A new trailer has landed for the upcoming film, A Choice of Weapons : Inspired by Gordon Parks. This documentary is set to explore Parks’ legacy as a photographer and social activist, musician and filmmaker, and the way that his oeuvre influenced an entire generation during the incredibly tumultuous period of Black history in which he worked.
A Choice of Weapons : Inspire by Gordon Parks offers a look at the Black American experience through the prism of Park’s early photography and work with magazines such as Vogue and LIFE. It shines a light not only upon Parks’ photography, but his writing, composing, and directing of films (including his work on Shaft). The film showcases Parks’ impact on society through the lens of three contemporary photographers who have attempted in their own right to follow in Parks’ footsteps and affect change through their cameras.
As LIFE’s first Black photographer, Parks famously chose his camera as his “weapon,” and used it effectively to challenge systemic racism and lay bare the truth of poverty in the United States.
The new documentary features interviews with Anderson Cooper, Ava DuVernay, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Nelson George, Khalil Muhammad, and many more. It is directed by John Maggio and produced by Kasseem Dean and Alica Keys.
A Choice of Weapons : Inspired by Gordon Parks will premiere exclusively on HBO on November 15th at 10 PM (EST) and will be available to stream simultaneously on HBO Max.
You can see the new trailer below.
For more information on Gordon Parks, check out Josh Solomon’s excellent article here.
Are you a fan of Parks’ work, let us know about it in the comments.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft_%281971_film%29