Backspot: On the red carpet with DW Waterson and Devery Jacobs at BFI Flare

Backspot, starring Devery Jacobs and Evan Rachel Wood, and directed by an emerging film director and DJ, DW Waterson, gives us a different take on cheerleading in the modern US. It tells the story of two young cheerleaders, Riley and Amanda, who try to succeed in this competitive and ungrateful world of professional cheerleading. This journey will change them and their friendship forever. 

The film premiered last year during the Toronto Film Festival and received positive approval from the press; its score on Rotten Tomatoes is now 83%. Backspot premiered in the UK two weeks ago during the BFI Flare Film Festival, which was an exciting time for both Waterson and Backspot’s main actress, Jacobs.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking to the director, who told us about working on the film, navigating her actors and understanding how important the film’s music is for her.

We also chatted with Devery Jacobs, who told us about finding her voice as the character, her friendship with Waterson and making a playlist to understand her heroine.

Jan Tracz

Backspot does not have a release date yet.

Watch the trailer for Backspot here: