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'When They See Us' Exposes The Lies That Imprisoned The Central Park 5

Thirty years later, "When They See Us" highlights one of the most shocking and catalyzing instances of injustice in recent decades.
Ava Duvernay, 'When They See Us' Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series Or Dramatic - "It’s hard to read a script and get the emotion because it’s just words on a page. But for these men when they heard actors being them, just sitting around the table hearing the script performed it was deeply emotional to them.And that just continued when they visited the set and saw the boys wearing the clothes that they wore that night and when they saw the final film/show. In L.A. about two months ago, I sat behind them in a small screening room, just us, when they watched it. There were tears and embraces. It was a cathartic experience. My hope is that people come to know, respect and acknowledge what they went through and that that helps them in their own journey."

Photo Credit: Netflix

Ava Duvernay, 'When They See Us' Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series Or Dramatic - "It’s hard to read a script and get the emotion because it’s just words on a page. But for these men when they heard actors being them, just sitting around the table hearing the script performed it was deeply emotional to them.And that just continued when they visited the set and saw the boys wearing the clothes that they wore that night and when they saw the final film/show. In L.A. about two months ago, I sat behind them in a small screening room, just us, when they watched it. There were tears and embraces. It was a cathartic experience. My hope is that people come to know, respect and acknowledge what they went through and that that helps them in their own journey."
April 19, 2019 / 11:51 AM

On the night of April 19, 1989, a brutal rape occurred in Central Park, setting off a chain of events that went on to capture the nation's attention and forever alter the lives of five teens who were wrongly accused of the crime. Thirty years later, When They See Us highlights one of the most shocking and catalyzing instances of injustice in recent decades.

Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay brings the full stories of Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson and Korey Wise to life as they unfold over the four-part limited series. 

Based on a true story that gripped the country, When They See Us chronicles the notorious case of five teenagers of color, labeled the Central Park Five, who were convicted of a rape they did not commit. The four-part limited series will focus on the five teenagers from Harlem -- Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. Beginning in the spring of 1989, when the teenagers were first questioned about the incident, the series will span 25 years, highlighting their exoneration in 2002 and the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.

The series stars Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Academy  Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Blair Underwood, Christopher Jackson, Joshua Jackson, Omar J. Dorsey, Adepero Oduye, Famke Janssen, Aurora Perrineau, William Sadler, Jharrel Jerome, Jovan Adepo, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Storm Reid, Dascha Polanco, Chris Chalk, Freddy Miyares, Justin Cunningham, Ethan Herisse, Caleel Harris, Marquis Rodriguez and Asante Blackk.

When They See Us premieres on May 31 on Netflix.

Ava DuVernaymichael k williams

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