One of the best qualities of ESPN is the “30 for 30” documentaries that cover a wide range of topics. Another documentary is in the works that will highlight the late Stuart Scott.
Scott, who was born in Chicago but moved as a child with his family to Winston-Salem, is a graduate of Reynolds High School and the University of North Carolina. He died of cancer at age 49 in 2015, but his courage and determination during that fight is something that a lot of people remember.
ESPN Films will detail Scott’s life as a trailblazing broadcaster at the network, one who not only broke the mold but became his own brand and helped bring hip-hop and Black culture into the sports media landscape.
“Stuart Scott transcended broadcasting, journalism, sports and culture in ways that we’re only beginning to really understand and appreciate now,” said Andre Gaines, the film’s director in a news release. “He made his mark on so many people, especially young Black men, and his legend has only grown since his passing.”
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Beyond the debate his style ignited, he began to reach new audiences who saw their own experiences in his point of view. The story chronicles his rise to fame at ESPN, his impact on media and culture, and the personal pain of divorce and the battle with cancer. Through a vast collection of family photos and archival videos, along with the voices of Scott’s daughters, Taelor and Syndi, the film serves as a touching tribute to a life well lived, and culture well-served.
“The opportunity I’ve had now to examine his life, visit his home, get to know his daughters Taelor and Sydni, and understand how incredibly vast and rich a life Stuart lived, I can only hope that audiences find the same catharsis I’ve already experienced in making this film,” Gaines said.
Scott, a 1983 graduate of Reynolds, had a 21-year run at ESPN. He ran track and played football at Reynolds before attending North Carolina and becoming interested in broadcasting.
After he was diagnosed with cancer, he fought it in a public way and did so with a positive viewpoint. He remained a beloved figure in sports media and was given the Jimmy V. Award for Perseverance at the ESPY Awards in 2014.
“We pride ourselves on telling the stories of true originals who changed the world, and Stuart epitomized that in so many ways,” said Marsha Cooke, who is vice president and executive producer of ESPN Films. “This film is the perfect tribute to a man who touched lives in front of and behind the camera … The film will be Stuart through and through—funny, smart, edgy, touching, and transformational.”