About A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks

'A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks' is a documentary film released in 2021. Directed by John Maggio, the movie tells the extraordinary story of Gordon Parks, a self-taught artist, and the profound impact he had on the next generation of photographers and artists. His creative journey overcame violence, prejudice and social injustice to become one of America's most significant and insightful photographers. The film showcases Parks’ groundbreaking work in a powerful way.

Making / Production

The film was skillfully crafted with the help of a top-notch production team. Under the guidance of director John Maggio, the film blends historical archive footage with fresh interviews and new commissioned photographic portraits of Parks' contemporaries to present a narrative that speaks volumes about race, culture, and societal disparities.

Actors

• Raymond J. Barry - He narrates the portions about Gordon Parks’ life, portraying the photographer's journey with raw emotion.
• Richard Roundtree - He shares insights into Parks' film career, discussing the impact and influence on his own career.
• Alfred Guzzetti - Professor Alfred represents the academic perspective, discussing how Parks’ work has influenced modern cinematic art.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks" is titled after Gordon Parks' autobiographical novel "A Choice of Weapons".
• This documentary originally premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021.
• Gordon Parks was the first African American photographer for "Life" magazine.

Quotes

• "The camera was my choice of weapons." - Gordon Parks
• "Gordon was the first one who impressed upon me that making photographs can change things." - Richard Roundtree

Music, Soundtrack

• The movie’s poignant soundtrack was composed by Kathryn Bostic. Her music imbues the film with a certain emotional depth that mirrors Parks' own work.