Interview: 'Bygones' Director Angel McCoughtry On Basketball, Racism, & More

Bygones is a 26-minute-long short film that tells the story of Charissa who shares a special bond with her mentor JJ because of their love for basketball. And although the Black community scoffs at Charissa for fraternizing with a White guy, she ignores it all since she believes in coexistence. However, when Charissa learns about JJ’s involvement in an incident that shattered her family, her belief system is tested. I virtually sat down with the director of the short, and a professional basketball player at the WNBA as well as a 2-time Olympic gold medalist, Angel McCoughtry to talk about basketball, her filmmaking influences, and more.

Film Fugitives: How did you come up with the story for Bygones and how did it evolve over the course of making the short film?

Angel McCoughtry: The story for Bygones felt like it came straight from the heavens. It was one of those rare moments where an idea just hits you, and you know it’s something special. When inspiration like that comes, you have to move quickly—write it down, trust it, and build on it before it fades. From the moment the concept landed, I knew I had to bring it to life. The story evolved naturally as I began to develop the characters and themes more deeply, but that initial spark stayed at the core the entire time. Every step in the process—from script to screen—was about honoring that original vision and letting it grow.

FF: The movie switches back and forth between the past and present a lot. What was the editing process like? How did you ensure the emotional undercurrent wasn’t lost?

Angel: The editing process was very intentional, especially with the constant shifts between the past and present. We knew that the emotional core of the film hinged on the audience being able to follow these transitions without confusion. To keep the emotional undercurrent strong, we focused on building tension and curiosity—keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, eager to understand how the two timelines connected. It was all about striking a balance: giving just enough away in each scene to create suspense, while making sure the emotional journey remained clear and compelling.

FF: The scenes between Charissa and JJ are quite intense. How did you and the actors prepare to pull off those moments?

Angel: To prepare the actors for those intense scenes between Charissa and JJ, I had to fully immerse them into the emotional world of these characters. As a director, it was important to ground them in something real, so I used basketball—a passion they both share in real life—as a way to connect them. That common ground helped build authentic chemistry and allowed them to relate to the characters on a deeper level. From there, we worked on building trust and understanding the stakes in each scene, so when it came time to shoot those emotional moments, it felt raw, honest, and true to the story.

FF: What are some of the movies that have influenced your style, especially while making Bygones?

Angel: Love & Basketball was a huge influence for me—it was the first film where I truly saw myself reflected on screen as a female athlete. That movie resonated with me deeply as a kid and showed me how powerful sports storytelling could be, especially from a woman’s perspective. I also found inspiration in Hoop Dreams and He Got Game, which offered different but equally impactful portrayals of the basketball world. These films shaped how I approach storytelling—blending athletic ambition with emotional depth.

FF: As a professional basketball player, and now as a filmmaker, please share your observations on the portrayal of the sport in cinema. And what are the changes that you’d like to see in basketball, the culture around it, and its on-screen depiction?

Angel: I’ve always been drawn to the sports drama genre because of its ability to capture not just the physical intensity of sports, but also the emotional and personal struggles behind the scenes. But what I’ve noticed is that the majority of sports films focus on male athletes, and female stories—especially in basketball—are often overlooked. As a new director and a former professional basketball player, I’m passionate about bridging that gap. There’s a whole world of untapped stories in women’s sports that audiences would love and connect with. I want to help bring those narratives to the forefront and shift the culture to make space for more diverse and authentic representations of female athletes on screen.