records, RCA, Netflix and Patagonia.
In 2017, Dark Films collaborated with director Edward Worthy and produced a short film called Crescent, which won the best short narrative film at the 2018 Orlando Urban Film Festival. The short film has been screened in over 15 film festivals to this date.
In 2020, the brothers directed their feature film debut, Tryna Come Up with it’s success leading to the release of the second installment, Tryna Come Up 2 in November of 2022. In 2024, the brothers released the groundbreaking documentary, BlueChippers: Next Man Up. Currently, the brothers are developing BlueChippers docuseries, which is planned for release in the Spring of 2026.