Justin Chip’s “He” is the story of Hotshot quarterback draft pick Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) learning professional ball ropes – and the success of a gorgeous lifestyle comes through the guidance of legendary QB Isaiah White (Marlon Wayan). Along the way, Cam learns about fame and the dark secrets that allow for the sacrifices he has to make to get what he wants.
The film remixes horror ratios to get in touch with many big ideas, including masculinity, stalkers, parasocial relationships with celebrities, race, athlete self-worth, and more. However, Chip, who first appeared in the project when the script for Skip Bronkey and Zach Akers was called “Goat” before giving his own Polish, says he was inspired by his creation of a project centered on America’s obsession with the “fatigue economy.”
“It was like, ‘What do you want to do, are you willing to sacrifice great things in what you’re doing?” It surpassed this very niche to a professional sports quarterback. “I burned out of TV post-pandemic television shoots and made money the most depressed ever. I realized that this is universal, whether you’re a writer or a journalist, a painter or a day worker. Post-pandemic society really had to think about: how do we spend our time? Nephew?’In American culture, I thought writing this was an emotional journey for me.”
Tipping first made the mark with 2016’s acclaimed indie “Kicks,” and then landed gigs directing high-profile television, leading to episodes of shows such as “The Chi,” “Black Monday,” and “Dear White People.” His drive reflected the great focus and work ethic of “his” athletes.
“After the ‘kick’, my first day at the first paid gig I’ve ever had was on TV,” Chipping says. “I called midway through the day my dad passed away, but he just passed away randomly, unexpectedly. Two weeks later, I went back to set and didn’t stop filming until I was burned out and my body shut me down. There’s a monologue about the field being a safe place.
One of Chip’s most important partners in achieving this vision was filmmaker Jordhan Peel. He was the producer of the project and helped to cultivate some of the film’s odd horror elements.
“He’s the perfect soundboard,” says Chip. “He comes from a filmmaker’s perspective, so he understands, ‘I’m not directing a film, you’re directing a film.’ So you’re starting from the place “What are you trying to do?” and work in the opposite direction. It was a safe space to say, “What about this?” And it really felt like a great tennis rallies.
But even with fear, Chip is excited to think critically about people and talk about one of America’s biggest entertainment.
“The theme that interests me most was, “What happens when an athlete becomes a product of the facility?”,” he says. “If your body is your only capital, and you’re getting injured or getting old, you’re a warm body that’s disposable and passing through space. If it’s a scary, fundamental thing, I think there’s a lot of things that have opened up everything that’s been there.
