Andre Jackson is the producer and director of the documentary Beyond Banners which follows sixty years of Gwynn Park High School basketball, a powerhouse public school program in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The doc begins as the story of one basketball program and grows into an examination of what is happening to high school sports on a national level. As school choice, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, and unrestricted transfers change high school sports, the film asks what communities lose when the players who once carried their traditions leave and go elsewhere.
On this episode Mike & Andre discuss the making of Beyond Banners, a documentary about Gwynn Park High School’s historic basketball program and its impact on the surrounding community. Director Andre Jackson, a former Gwynn Park player, explains how a conversation in a barber shop inspired him to tell the story of the school’s championships, player development, and father-son coaching legacy. He discusses the challenges of becoming a first-time filmmaker, gathering archival footage, shaping the story in the editing room, building a professional crew, and recovering from a serious health scare during production. The conversation also examines how NIL, AAU basketball, private schools, and player transfers are changing the landscape of public-school basketball and weakening long-standing community connections. Beyond Banners is a reflection on legacy, loyalty, teamwork, and the importance of preserving the community-centered culture that helped generations of athletes thrive.
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Listen and learn on this episode with Andre Jackson, the producer and director of the documentary Beyond Banners.
Website - https://beyondbannersdocumentary.com/
Email - beyondbannersdoc@gmail.com
Instagram - @beyondbannersdocumentary
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