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- calendar_today October 22, 2026
Derrick Rose Transitions from Basketball to Film
After retirement from the NBA in 2024, former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose is forging a new path as a filmmaker. Less than two years after launching a pop-up floral business, Rose is now executive producer of the narrative feature 'Three Colors: Pan-African', which recently screened at the Chicago International Film Festival.
'Three Colors: Pan-African' Explores Black Experiences
Directed by Elijah Davis, Tyler Ocasio Holmes, and Allison A. Waite, 'Three Colors: Pan-African' is a three-part anthology film that examines diverse aspects of Black life. The stories, named for each color of the Pan-African flag, include a college football star dealing with injury, an immigrant at risk of deportation, and a TV actor navigating career pressures. The cast features Loretta Devine and Bashir Salahuddin, with Steppenwolf Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Davis and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney also serving as executive producers.
Derrick Rose's Evolving Career in Filmmaking
This film adds to Derrick Rose's filmmaking portfolio, following his executive production of the 2021 documentary 'Punch 9 for Harold Washington' and the 2019 film 'Pooh: The Derrick Rose Story.' Rose also directed the short film 'Becoming a Rose'. He said he aims to continue telling stories about Black culture and history, while expanding other ventures such as Rose's Flower Shop.
"Basketball never defined me, even though people thought it did," said Rose, reflecting on his transition to film and business at age 38.
Collaboration and Crowdfunding Behind the Film
Elijah Davis, a Chicago native and son of longtime NBA referee Marc Davis, brought Rose onto the project through family connections. The filmmakers initially crowdfunded the budget to create one segment, using it as proof of concept to attract investors. With sponsorship from Film Independent, the project gained non-profit status, enabling further investment, including Rose's support.
"We wanted to bring together a large section of Black people who came from a bunch of different backgrounds, so that they could all put their own stamp onto the film," said Davis.
Personal Connections to the Film's Stories
Rose said he related closely to the anthology's stories, particularly "Red: Black Men Don’t Cry," centered on an athlete coping with expectations and injury, mirroring Rose's own career challenges. He also identified with "Green: Meet the Greens,” in which a TV actor is pressured to play a negative stereotype for financial gain—a situation Rose compared to his own decision-making around endorsements.
"The money coerces you. It makes you go against your morals and your integrity. Some people are cool with playing the game that way, but there’s certain things that I turned down that I just wasn’t cool with," Rose shared.
Championing Black Stories and Filmmakers
'Three Colors: Pan-African' has received awards at the Slamdance Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival, and the creators are seeking national distribution. Rose and his collaborators, including directors and actor Bashir Salahuddin, emphasized the importance of thoughtful storytelling in black experience film and the responsibility of black filmmakers. Rose expressed interest in further documenting Black history and culture, including the lives of African emperors, NBA players post career, and lesser-known Black visual artists.
"Those are stories that I love to figure out. I love the untold stories," Rose said, affirming his commitment to continuing his work in documentary production and film anthology formats.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com.
