{"id":69031,"date":"2014-05-20T23:54:31","date_gmt":"2014-05-20T23:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2014\/05\/20\/production-has-begun-on-ava-duvernays-mlk-biopic-selma\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T04:03:34","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T04:03:34","slug":"production-has-begun-on-ava-duvernays-mlk-biopic-selma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/production-has-begun-on-ava-duvernays-mlk-biopic-selma\/","title":{"rendered":"Production Has Begun on Ava DuVernay’s MLK Biopic ‘Selma’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Production Has Begun on Ava DuVernay’s MLK Biopic ‘Selma’<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

May 20, 2014<\/p>\n

\"Ava<\/a>Paramount Pictures and Path\u00e9 today announced that principal photography has commenced on \u201cSELMA,\u201d<\/strong> directed by Ava DuVernay<\/strong> (\u201cMIDDLE OF NOWHERE.\u201d) The film is shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.<\/p>\n

The screenplay was written by Paul Webb<\/strong> (\u201cFour Nights in Knaresborough\u201d). Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner<\/strong> and Jeremy Kleiner<\/strong> will produce through their Plan B banner (\u201cWORLD WAR Z,\u201d \u201c12 YEARS A SLAVE\u201d), with Christian Colson<\/strong> through his Cloud Eight Films (\u201c127 HOURS,\u201d \u201cSLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE\u201d), and Oprah Winfrey<\/strong> (\u201cTHE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY,\u201d \u201cBELOVED\u201d) through her Harpo Films. Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes, Cameron McCracken<\/strong> and Nan Morales<\/strong> are executive producing.<\/p>\n

\"MLK<\/a>\u201cThis story will resonate deeply with not only those brave men and women who fought for voting rights alongside Dr. King, but also the countless millions of people who continue to fight against discrimination in voting today,\u201d<\/strong> said Brad Grey<\/strong>, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures. \u201cThis talented group of filmmakers, led by Brad Pitt and his team at Plan B, Oprah Winfrey and Christian Colson, and of course our director Ava DuVernay, are a formidable force to help bring this significant story to the big screen.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"MLK<\/a>\u201cSELMA\u201d is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.\u2019s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people \u2013 a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.<\/p>\n

Paramount is handling the film\u2019s domestic distribution, Path\u00e9 will distribute in the UK and France and Path\u00e9 International will handle sales to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>The film stars David Oyelowo<\/strong>\u00a0 as Martin Luther King Jr.<\/strong>, Carmen Ejogo <\/strong>as his wife Coretta Scott King,<\/strong> <\/strong>Tom Wilkinson<\/strong> as President Lyndon B. Johnson<\/strong>, Short Term 12\u2032s Keith Stanfield<\/a><\/strong> as Jimmie Lee Jackson<\/strong>, Lorraine Toussaint<\/a><\/strong> as civil rights activist Amelia Boynton (Robinson)<\/strong>,\u00a0 eight-time Grammy nominee artist Ledisi<\/strong> as the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson<\/strong>, Tessa Thompson<\/strong> as Diane Nash, Colman Domingo<\/strong> playing the Reverend Ralph Abernathy,\u00a0Andre Holland<\/strong> <\/strong>as politician Andrew Young,<\/strong> Omar J. Dorsey<\/strong> as James Orange,\u00a0Common<\/strong> as James Bevel,\u00a0 <\/strong>and The Closer\u2019s Corey Reynolds <\/strong><\/strong>as\u00a0C. T. Vivian.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Bradford Young<\/strong> (\u201cMOTHER OF GEORGE,\u201d \u201cMIDDLE OF NOWHERE\u201d), production designer Mark Friedberg<\/strong> (\u201cTHE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2,\u201d \u201cMildred Pierce\u201d), and costume designer Ruth E. Carter<\/strong> (\u201cAMISTAD,\u201d \u201cMALCOLM X\u201d).<\/p>\n

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