“A Choice of Weapons : Inspired by Gordon Parks” Coming to HBO and HBO Max on November 15th

“A Choice of Weapons : Inspired by Gordon Parks” Coming to HBO and HBO Max on November 15th

1911 930 James Tocchio

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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James Tocchio

James Tocchio is a writer and photographer, and the founder of Casual Photophile. He’s spent years researching, collecting, and shooting classic and collectible cameras. In addition to his work here, he’s also the founder of the online camera shop Fstopcameras.com.

All stories by:James Tocchio
6 comments
  • last last last review : excellent
    last last review : excellent
    last review : excellent, nearly 60 comments
    This new one : also excellent 😉
    Thank you so much

    • Thanks pal. These aren’t the sort of in-depth articles I like to publish, but my whole family has been exposed to Covid and we’re feeling pretty miserable at the moment. Might be a couple of days until I can get back to editing at full speed.

      • welcome James.
        I do not take any pictures with camera since one year.
        Likely, there is the excellent reviews from you and all the writers and from Japancamerahunter to keep in touch with real photography.
        Now I hope too to start to go out a little.
        But we have to be cautious, the best made in a lab and the truth about it hides by the persons who are corrupted with this system is still here and more and more dangerous (during that time since the beginning where they leader now for life never went abroad, they develop more and more extremest weapons). It’s not finished. We have to protect the future of kids not only environment, but also peace, health, and FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY, the 2 words the POOH does not like.
        Your website has saved me to keep in touch with my first hobby.
        Thank you so much and all the writers here

  • Caught this last night at the MOMA with a conversation with LaToya Ruby Frazier & Bryan Stevenson. I had previously seen Half Past Autumn which is the more straight forward Gordon Parks documentary. I was moved by both, but the greatness of Choice of Weapons is the showcasing of the photographers that have been continuing the tradition of Gordon Parks and the retrospective of how the time really has not changed the issues at hand. Look forward to seeing this one again when it airs next week.

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James Tocchio

James Tocchio is a writer and photographer, and the founder of Casual Photophile. He’s spent years researching, collecting, and shooting classic and collectible cameras. In addition to his work here, he’s also the founder of the online camera shop Fstopcameras.com.

All stories by:James Tocchio