Winston Salem Times

The documentary film "Hoop Dreams," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994, continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest sports films ever made. In 2007, the International Documentary Association named it the best documentary of all time. Its 30th anniversary has been acknowledged by major publications like The New York Times, Axios, and Collider.

Peter Gilbert, who was both producer and cinematographer for "Hoop Dreams," joined Wake Forest University's Documentary Film Program in 2011 as a creative director and outreach professor of practice. Reflecting on the making of "Hoop Dreams," Gilbert noted how they broke conventional rules: “In the 1990s, doc filmmakers were like flies on the wall. Most people make films and they walk away... We were there for the long run.” Initially intended to be a short summer project about street basketball, the film evolved into a seven-year journey with over 300 hours of footage.

Gilbert's teaching at Wake Forest emphasizes ethics in documentary filmmaking. He said, “When you’re making a film, ask: What’s the right thing to put in a film? How far can you go? How do you discuss a film with your participants?” He underscores that filmmakers are tasked with protecting their subjects' legacies.

The themes explored in "Hoop Dreams" remain relevant today. According to Gilbert, many young athletes pursue sports as a means to escape poverty, while families often have their aspirations tied up in these dreams. However, he notes that success is uncertain: “The chances of any kid in a revenue sport going on to fame and fortune are incredibly slim.”

Gilbert also discussed how Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals have shifted power dynamics for college athletes compared to when "Hoop Dreams" was filmed. Today’s student-athletes have more options if scholarships change due to new opportunities provided by NIL agreements.