Ferguson-Inspired ‘Black Male Crisis’ Documentary Being Developed

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) is teaming up with actor Nate Parker (Beyond the Lights) to expand the Ferguson and Michael Brown discussion on the big screen, reports Variety. Berg’s Deliver Us From Evil collaborator Matthew Cooke will write and direct. Cooke, Parker, and Berg launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign which has raised over $4k since Wednesday (out of a $25,000 goal).

The crew had already begun filming prior to Monday’s shocking grand jury announcement that failed to indict Brown’s shooter, Officer Darren Wilson. The filmmakers plan to take the conversation beyond just this case, creating a timeline that spans the countless similar incidents that have plagued the black male community since the Civil War.

In response to the growing problem of racial disparity due to the ongoing dehumanization of black men, actor and activist Nate Parker is setting out on a journey of investigation. He will venture into black communities to speak to various stakeholders about the crisis facing these men. Through the examination of specific cases, Nate will create relevant and responsive discourse with the intention of mining strong and tangible solutions to combat this ever-growing crisis.  We will also highlight existing programs that are creating effective and sustainable counter action to the crisis.

This has been an ongoing passion project for Berg and Parker, who have been discussing the embedded racism within American culture for quite a while. Their approach to the film will mirror their drive, as Berg says, “we grab cameras and we go. We shoot until we can’t shoot anymore.” This guerilla-style filmmaking will presumably serve to capture the living presence of the issue and its urgent need for action.

Aside from his growing acting career, Parker is involved in several charities serving underprivileged youth including The Boys & Girls Club of America, and also has roots as a political activist. Berg also has a growing stake in both political and social documenting. She is currently filming This is America, which will aim to expose the influence of big corporations in the electoral process, and her recently finished An Open Secret, revealing the sexual abuse of teenage girls in Hollywood, has been released just this month.