Podtalk: ‘Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story’ at Midwest Independent Film Fest on May 7, 2019

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CHICAGO – One of the most talked about Chicago sports stories of the last ten years has been Derrick Rose, the NBA stand out who was drafted to his hometown Bulls as the second coming of Michael Jordan in 2008, and was plagued by bad luck injuries and playing time limits that couldn’t satisfy the rabid fan base and media that demanded accountability. The Theatrical Premiere of “Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story” will take place at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on May 7th, 2019. Click here for tickets and details.

Directed by first time feature filmmaker Scott Diener, who took material that Derrick Rose’s team had prepared and expanded upon it, “Pooh” (which was Rose’s childhood nickname) is an almost perfect Chicago story of a desperately poor kid from Englewood, one of the city’s roughest neighborhoods, sticking with his game and roots all the way to the Chicago Bulls. Rose’s story is one of triumphs and misunderstandings – especially regarding his injuries – fueled by an intense sports media in Chicago and his own inability to handle the spotlight. Featuring many Chicago media pundits of the era, the film is personal, comprehensive and a redemption of sorts for the controversial D Rose.

May 7th, 2019, at the Midwest Independent Film Festival
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com and Stadium

The Midwest Independent Film Festival also features a prescreening “Producer’s Panel,” and the May 7th edition is an introduction of sorts. The new Director of the Illinois Film Office, Peter Hawley, will sit down and outline his plans for the growing film industry in the Land of Lincoln. This is part of an entire evening of entertainment, culminating in an after-party where the audience can network with the filmmakers.

In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, director Scott Diener of “Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story” outlines his intervention in the project and his perspective on Chicago neighborhoods like Rose’s Englewood.

In Part Two, Diener talks about the cultural divide of professional sports and where the game of basketball is most pure for the player.

The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been recognized by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com