From 
DEADLINE
August 1, 2023

‘Sound Of The Police’ Trailer: Stanley Nelson’s Hulu-Bound Doc Spotlights Historically “Fraught Relationship” Between African Americans & Law Enforcement

ABC News Studios and Firelight Films on Monday unveiled the first trailer for Sound of the Police, a new documentary from Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson and co-director Valerie Scoon, which will premiere exclusively on Hulu on August 11th, following a special preview screening at the BlackStar Film Festival and an official world premiere at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.

The Hulu Original examines the fraught relationship between African Americans and the police, often rife with tension, fear, suspicion and hostility on all sides. Framed by some of the most recent conflicts between Black Americans and police officers, which garnered national media attention, the film traces the country’s complex racial history that set the path for policing in Black communities and fuels the ongoing conflict between African American communities and law enforcement.

From the origins of the first police forces in the South during slavery to the mob violence that erupted against African Americans in the North after the great migration to the more recent high-profile cases forever etched in America’s collective consciousness, Sound of the Police tells the story of a troubled, complex and volatile relationship and exactly how the country got here. The documentary also looks at contemporary efforts to confront and resolve that conflict.

Pic is produced by Nelson’s Firelight for ABC News Studios. Marcia Smith and Keith Brown exec produced for Firelight, alongside Jacqueline Glover for ABC News Studios. ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley, with Reena Mehta serving as SVP of Streaming and Digital Content.

Said Nelson in a statement released today, “This film couldn’t be more timely, but it also closely connects to much of the history that I’ve explored in my past work — from the Civil War-era slave patrols, the advent of Jim Crow at the turn of the century, the uprisings against police brutality in the latter half of the 20th century to the many acts of police violence against African Americans that we’ve witnessed in the media in recent times. We’re thrilled to partner with ABC News Studios on this important project and look forward to sharing and discussing the film with audiences.”

Scoon added that “it’s been a rewarding experience working with Stanley and Firelight Films on this project. While much of my work as a director and producer has engaged with African American history, this film is particularly personal. Stanley and I are both parents of young adults, and that perspective has informed the importance we place on examining the history of the relationship between law enforcement and the Black community. We hope this film will inspire conversations that will save lives and build stronger communities.”

Read more at Deadline.

more articles

STAY CONNECTED

Join Our Mailing List

Sign up
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.