This 24-minute documentary was made to accompany the DVD release of the 2004 movie, "Friday Night Lights." The video has clips from the film and interviews of the real players in later life. The author of the book the movie is based on offers comments - Buzz (H. G.) Bissinger.
Those interviewed include the principal players featured in the film from the 1988 Permian Panthers high school football team in Odessa, Texas. Brian Chavez, Mike Winchell, Don Billingsley and James "Boobie" Miles talk about the team and their relationships. Miles is especially poignant when he talks about his life coming to an end with his injury. He emphasizes how education was at least as important as football.
This documentary includes several of the cast talking about their roles and the characters they played. And, Billy Bob Thornton talks about the film and the story. But the real coach, Gary Gaines, isn't in this documentary. It seems strange since he stayed at the school and his team in 1989 went undefeated and won the state championship.
There is life after high school football, as the players form the past say. But what that life may be depends on more than football.
