IN a little-noticed episode last November, film history was touched again by the transforming power of the DVD.

The makers of "Hoop Dreams"- director, Steve James; cinematographer-producer, Peter Gilbert; and producer, Frederick Marx - spent five days visiting with Arthur Agee and William Gates, whose lives they had chronicled in the celebrated high school basketball documentary 10 years before. The filmmakers had intended to create a short follow-up for the picture's Criterion Collection DVD version, set for release next month.

They came away convinced that a second film was in order.

With backing from Criterion, the team is now deep into the next chapter of a story that has continued to evolve, sometimes tragically, even since last year's visit. In January, Mr. Agee's father, Bo Agee, was shot to death by unknown assailants outside the family's home in Berwyn, a blue collar, racially mixed Chicago suburb, during an apparent robbery attempt. A little more than three years earlier, Mr. Gates's older brother Curtis was also murdered. The killings are the dark side of a story that had seen the elder Mr. Agee kick drugs, turn to religion and become a pastor, while the young players matured under the glare of "Hoop Dreams's" unexpected success.
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Mr. James refuses to put a deadline on the new film. He said he planned to shoot for as long as necessary and was hoping that it would be seen in theaters before appearing on DVD.

Abbey Lustgarten, a producer for Criterion said: "We're supporting the filmmakers in how they want to move forward. They have a very good track record, and we have to stick with what they want to do." He added, "In the world of documentaries, you just don't know."

Note that it won't appear on the Criterion.

With backing from Criterion, the team is now deep into the next chapter of a story that has continued to evolve, sometimes tragically, even since last year's visit.